Tips

Every bride is different and this is very personal to you but we would advise looking for your dress around 12-18 months in advance. This does not however mean that we need this amount of time to order your gown in. We have some of the worlds best designers and we can order all our gowns to arrive within a 6 month period with a further 12 weeks for alterations.

Allowing 12-18 months takes away the pressure as some brides do find it tricky to find their perfect dress so allowing this amount of time will ensure you don’t have to panic and you can make a clear decisions.

Don’t panic if you have less than 6 months as we are able to get certain designers and styles in much quicker than this so we are always able to help. But this is something we will need to work with you on. We also have our Off the peg outlet store where you can take home your dress that very same day!

8 to 22 – Bridal sizes do tend to differ slightly so don’t be put off if you have to go up a size or two. We also now offer the Your size collection, where we have tried to get multiple sizes in different gowns so our brides can really envisage the gown. Please do not worry about bridal sizing it even differs amongst the designers, it really is just a number!

£1500 – £2500 with our Pronovias Atelier gowns, Jane Hill and Allure Couture gowns sitting at the top end from £2500-£4650.

Yes we run a very easy to use online booking system – we have a full boutique throughout the week, so unfortunately we cannot accept walk in’s – although we think this is best, as it gives you the best opportunity to really research what it is you want from your gown, and also to see what we can offer you on this journey from saying Yes to saying I do.

Yes they certainly are, we have four beautiful homely and luxury bridal suits where your appointment will take place. These rooms are completely private away from any other customers and have a very calm tranquil feel. See our videos for more details.

We offer private appointments in our four dedicated bridal suits, if you select our luxury bridal appointments you can bring upto 4 guests with you, and in our cloud experience you can have 5. We advise bringing those with you who know you best! Want to come on your own? So you can really delve into what it is you want, amazing we are always here to help!

It’s always advisable to wear a pair of seam free nude knickers if possible and a nude strapless bra, however don’t panic if you don’t have either as with most dresses you don’t need to wear a bra due to them being boned and padded but please do wear knickers!

We provide you with shoes however if you have already bought your dream wedding shoes please bring them along as we absolute love a good pair of heels!

Don’t panic we have a large collection our lingerie available to buy in the boutique from stick on bras, bra cups, invisible knickers and much more.

We advise you to pick around 4/5 dresses at the start of your appointment and then once we have a better understanding of what you are/not liking we will select some gowns that we think will be good for you.

Be open when it comes to trying different styles on, but do go with what you are drawn to and thinking, as you know yourself what you feel your absolute best in, and it is our job to help you uncover this!!! If you are worried please don’t, we see lots on girls in dresses every day, and we know what will suit your figure best.

The dresses also always look different on hangers. They also look very different on models you see online so be open minded and you will find the most perfect dress for you.

If you find your perfect wedding dress with us we require a 60% deposit at the point of ordering and then the remaining balance is due 12 weeks later. Once your gown is then ready it will be shipped directly to us.

We do have a list of recommended seamstresses that we work with regularly. You will be provided with all of their details upon becoming a Dotty Bride.

Your first fitting will take place 12 weeks prior to your big day, then your subsequent fittings will follow sometimes up to a week prior to the day depending on what you are having done. We start your fittings so close to the wedding as most women tend to loose weight in the run up to the day, so this is to ensure we get a perfect fit.

Yes, great question – do your research, make sure we stock dresses you are drawn too, follow us on social media so you can get a feel for how we look after our brides as soon as they step through our doors. Our main aim for you is to find your dress in the most comfortable, yet luxurious environment. We have the best job and you will feel that throughout your entire appointment. So many come to us and find their dream gown, and it really is our pleasure to be on this journey with you. Speak to us in advance of your appointment, ask questions, and come feeling ready – don’t worry about a thing, this is exciting and you will love every second!

We never want any of our brides to feel overwhelmed or stressed when it comes to finding their dream gown. This should be the single most exciting experience, and sometimes single is the word to describe it, as more often than not now people do find their dream dress on their first appointment, so its being open and excited to that happening. We also have provided our Bride to Be’s with a buying guide written by our in house bridal coach, Alex. Alex was a bride so knows the journey inside out. She now has coached so many brides through this journey. So be sure to sign up to our mailing list where you will be sent the buying guide, which we hope will be a great resource for you!