HC WisDom

10 important questions to ask before you visit a bridal designer

Asking the right questions helps you become more efficient and productive when you are bridal dress shopping. It will also help you take responsibility for your own expectations. After each question, we will also provide you with our answers so you will also get a chance to learn more about what we offer at Helen Constance Bridal. So, what are the ten most important questions you might like to ask a bridal designer before you visit them? Here we go!

1) How long have you been a couturier?

Helen Constance has been working in couture and fashion for more than 25 Years. She studied in Sydney at the Sydney Institute of fashion, and have worked with couture houses in Europe before starting her own company.

2) Are there any sample gowns I can try on?

 HC: We have over 350 Bridal designs in our showroom. In light of new government restrictions on social distancing rules, we will offer initial consultations over the phone, to help you address as many questions as possible before you come in. After we have a chat and learn about your needs, we will help you narrow down the style you would like. It is not uncommon for brides to purchase the first gown they have put on. Why? Because it is not important how many gowns you’ve tried on, it’s more important for you to try on the “right” gown that would suit your needs and reflect your own sense of style.

3) What sizes are available in your sample gowns?

HC: In our showroom, we offer selected styles in US size 2 – US 18. i.e. Australian Size, 4 - 20.

4) I have a design in mind, do you custom make bridal gowns?

 HC: Yes, We can offer you custom design gown services. Custom make services involve a lot of details. The cost is, therefore, higher than a ready-to-wear bridal gown. The sky is the limit. All custom-made gown requires a minimum lead time of 6 to 12 months. If you need a custom gown in less than 6 months. Expect most designers to charge you a rush fee. Custom made gown start at 6K.

 5) What price points are available in your showroom?

You will find prices for wedding gowns differ a great deal across different brands. You can find out more about our prices in the “shop” section of our website. Visit our shop under the top menu and drop-down to the collection you are interested in. It’s important to know your own budget and manage your own expectations. Some brides find it difficult to discuss money and costs. When you are forward about your needs, it helps us find a bridal gown that meets your requirements.

 6) How long does it take for my gown to be produced?

HC: Creating a handmade one-off garment normally takes 6-12 months. Any less than 6 months incurs a rush fee. Delay in logistic and freight is now commonplace. Shopping for your gown 18 months prior will help you get your gown on time and avoid delays.

 7) How many people can I bring to my fittings?

HC: You can bring yourself and one other you can trust. Bringing mum along is also a good idea. Anymore, it will no longer be about you.

 8) Where is your showroom located?

HC: Our Helen Constance Bridal Showroom is currently located at 225 Addison Road, Marrickville 2204 NSW Australia.

 9) What if I lose weight before the wedding? Losing weight just before your wedding day is not uncommon. Especially if you are training and determined to reach a fitness goal before your big day.

HC: Our HC Fit service product offers you complete security. For one fee, you are covered for your resizing and other needs. Especially suitable for brides anticipating weight loss or are expecting.

 10) My wedding is coming up soon, do you carry ready-to-wear?

HC: Yes. We have a large collection of brand new ready-to-wear bridal gowns in lots of sizes. We can also resize to fit and customize the style to suit you.

So there you have it, the 10 most important questions you should ask a bridal designer before you make your visit.

If you have any questions about any of the HC wisdom, you are welcome to contact us; E: info@helenconstance.com or M: 0424393818.

Reading reviews and testimonials - why reviews Are important, How they are Useful.

In this article, we will explore the kind of information we can uncover from reading reviews and testimonials, and why they are important.

Reviews are a form of word-of-mouth referral from other patrons that have bought and used the services of bridal vendors you are considering. It costs you nothing to access the information since they are readily available online.

Take the time to research and read them to avoid disappointment.

Where do you begin? We would personally recommend Google. Google reviews are readily accessible without you needing to sign up for an app. Through any web browsers, you can read reviews of a business without any costs on your part, except, of course, your time.

Here you can learn about

1) How vendor treats their customers from reading their google reviews.

2) you can also pick up information on the kind of services they offer. For example, whether they provide resizing and alterations services on-premise?

3) if you wish to assess the level of care and quality of the services they provide before, during, and after a bride has paid. It’s all there.

1) The tip here is, you might want to know whether the bridal supplier is consistent with their services across all patrons and especially throughout your bridal dress journey till your wedding day. When you are buying your bridal gown, you will be needing service for several months. It’s important to know that the supplier you are buying offers consistent, excellent services across the lifetime of your journey with them.

You want to read between the lines of the reviews to understand why the consumer left the review. For example, did the bride leave a review because they were ignored? Or was the bride seeking satisfaction for expectations not met by the bridal vendor after they have paid? There are also two sides to the story.

You will also want to read the responses of suppliers to these reviews to learn how the vendor representative handle difficult situations and whether they were fair in treating their customers at the beginning, middle, and end of the bride’s shopping journey.

Reading reviews, and reviewing them per se, will help you make up your own mind about whether you would like to a) visit this store, and b) do they offer consistent responsible service. c) would you purchase from this store? Would others recommend this bridal vendor?

