Bridal

Wedding Dress Shopping: Step-By-Step Guide To Finding Your Perfect Dress

October 26, 2022 By // by Gretchen Reynolds

You’ve just said “YES!” to your engagement and now it is time to find your perfect dress! We are going to be giving you the step-by-step process of shopping for your wedding dress from booking your appointment to saying “YES!” to your perfect dress. Get your inspiration and pricepoint

Step 1: Find your inspiration and price point

Are you looking for something glam or simple? Trendy or classic? Finding your gown inspiration gives you a good starting point for your bridal appointment. Look for inspiration on Pinterest or on local stores’ Instagrams. We post our wedding dress selection daily on Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery Instagram and Facebook!

You should also decide on what price point you want to stay within. You can find stores’ wedding gown price ranges on their websites or social accounts. If you can’t find it there, we recommend calling the store to ask. Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery Indianapolis has special order gowns from $1,200- $3,500. Gretchen’ Takes Indianapolis carries take-it-today (off-the-rack) gowns from $800-$1,500.

Step 2: Book your appointment

Now that you have your inspiration and price point, it is time to book your appointment!

Weekday appointments are typically less busy. Weekend appointments have a more party-like feel. Don’t overbook yourself, trying on wedding dresses can be tiring. We recommend only going to 2-3 different stores in a day! Be open to the fact that you might find your perfect dress at your first appointment.

Step 3: Arrive and meet your stylist

It’s appointment day! We recommend that you come to the store wearing something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Wear nude underwear and bras are optional when trying on dresses because they have built-in cups.

When you start your appointment your stylist will ask you about your inspiration and wedding. This is the time to show them all of your inspiration pics. We recommend saving your favorite pictures to an album on your phone to make it easier.

Step 4: Pick your selection

It is time to pick your wedding gown selection! At Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery you get to go through our selection with your stylist. Each bride will start with 4-5 gowns. Pick a few gowns that are different than your vision to try. Your stylist is your cheerleader! Stylists know the store selection and might have a few gowns in mind. Keep an open mind because many dresses look better on than on the hanger!

Step 5: Try-on

Your stylist will help you get in and out of your wedding dresses. The stylists will use clips and panels to give you the best idea of what the dress will look like in your size.

This is the time to tune into how you FEEL in each gown! Be as honest as you can with your stylist. The more honest information you give to your stylist, the better they can do their job. Keep in mind that it is completely normal to like something you didn’t think you would. Remember inspiration is just a starting point.

Step 6: Say YES!

When you find the one it is such an exciting moment! Some brides cry and some just smile. Don’t feel like you have to cry for it to be the one.

The Truth About Bridal Sizing

June 27, 2022 By // by Gretchen Reynolds

Your engagement ring is shining on your left hand as you stand in your undergarments in the fitting room of your first bridal appointment. Your stylist brings an array of beautiful options into your room. One of the dresses catches your eye, could this be one? You start to feel excited to try on your first dress. Suddenly, all of that excitement comes to a halt when you see the number on the tag. It is at least two sizes higher than your normal dress size.

As your stylist zips, clips, and pannels you into your first dress you start to feel a mix of emotions clouded by a number. You are not alone, almost every bride has had those exact thoughts. Even with the cautionary tales and warnings, your dress size can still come as a shock. Let’s demystify bridal sizing!

There are two main reasons for needing a larger wedding dress.

Reason #1

No, wedding dress designers aren’t purposefully making the dress smaller so you feel bad. Historically many wedding dress designers have been based out of Europe. It has become a common practice in the wedding dress industry. Even today many US-based designers tend to take on these sizing practices. European size charts tend to run smaller than American size charts.

Reason #2

Most wedding dresses are special orders, not custom-made. You will try on a sample of a special order gown. Wedding dress designers don’t keep a lot of stock, instead, they make the gowns as the orders come in. Those orders are given based on their design size chart.

Each designer has a unique size chart used for their dresses. Wedding dresses are typically made with only 1-2 inches of the seam allowance because of that it is standard practice to order to the highest size a bride measures to.

For example:

You could be a size 12 in your chest. Size 14 in your waist. Size 10 in your hips.

We would order you a size 14 wedding dress because it is much easier to take a dress in than to take it out.

Those two reasons make it common for brides to order a dress a few sizes larger than what they are used to wearing. Just remember that the number on your dress tag does not define you. If you don’t want to see it, simply cut the tag out. Your dress will be custom fit to you during alterations anyways.

Are you ready to find your dream dress? Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery has the biggest designer wedding dress selection in Indianapolis. Book your bridal appointment today at Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery.

4 Mistakes To Avoid When Shopping For Your Wedding Dress

January 3, 2022 By // by Gretchen Reynolds

Shopping for your wedding dress is an exciting time! We are going through the 4 biggest mistakes to avoid when shopping for your wedding dress.

Not having a clear budget.

