HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-02-04, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987.
= K7 '
Early shopping for gowns
saves heartache
•?>
the Blyth Ipp
Bridal Parties,
Rehearsal Parties,
Dinners & Receptions
Future brides should shop early
for wedding gowns to avoid the
need for alterations at the altar.
The Ontario Ministry of Con
sumer and Commercial Relations
(MCCR) regularly gets calls from
brides-to-be in a panic over
last-minute problems with dresses
for the wedding party.
Some have discovered, just days
before the wedding, that the bridal
gown is the wrong size, color or
style. Unfortunately, there’s little
that can be done on such short
notice and the distraught women
arc often forced to take whatever
they can get.
Bcascautious with the purchase
of bridal gowns as with any other
major expenditure and gel started
early. Many women start shopping
for the dresses a year before they
arc to get married.
Decide how much you can afford
to spend on the gowns. If the
wedding budget is limited, renting
the dresses can be an excellent
alternative. An initial tour through
a few stores should provide a good
idea of what your money will buy.
Most retailers keep stocks ol
sample dresses to display the
various stylesavailable. Once a
choice is made, a special order for
the appropriate size is placed with
the manufacturer.
Sometimes the dress will have to
be altered to fit, but in many cases,
only minor work is needed.
“We do hear the occasional
horror story from brides or brides
maids who arc between sizes, ’ ’
says Roberta Allan, chief consum
er advisor for MCCR. “Their
gowns were ordered in the larger
size and required extensive altera
tions to make them fit. In some
cases, the whole look of t he dresses
changed."
Altering formal gow ns demands
an expert with a needle. It major
alterationswill be necessary, try to
stick to styles that won’t suffer
when seams are taken in or
hemlines raised.
Also, be sure to ask if there are
any extra charges for alterations.
Don’t settle for the common and
ambiguous answer that “normal
alterations are free." What’s
normal?
Pick a store that deals in the
appropriate price range. Don’t go
to the most expensive shop in town
and buy their cheapest gowns.
Staff tend to be less attentive to
customers buying the least expen
sive line.
In addition to finding a flattering
style, study the quality of dresses.
Always check seams to be sure
enough material was left to keep
the dress together. Be particularly
careful when inspecting inexpen
sive gowns or you could end up
hunting for safety pins on the
wedding day.
“It wouldn't be the first time a
bride or bridesmaid has had to use
pins to keep her dress together as
she prepared to walk down the
aisle,” Allan says.
A new method of gluing lace onto
gowns cut costs and can be an
attractive, albeit less durable,
alternative.
When budgets are right, consi
der buying attendants’ dresses
which would be suitable for other
occasions.
As they have to place special
orders, shops will insist on a
deposit, usually ranging from 20 to
50 per cent of the total price. The
deposit is normally non-refund-
able. even if the wedding is called
off.
Try to place orders six month in
advance of the wedding day. To
help guard against disappoint-
ment, insist on delivery a month
before the actual ceremony. With
enough time, most problems can
be solved.
Be sure to take a good look at the
dress ordered. Write down any
i mportant style details and ask for a
small sample of the fabric. During
the long wait between ordering and
receiving the gown, it is possible to
forget w’hat it looks like.
The ministry has received com
plaints from brides who claim they
did not get what they ordered. But,
in many cases, the women looked
at so many dresses when shopp
ing, they simply forgot which one
was finally chosen.
Use our facilities or let us
cater in your home
or hall of your
choice
C\r Phone
523-9381
For Information
3
AW the finishing touches
for your Wedding
AVAILABLE AT 236 Josephine Street
Harris Stationery ^3191
•Pom Poms
•Thank you notes
•Place Cards
• Wedding
invitations
& accessories
•Photo albums
•Gift paper
& bows
•Guest books
•Wedding Plate, collector's item
FLOWERS
Beautiful bouquets can
take many shapes,
let your dress and
wedding style
guide your selection...
IFe can help! You create
the image
Hildebrand
Flowers
15 Main St., Seaforth
527-0555
1 Ontario Street
■ly/AMUI# Clinlon CfrCirjTinrT
TRAVEL & TOURS ud.
322 Main Street 250 Josephine Street
Exeter Wingham
235-2000 357-3330
1-800-265-7022
Open 9-5:30, Saturday 9:30-4:30