It’s a good habit to get into, to read reviews at different periods across your shopping journey. Revisiting their testimonials will help you uncover something you might have missed or misread previously. With this information, you can make better-informed decisions and you will not regret making the purchase of your wedding gown.

We have covered why reading reviews and testimonials are important and the kind of things you can learn from reading them. To read my google reviews, type in the keywords “Helen Constance bridal google reviews” in the google search box.

The importance of reading FAQs

How can you get all the answers you want in the shortest amount of time, and, all in one place?

You will find most professional bridal vendors have a website and often on their websites they have a dedicated FAQ section. Just exactly what is FAQs? FAQs stands for frequently asked questions. On the Helen Constance bridal website, we have attempted to provide answers to all questions that brides frequently asked us. Why is FAQ helpful and important?

Well for starters, You might like to use FAQs because it saves you time. And here, you will find, most of the answers you need to the questions that immediately spring to mind when you are looking for a bridal gown.

Getting your questions answered help you shop with confidence. You can make informed decisions about your purchase at the time of purchase because you have gone through the trouble of doing research. This convenience is extended to you at all hours of the night at your fingertips. 24 hours a day, you can look up FAQs on most bridal vendor’s website.

So, if you ever find yourself waking up at night in a panic about what you have bought or you are curious about how bridal dress shopping works, visit the Helen constance website and check out the FAQs section. If your doubt persists and you still have questions, email or call us during operating hours to get your questions answered. E: info@helenconstance.com, M: 0424393818

Using videos or audio supplements to learn about their services?

How can do better research to make better decisions when shopping for a bridal gown?

In the twenty-first century, we have a variety of resource to find information. Social media has become a vast source of information for all things wedding-related. For those of you that are time-poor, you might like to check out our videos and audio bytes to help you learn more about how to shop for your bridal gown.

Videos are great because they offer bite-sized content that is both visual and interesting to consume.  To learn through videos such as this one, you will find all the answers you want about bridal shopping online anytime, anywhere, at the click of your mouse.

Audio supplements and podcasts are also wonderful if you doing some light duties at home and like to do some passive learning in the background.

Shopping Online

How you can “shop online” and enjoy better outcomes?

For argument's sake, we will use the word “shopping” to describe the whole journey starting from the consideration of different retailers, to the comparison of brands and gown style, up to the point just before you pay for your gown.

We will be covering the act of purchase in a series of articles down the track.

We have all heard cautionary tales on social media and news sites warning against shopping online for your wedding gown. In this article, we will not discuss that. Rather, we will do our best to highlight the positives and inform you of things to look out for when shopping through different channels, so you are better informed, and you can make your own decision on whether to make your purchase online or offline.

When you shop online, you can either buy from an e-commerce retailer of new wedding dresses or buy from a preloved wedding gown marketplace. The facts - Most online shops exist to serve clients seeking convenience and price. Here come the positives. This method of shopping for your bridal gown suits you if; a) your main consideration for your gown is price, b) you are uncomfortable in shops and find shopping for your bridal gown an overwhelmingly negative experience.

Things to look out for when shopping online -

1) When shopping online- make sure you choose the size most close to you or slightly larger. 2 or three centimeters larger in your critical body measurements like bust, waist, and hips - is as far as I would go. Any larger, you must be prepared to pay a high price for dramatic alterations and reconstructions. Your gown will have to be pulled apart and put back together. Alterations can cost thousands of dollars for most lace and beaded gown. This, of course, depends on the condition of the gown. Many alterations shops will not accept responsibility for alterations of wedding gowns because they don’t know what they will find once they open up the gown. It is like a pandora’s box. So many alterations shops find it too troublesome and may not accept the alterations for wedding gowns.

2) Check to make sure you understand the refund policy for possible exchanges or refunds. Even if it’s not refundable, make sure you know and understand “That”, before you pay. For exchanges, factor in freight charges to and from the online company, hours involved in organizing the freight, as well as any customs and related duties, transactional fees, and miscellaneous charges involved. This way you can weigh up the sum of all costs + alterations and make your own decision about whether you think the risk is worth your purchase. 

3) Manage your own expectations. Do your due diligence about the website’s history on their quality, finishing, reputation for delivery time, and that products are delivered as per the original description.

4) The difference in prices may very well lay in the construction of the garment, many garments are priced cheaper, because they don’t have a slip or lining, they may not have adequate structure and bonings inside the garment etc. So, ask for more detailed photos of the inside bodice. And find out how much it may cost to add and fix this before you commit to a purchase online.

5) You may not always get the gown you want in the size you want, especially if you are shopping for a preloved gown. So get your measurements professionally taken, and compare your measurements to that of the listed product or their size chart.

6) Clarify the descriptions of the gown, and ask lots of questions before you purchase, for example, fabrics might be described as silky but is it silk? Or polyester silk? Many terms are used to describe fabrics, make sure your expectations align with the product listed online.

7) When shopping for your bridal gown online. Brides often forget the onus is on them to take responsibility for their purchase. If something goes wrong, the supplier is not liable unless there is a product defect.

