Finding the wedding gown of your dreams is never an easy undertaking, especially if you are on a budget. One of the best ways to find that perfect dress is to shop at a sample sale. Here are some tips for how to have success when gown shopping at a sample sale.Sample sales are events, usually held twice a year, at which bridal salons will sell off their floor samples to make room for new inventory. The discounts are frequently deep - up to half off is not uncommon - so there are definitely some incredible deals to be found. Because they are floor models, though, you will be expected to take the gown "as is", so it will need to be one that you are confident can be altered to fit you. Gowns purchased at sample sales will almost always be final sales.To get the best selection, the first step is to find out when the sample sales in your area are held (common months are January and July), and to get the details on each store's procedures. Some of the biggest stores have brides lined up outside for hours to get first crack at their designer gowns for discounted prices in a one day blow-out event. Smaller stores often have sales that are more of an ongoing event for a week or two, but to get the best selection, you will want to be there as early as possible - aim for the first appointment of the first day of the sale.
A very important part of sample sale shopping is to go in with some idea of what silhouette suits your figure. Especially if the sale will be very hectic, you do not want to go in with no idea about which designer wedding dresses are worth trying on. Time is likely to be limited, so you don't want to waste precious moments on styles that are unflattering.At the same time, when shopping at a sale, a bride also needs to keep an open mind. You are not likely to see the exact same dresses that you have been bookmarking on the internet from the current season of bridal gowns. If you go into a sale with a fixed idea of the exact gown you want, you are going to walk out empty handed. Be open to trying any gown that shows some promise, even if it doesn't match the picture in your head.Because you will need to make an instant decision, it is a smart idea to walk into a sample sale as prepared as possible. You will definitely want to be wearing the appropriate undergarments. At a more sedate event (the kind where you still have an appointment, a fitting room, and a bridal assistant), this means wearing a well fitting strapless bra and smooth underwear. If you are planning to go to the type of sample sale where brides are stripping down in the middle of a room and frantically trying on dresses, then a strapless bathing suit or nude colored all-in-one foundation garment would be ideal.
It is very hard to evaluate a halter wedding dresses when you have a black bra sticking out of the top!Keep in mind your accessories when you are shopping for a gown as well. For example, if you find a dress that is a great fit, but is a little too plain for your taste, picture how you could add some glamour with fabulous bridal jewelry. If you have already picked out some special bridal jewelry or a family veil that you intend to wear for your wedding, it is a good idea to bring it when you go shopping, since once you purchase a sale gown there is no turning back.Sample sales can be fun, chaotic, and exhilarating. Above all, they can be a great opportunity to save money on a wedding gown or to buy a gown that would have been out of your price range at the regular price. If you go into a sample sale with a well thought out plan of attack, you are very likely to walk out of it with your dream dress in hand.
