Refinery 29
How to buy a wedding dress safely during the pandemic
They say that the wedding dress is one of the most important purchases that a person will make in life. Although this is an outdated belief today, for many people – even those who are not having the traditional wedding – choosing what to wear on their wedding day is a big deal. So when stores, including bridal stores, closed as a result of the pandemic, many brides were unsure of what to do. Wait for bridal stores to reopen or try to find a dress online? Given this, some brides chose to leave both and instead used items already in their closets. The brides who waited until the stores could reopen to begin the search are now asking themselves: Is it safe to buy a wedding dress in person? On the other hand, bridal stores are usually by appointment only, which means that very few people are allowed to do so at the same time. On the other hand, you will be in the store for an entire hour, instead of going in and out after spending a few times on the shelf. In addition, buying brides involves a significant amount of experimentation, while many popular retail stores like Zara and Uniqlo have temporarily closed their locker rooms and offer convenient return policies. That said, it is important that you prepare for the wedding commitment in advance. Ahead, find out what two bridal stores – one in New York and one in Chicago – suggest to their guests to ensure they feel comfortable and safe during their bridal shopping experience. What to do before your appointment Learn more about store safety guidelines At Spina Bride, a bridal store with offices in West Village and Chelsea in Manhattan, brides are asked to read the store’s COVID guidelines before arriving to your queries. According to owner Giselle Dubois, the list includes information on how many people a bride can bring with her to her appointment – two – what to do before arrival – wait until the exact time of your appointment before entering – and how it will be. commitment – guests must wear a mask at all times, respect the one-hour service hours and exchange shoes for complimentary slippers when entering. The list also asks all guests to inform the store prior to the consultation if they are unwell or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has symptoms of COVID-19. Upon arrival, store staff will perform temperature checks and ask guests to wash their hands or use the hand sanitizer provided. “We always leave [our guests] know that there is no way to remove the masks at any time during the consultation, and we also ask that you bring only two more people ”. – Eryn Jones, a stylist at Haute & Co. Haute & Co., a large bridal boutique located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, has similar regulations in place. “We try to talk to everyone on the phone before appointments,” stylist Eryn Jones of Haute & Co. told Refinery29. “We always inform you that there is no way to remove the masks at any time during the consultation and we also ask you to bring only two more people”. If you are still nervous about shopping in person, talk to the store before your consultation about your concerns and cleaning practices – they will be happy to answer all your questions. For example, at Haute & Co., all dresses that have been tried on are sprayed with a fabric disinfectant. All surfaces are also disinfected before and after each appointment, including the reception, sofas and changing rooms. At Spina Bride, the store has ultraviolet lamps that they use to sanitize the store during the 30-minute break between appointments. Remember that these stores want you to feel as comfortable as possible, so no question is too small. Limit your guests Considering that you used to be able to bring a great support system with you to your wedding engagement due to COVID, the guest lists are now understandably much smaller. So it is important to consider who you want to bring. If you have more people you want to include, bring an iPad or phone with video calling capabilities. That way, as many people as you want can be included, without putting anyone at risk. See this post on Instagram A post shared by Plus Size Wedding Dresses (@hauteandco) Have dress styles in mind Both at Spina Bride and Haute & Co., brides have only one hour to see the dresses. But while an hour may seem like a long time, when you go on your appointment with no real idea of the style of dress you’re looking for, those 60 minutes will likely fly by. “Take a look at what we carry and be prepared to talk to your stylist about your wedding schedule and your preferred dress style,” recommends Dubois. “We always ask in our questionnaire whether guests have a Pinterest board or something. We like to do our homework before the brides arrive. ”According to Jones, Haute & Co. brides fall into two categories: either they know exactly the style they are looking for or they have no idea and are there to find out. Before COVID, brides who fell into the latter category would tell Jones about their sense of style and what their wedding would be like, and she would take options behind the scenes based on her responses. This, however, can be difficult to fit within an hour. Knowing what styles you like before your appointment can help speed up the process, increasing your chances of finding a dress during your appointment. What to do at your appointment Wear a mask Once at your appointment, the most important thing you can do to keep yourself safe – and keep others, such as bridal shop employees, safe – is to wear a mask (maybe even two masks) at all times. According to the CDC, people should wear masks in all public settings, including at events and meetings, and “wherever they are close to other people”. Likewise, all bridal shop employees must wear theirs at all times. Pay attention to the time According to Jones, due to the restricted hours of one hour, guests should keep an eye on the clock to avoid running out of time before finding the dresses they like. She also suggests trying on as many dresses as possible to discover her silhouette, color, preferred length, etc. during your consultation. Even if you don’t find your exact wedding dress, it is useful to restrict your choices to a few of your own. Ask Questions One of the great benefits of individual bridal engagements is that you can ask as many questions as you need. That hasn’t changed because of COVID. In fact, you will have an even more personal experience now. This can be about changes – including whether they offer or not, how much they cost and how long they take – discounts, personalized orders and more. See this post on Instagram A post shared by SPINA BRIDE (@spinabride) Virtual appointments If, after reading this, you are still not sure about buying a wedding dress in person, don’t worry. Haute & Co. and Spina Bride – like most bridal stores now – offer some form of virtual shopping experience for customers who are not ready to buy IRL. “We have designers who are more than happy to show the store virtually, whether through Zoom or FaceTime,” says Dubois. At Spina Bride, brides who arrange a virtual meeting can pay for the dresses to be sent to try on. If one of the dresses sent ends up being the only one, the cost of shipping is waived. As Dubois points out, since the pandemic has spread, it is difficult for people to relax. A meeting where, most of the time, you are isolated from other customers and in a pre-sanitized space, may be just one of the few places where brides can do this. Which will help you to really enjoy the great moment you are looking for. “Come and enjoy an intimate experience,” she says. Remember to always wear a mask (or two) – and make it a bridal one. Like what you’re seeing? How about a little more R29 goodness, right here? These will be the biggest wedding dress trends of 202120 places to buy a wedding dress online9 Non-traditional celebrity wedding looks