The Citizen, 2003-02-12, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2003. PAGE 19.
Buying on-line newest bridal fashion trend
(MS) — These days, brides are
using the web for more than just
planning their weddings, they are
staying online to purchase their
bridal gown, veil, bridesmaids’
dresses, flowergirl dress, shoes,
accessories and invitations. While
this trend may surprise some, those
in the know are not surprised at all.
Today’s bride is web-savvy,
having grown up in the world of
videa games and cyberspace. She
and her fianc£ are probably paying
for most or all of their wedding costs
— approximately 65 per cent of
engaged couples are.
The bride, her parents and her
bridesmaids are more likely than not
living in different locations. It is no
wonder that brides are shopping for
and buying their wedding apparel
on-line.
What should a bride know about
purchasing on-line? Rachel Ambler,
president of a full service on-line
bridal store, advises the bride to
demand the best from the on-line
store. According to Ambler, the 10
requirements for a good on-line store
are:
• Fast and friendly response. Great
customer service starts with a great
Talking targets problems early
Being open and honest with each
other is the most important key to
any relationship, especially a
marriage.
Issues like sex, children, money,
kids and in-laws can become
potential landmines if partners don’t
discuss their feelings openly before
marching down the aisle.
And it’s not always enough to just
“talk” — rather, to find answers to
the really tough relationship
questions, it’s important to know
what to ask.
Now, critically-acclaimed author
Corey Donaldson has interviewed
hundreds of people to discover
exactly what those questions are,
and in the process discovered a
method for targeting divorce
causing problems way before the
wedding — his book, Don’t You
Dare Get Married Until You Read
Wedding Tip
Ask friends, relatives and the local
musicians union for
recommendations and check
references for any entertainment you
will have at your wedding. You can
call the Better Business Bureau or
Consumer Affairs to find out if there
have been any complaints about the
music providers you are considering.
attitude. Fast and friendly responses
to e-mails and telephone calls are a
must. Your on-line store should offer
you personal consultations with
trained bridal consultants. Only
purchase from an on-line store that
offers great customer service.
• Broad product selection. You
should be able to choose from a
variety of designers, styles and price
ranges. Make sure that the on-line
bridal store is an authorized dealer
for the designers they sell.
• On-line purchasing. While many
bridal stores have Web sites, very
few offer on-line purchasing. A good
on-line store should offer you the
convenience of on-line purchasing,
so that you are able to purchase what
you want when you want.
• An up-to-date, current web site.
An on-line store should update
information on a daily basis,
continuously adding new gowns and
eliminating those that are
discontinued.
• Easy searching. You should be
able to easily find the item, style or
designer you are looking for and
have convenient access to different
departments in the on-line store.
• Product information. A picture of
This! (Crown Publishing).
Alternately playful and
provocative, Donaldson covers hot
topics including:
• Does it matter to you who earns
frcucniny Steady
<£ Makin,#
Total Family Hair Care
887-6744
the gown isn’t enough. Your on-line
bridal store should provide you with
accurate product information, like
designers size charts, fabric and
colour charts that can help you to
make the right purchase.
• Guaranteed delivery time. Any
bridal store should give you a
guaranteed delivery time and should
back that delivery date with a
commitment.
• Shipping quality. You should
require your on-line store to
carefully inspect every item shipped.
Sometimes there are imperfections
in the gown and a good on-line store
will catch those imperfections and
remedy the situation with the
designer before they ship the gown
to you.
• Clear return and cancellation
policies. Your on-line store should
clearly provide you with their return
and cancellation policies. Be sure to
read those policies before you buy.
• No hidden charges. The price
shown may not be the true price of
the gown after you learn about the
hidden charges. Many on-line stores
tell you about their added on charges
for shipping, handling, insurance
etc. after you purchase. Confirm the
most of the money?
• What place do you believe
religion should have in our
relationship?
• Who cleans the house?
Wedding
Parties
Welcome
650 Elizabeth St.
Brussels
faniu
JtacHan
total cost before you buy.
How do you find a great on-line
bridal store? Ambler recommends
that you talk to others who have
shopped on-line for wedding apparel
and visit popular on-line message
boards like theknot.com and
WeddingChannel com to see what
c
\For all your gift giving needs...
Token Treasures /
help udth a
(bridal Registry
357-2993 f
Let Jeanne from^j
BLYTH COMMUNITY CENTRE
An excellent location for a small or large Buck
'n Doe or wedding reception, with a hall that
holds up to 360 people and an arena floor that
will accommodate up to 1070 people.
NORTH HURON WESCAST
COMMUNITY COMPLEX
An excellent location for a large Buck 'n Doe
or wedding reception.
With an arena floor available
for up to 1200 people.
TOWNSHIP OF NORTH
HURON RECREATION
DEPARTMENT
519-357-1208 ex. #21
experiences other brides have had
purchasing on-line. The books
Bridal Bargains and Cyberbride,by
Allen and Denise Fields are also
good resources for brides
contemplating buying on-line.
Also, visit BrideSave.com on the
internet.
7
BOX
FURNITURE
20 Main St. Seaforth 527-0680
Toll free: 1-888-441-1156
• Furniture • Appliances • Floor Coverings
and • Accessories
We have it all...for your home Free delivery and set up
within our trading area