8) It is not unusual to find the gown you bought online might not arrive on time for your big day. Due to covid- related conditions around the world, customs, freight and flights may all experience delays. Make sure you have a backup plan or an alternative bridal gown if this occurs.

Here, we have covered the positives of shopping online. We have also offered you some suggestions on what you can look out for when shopping online. This is by no means exhaustive if you have some more questions. Call or email HC. We will attempt to address them in future articles.

Shopping Online–E-marketplace

When bridal dress shopping on an e-marketplace and shopping platforms.

 1) Check youtube videos and testimonials and reviews to ensure the sellers on these platforms are legitimate suppliers with strong trade history. Many are e-marketplaces do not vet their supplier. Check to ensure they are working under humane conditions and that the products are of the quality that you expect for the price that you pay.

2) E-marketplace often hosts sellers that work from home and small factories. They utilize photos from Instagram and Pinterest of trademarked brands when listing a product, this is false advertising. Unfortunately, as a buyer, there is no way for you to know whether the skill level of the maker, and whether they can deliver the product promised to the level of quality and fit that is portrayed in the listed pictures. Ask for real photos of bridal gowns and previous clients to ascertain their quality of work.

3) When shopping online and on e-marketplace - Keep in mind, Beaded gowns are often hand-sewn. Beading is labour intensive, so you can assume that labour intensive equal high cost. If your seller promised you a $200 gown that is heavily beaded, this is a red flag. There are different qualities in beads and craftsmanship, so best to keep this in mind before you take the leap of faith.

4) Make sure you have a backup bridal gown.

We won’t tell you not to buy from an e-marketplace. When you do decide to buy your bridal gown without trying it on, touching or even seeing it first, do consider the points we have provided in this video. Happy Bridal Shopping!

Shopping Off-line

So much about bridal dress shopping is done off-line. The most memorable part of the experience is doing your fittings and sharing the experience with your loved ones. Changes in the world and social distancing has dramatically changed that. Instead, consider shopping for your bridal gown an intimate affair.

I have worked in European houses, I use to sell couture fashion in private settings with only one customer being served at one time. The wealthy has always shop in private, This is because in a private setting you can be treated like a queen. A VIP, where the focus is on you. I would say more than ever, shopping for your bridal gown with just you and perhaps your mum, or a person you can trust, will make your bridal shopping more memorable and special.  

Positives about shopping offline

1) You get to enjoy shopping with a loved one to create lasting memories of the bridal shopping journey. This you can cherish for the rest of your days.

2) Try things on, feel the fabrics on your body. You have to wear it for more than 8 hours, so comfort level and support structure should be taken into account too.

3) Shopping in physical stores, you get access to lots of exclusive brands and original styles that may not be available online. You get to experience their different fit, cut and fabrics.

4) You get married once, you might like a stress-free experience, let the professionals take care of all your fitting and resizing needs so you can enjoy your wedding journey. This way when you encounter challenges with your bridal gown, there is always someone there to help you to resolve them.

Things to look out for when shopping offline.

1) Compare services, not just prices. Many brides try to cut corners and compare prices, but they often make the mistake of assuming cheaper prices will deliver the same product, experience, expertise and service. All vendors are different, and they might all make the same promise to you, but it’s your responsibility to know the difference between vendors and choose the best one for you, that will meet your expectations in delivering your dream gown, on time and on budget.

2) when you are promised a cheaper price for the gown, make sure you ask if this includes the changes and additions you desired as well as resizing and hemming. More often than not you are quoted one price for the bridal gown in standard size. Alterations are often required for your gown to fit just right. So make sure you are comparing apples with apples, and oranges with oranges.

Now I have covered the positives of shopping online and offline. While offering you some suggestions on what you can look out for when shopping through these channels.

Feel Free to revisit these tips, or you can contact HC to learn more: info@helenconstance.com .

Sample gowns - An introduction.

What is a sample gown?

A bridal store would stock a variety of bridal designs in standard sizes. These are often referred to as sample gowns. When you visit a bridal store, chances are you are invited to try on samples in standard sizes. When you pay and place an order, often a new gown is produced just for you based on the style you ordered.

Why do brides buy sample gown?

A few times a year, samples gowns may be put on sale at a discounted prices. This is sold to make room for the arrival of new wedding gown styles at your local bridal store. Most brides that choose to wear a sample gown for their wedding bought it because it is on sale.

When do you buy a sample gown?

Some brides buy samples gowns because they have to marry in a hurry. A new wedding gown cannot be made on time. For a new bridal gown order, it would often require 6 to 12 months lead time. When you are urgently in need of a bridal gown. You can try to purchase a sample gown.

How to shop for a sample wedding gown –

1)    Stick to your size, or slightly large.

2)    Find a gown with; minimal, or no, changes.

3) Ask to purchase extra laces or fabrics that would match your gown for your customizations.

3)    Dry clean and steam press it before you wear it.

Helen Constance offers services for urgent weddings. If this is you and you need assistance, please feel free to contact us, E: info@helenconstance.com , M: 0424393818