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The Dark Side of the Dress The experts behind ‘Bridal Bargains’ share tips on how to avoid the tricks of the trade 
Most women have heard a wedding-dress horror story. Maybe it was a friend being coerced into a gown three times her budget by an overzealous salesperson who wouldn’t divulge dress designers or prices until after your friend found her dream dress. Or maybe your friend’s dress arrived last minute looking suspiciously like a make-up-stained floor model. Or even worse, maybe the dress never arrived at all, while the credit-card bill made it without a problem. The elegant, white gown is probably the most iconic symbol of the wedding in our culture. Every woman wants to feel gorgeous and special for one day, which also is why the wedding-dress industry is sometimes surprisingly capable of taking advantage of starry-eyed brides. When the average cost of this one-wear-only piece of apparel is more than $1,000, it isn’t surprising that Alan and Denise Fields, authors of “Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget” (Windsor Peak Press, 8th Ed., 2006), devoted the largest section of their best-selling practical wedding guide to wedding gowns. Their book exposes a wide range of shady shortcuts and hidden fees commonly found at dress shops, while also offering detailed information on how to avoid them. Here they share a few of their hints for what to watch out for as well as offer advice on how to bag the gown that will surely make you the belle of your very own ball. Question: What are three of the darkest secrets brides-to-be should know about the wedding-dress industry? Where do we start? Secret #1: The wedding industry likes to play up romantic notions of lace and luxe fabrics, yet almost all gowns are made of polyester (despite the silky-sounding names) and imported from China, where they are mass-produced in less-than-pretty conditions. Secret #2: Even though bridal shops are measuring you for your dress, it is not being made to your measurements, and the sizing is totally whacked. And when your dress comes in, it will need … alterations. Secret #3: The store’s “expert seamstress” is really just a friend whose entire sewing experience is making her daughter’s prom dress. Question: What are your three top tips for what brides should keep in mind when they start searching for a dress? Tip #1: Key in on the gown silhouette. Let’s get real – all gowns don’t look good on all brides. Match your body to the best dress. Full-figured? Avoid shiny fabrics, de-emphasize a bust line with a scoop neckline and go for an empire waist or A-line gown. Are you petite? A sheath or A-line silhouette is best; avoid frou-frou detailing on the skirt. Tip #2: Forget the designer label and focus on the dress’ construction. Is the gown lined? Is the hem finished? How does the fabric quality compare? Tip #3: Watch out for surcharges. Are you a petite? Need a gown in a hurry? There are a myriad of fees that can balloon your gown budget. Question: Do you have any recommendations for the best places or ways to get a dress? Readers tell us that they love nontraditional outlets, such as J. Crew and even Target, as great ways to save and yet still get a gown that is beautiful. Question: And finally, any helpful hints for clever or unusual ways to score a great dress, store-bought or otherwise? Shop at stores that don’t have “bridal” in their name! Again, sources like J Crew or Target are great deals. Search out special sales, such as the annual Filene’s bridal sales. Or the Making Memories’ Brides Against Breast Cancer bridal sales, which are a great example. Amazing deals for a good cause. |
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