Searching for your perfect wedding dress can be magical… but that magic can easily fade away if you fall in love with a dress out of your price point. Before you start searching for your perfect dress set a price point and stick with it. You can always allow yourself a little bit of wiggle room but set a firm stopping point. Bridal stores usually say what their gown price ranges are. Book appointments at bridal stores that line up with your price point. Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery has special order wedding dresses for $1,200-$3,500. Gretchen’s Takes has off-the-rack wedding dresses for $800-$1,200.

Not having an open mind.

We always recommend bringing some type of inspiration to your bridal appointment. Ultimately that inspiration is a starting point. We see bride’s all the time who are set on a fitted gown when they come in and walk out with a ballgown. It is ok to not like something that you thought you would. You try on gowns in person to see what you truly love. It is super common for stylists to throw in wild card dresses to see what you like.

Letting someone in your group control the appointment.

When you go into your bridal appointment you are assigned a stylist that will help guide you through your appointment. Even with a stylist YOU are ultimately in control. We want to support you and your decisions. Think of your stylist as your cheerleader. We will champion your feelings! Your opinions and our knowledge combined will make a great team! If someone in your entourage is challenging you and your opinions or making you feel less then your best, you might have to reevaluate their participation.

Being too hard on yourself.

Everyone wants to look and feel their best on their wedding day! It’s completely natural to be critical of yourself and how you look while wedding dress shopping. Ultimately you are trying on a sample dress that isn’t custom fit for you and just might not be your size. Remind yourself that it is about how you feel! You need to FEEL beautiful, confident, and like a bride in your dress. Just remember, regardless of what dress you choose your fiance and attendees of your wedding will think you are beautiful. If they don’t… maybe reconsider those people in your life (they might be haters).

Now that you learned the 4 biggest mistakes when shopping for your wedding dress, you are ready to book your bridal appointment. Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery Indianapolis has over 600 special order dress and Gretchen’s Takes has a wonderful selection of take-it-today gowns. We can’t wait to help you find your perfect dress!

Bridal Terms You Should Know: Silhouettes

November 15, 2021 By // by Gretchen Reynolds Leave a Comment

When you walk into your first bridal appointment it can feel like people are speaking a different language. Not knowing bridal terms can make things feel more intimidating. It can also make it harder for you to describe what you want. We are here to help! Today we are breaking down the bridal terms for the six basic silhouettes.

Let’s start with the word silhouette…

A silhouette is simply the shape of the gown.

A Line

Any dress that gets wider from the waist to the hem. The smallest point sits at or above your waist then flares out all the way to the hem (the bottom of the skirt).

Ballgown

A-line dress with even more volume. Ball Gowns have a wide and full skirt that is usually filled with layers of tulle or crinolines.

Mermaid

A fitted dress that dramatically flares out at or just above the knees. The dramatic flair is caused by layers of tulle or crinoline. A mermaid gown gives the illusion of an hourglass silhouette.

Trumpet

A fitted dress that is less fitted around the hips and flares out at the middle thigh. It typically doesn’t have tulle or crinoline under the skirt. Trumpet style gowns are still dramatic but also have a sleek look.

Fit-and-Flare

If an A-line dress has too much volume and the trumpet is too fitted, the fit-and-flare will be perfect for you. Fit-and-Flare dresses are fitted through the top and waist but are not fitted waist down.

Sheath

Sheath wedding gowns are fitted in the waist and fall straight down. This silhouette doesn’t have any volume and is sleek and effortless.

Knowing what silhouette you are the most interested in is a great starting point during your bridal appointment. Your stylist will help you find your perfect silhouette. At Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery Indianapolis we have over 800 special order gowns for you to choose from. Finding your perfect dress is easy when you book your appointment at Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery Indianapolis. Book your appointment today!

Follow Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery on Instagram and Facebook for more tips and bridal information.

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Gretchen’s Takes: Premium Take It Today Gowns

September 20, 2021 By // by Gretchen Reynolds

Gretchen’s Takes is coming on October 2, 2021.

What is Gretchen’s Takes?

Gretchen’s Takes is Indy’s new premium take-it today wedding dress store. This means when you find your dream dress you can take it home with you that day!

How does it work?

Gretchen’s Takes works just like a normal Gretchen’s Bridal Gallery appointment. You will have a stylist to guide you during your appointment. They will guide you through what sizes, styles, and gowns will be perfect for your wedding vision. Once you say “YES!”, you will be checked out and then the gown is yours!

Are Gretchen’s Takes gowns previously worn?

Absolutely not! None of the gowns have been previously worn down the aisle. Our collection is full of beautiful and current gowns. A few gowns are previous samples but most gowns are specifically bought for this collection. Our collection is always changing with new beautiful gowns!

What sizes do you carry?

Gretchen’s Takes carries sample sizes 6-26! Don’t forget that alterations can take a dress down about two dress sizes.

How much do your dresses cost?

All Gretchen’s Takes gowns are priced $800-$1,200.

How often do you get new dresses?

We are constantly selling and getting new dresses. If you find one you LOVE don’t miss out on it!

Don’t miss out on your dream dress! You can book your appointment by calling 317-849-980.

Not having a clear budget.

Not having an open mind.

Letting someone in your group control the appointment.

Being too hard on yourself.

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