District Weddings

Today, we are back with Bride Blogger Catherine who tells us about the tricks to tackling the coveted sample sale – genius advice!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post when we return to Kimberly’s final pre-wedding write up!

***

I thought that one of the biggest wedding challenges for me would be finding the dress. When I go shopping, I usually spend hours trying on 20 dresses at four different stores, and then buy a completely different one online. So I knew that making a big production of dress shopping like on “Say Yes to the Dress” was not for me. I therefore decided to go to some sample sales in DC to see what I could find.

Sample sales are an intense game. You go to the sale feeling like the only girl in the world getting married. Then you realize there are at least 50 other brides waiting in line, and they also want a great deal and a gorgeous dress! You are competing, and often negotiating, with them for a limited selection of dresses that are significantly reduced in price.

Knowing these 10 tips will help you develop a strategy to score an amazing dress for an unbelievable price, like I did at Carine’s Bridal Atelier in Georgetown.

1. Arrive early. You want to be in the first group through the door in order to have the widest selection and a prime spot near a mirror.

2. Fuel up. You might find yourself full of anxiety and adrenaline and nothing is worse than feeling overheated and dizzy while shopping.

3. Assemble your team with a couple of good girlfriends. (Men are not usually allowed inside.) These need to be friends that are honest, stylish, and comfortable seeing you in your skivvies. They are there to grab dresses for you, to help dress you, and to offer an honest opinion in a somewhat uncomfortable situation.

4. Communicate with your team in advance. Give them details of what you like and your vision. They will be your eyes, continuing to search for dresses while you try on the first round. Tell them to wear comfortable shoes so they can search quickly.

5. Have a price range in mind, and factor in cleaning and alterations. A dress could be reduced to 80% off, but it could still cost $2,500 plus $300 for cleaning and $700 for alterations.

6. Familiarize yourself with the designer lines that the boutique carries. The samples for sale will be from prior seasons.

7. Divide and conquer. Understand that you will not see every dress in the store. Most sample sales are divided into sections by price. Have your team split up to cover the most territory.

8. Have an open mind. Do not expect to come home with a specific dress, and you will not be disappointed. When you find one that works, you’ll be delighted!

9. Wear proper undergarments. The entire store becomes a dressing room. Do this for your friends and the other residents of the District.

10. Realize that you are trying/buying a sample. It might be torn, it might be dirty, and it might not be your size. If you find one that you love, examine it thoroughly for damage. Sample sales are always final sale.