General Bridal Gown Information
Appointments and Trying On
Sizing Information
Timeframes For Ordering
Alterations
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General Bridal Gown Information
What do the terms ‘made to order’, ‘made to measure’ and ‘couture’ mean?
The vast majority of New Zealand bridal stores buy in the gowns they sell from large bridal dress manufacturers (most of whom manufacture out of the Far East). These dresses are usually ordered for the customer in the closest standard size and then altered to fit the bride. These gowns are referred to as ‘special order’ or ‘made to order’ gowns as each individual gown is made on receipt of a customer order.
‘Made to measure’ is where the bride chooses an existing design, which is then made up to fit her exact measurements. The price quoted normally includes a new pattern, and a number of fittings to perfect the fit.
‘Couture’ or ‘bespoke’ is where the customer sits down with the designer and a new dress is designed from scratch to the customer’s specification. With a couture gown, there is usually always a toile fitting, (to check the fit of the pattern), before the dress is cut and made up. Couture gowns typically start from $5000 upwards, as they are very time consuming and expensive to manufacture.
What type of gowns are available at Tulle Bridal?
Tulle Bridal currently provides made to order gowns. For brides needing a gown in a hurry we do also carry a limited number of ex-sample gowns which we can sell off the rack for a discounted price. These gowns would be dry-cleaned before sale and would be presented to you in “walk down the aisle” condition. (This can also be a good option for a bride looking for a designer gown at an economical price). We are also very pleased to announce that for the first time in Christchurch Louise Anderson “Boutique Collection” gowns are now available exclusively through Tulle Bridal as a ready-to-wear option. This collection offers brides the perfect combination of the quality and fabric of a couture gown but at a competitive price.
What is the price range of the gowns at Tulle Bridal?
We strive to offer a boutique shopping experience while keeping our gowns in the moderate price bracket so that they may be accessible to as many brides as possible. Our current range is priced from $950 - $3500 with the average cost being approximately $2100. Do give some thought to your budget for your wedding gown. Falling in love with a dress that is out of your price range will either break your budget or break your heart.
When should I start shopping for my wedding dress?
Our made to order gowns need to be specially ordered. It takes 3 to 5 months for made to order wedding dresses to arrive and ideally you will want your dress to arrive one to two months before your wedding day so it is best to begin shopping at least eight months in advance. Shopping early will give you the most choices and this will also allow plenty of time for fittings, alterations, and the coordination of your accessories.
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Appointments and Trying On
Should I make an appointment to try on gowns?
Yes please! In order to provide you with the best service possible we would appreciate an appointment being made to try on our gowns. We are very happy to accept walk-ins without an appointment if we are free, however to avoid the disappointment of our fitting room being unavailable an appointment is encouraged. Please note that we are usually fully booked for Saturday appointments at least one to two weeks in advance.
Appointments are approximately one hour and fifteen minutes in length for your first consultation. Should you need a second appointment, one hour will be allotted. To book your appointment, please call us at 03 379 7064 or email enquiries@tulle.co.nz. We are open Monday to Friday 10am to 5.30pm (browsing only from 5pm), and Saturday 10am to 4pm. Appointments are also available on Thursday evenings by request.
If you are unable to keep your appointment, we would appreciate 24 hours notice of your need to cancel or change your time.
Please note that as we run our appointments back to back it is unlikely that we will be able to accomodate you if you are more than 5 minutes early for your appointment. If you do find yourself running a little early there are plenty of pretty shops along Poplar Lane and High Street which you may like to have a browse in - or grab yourself a coffee from one of the many nearby coffee houses!
How much will a consultation cost?
A private consultation to try on our gowns will cost you $20. This will be refunded off the purchase price should you choose to buy one of our gowns. Any subsequent visits are free of charge. We encourage brides to pop in for a no obligation chat and to browse our selection of gowns before deciding if they would like to book an appointment for a try-on session.
Am I limited to the number of gowns I can try on?
No - you may try on as many as you wish! However your appointment will be for approximately 1 1/4 hours and usually we find that you will manage to try on 6-10 gowns during that time.
How will I know what style dresses to try on?
If it is your first time trying on wedding gowns we recommend that you try on a variety of styles and shapes, even if it may not seem like “your style” as most wedding dresses look much better, and different, on you than on the racks. Once you have determined the cut and style of dress that suits your body you can then begin to try variations of that style. Our staff will study your figure type and personality to help you select the styles that flatter you and suit your budget. Be open-minded: It’s important to try on at least one dress that isn’t like anything you ever thought you’d wear on your wedding day. It’s amazing how many brides walk in thinking they want to wear something simple and straight and walk out looking like Cinderella or vice versa. In short, the dream dress you decide on may surprise you, and you won’t have the chance to discover it if you swear off trying on styles you think aren’t you.
Should I bring someone else with me for my appointment?
You may want to bring a family member or friend along for a second opinion. We understand that you will want to have their help in making your selection, and we welcome them. Our bridal boutique can accommodate up to three guests. Choose one to three people whose opinion you value to accompany you on your visit, or feel free to come alone for your first appointment then possibly bring someone back for a second opinion. We suggest that if possible you avoid taking too many people to your consultation as too many opinions can conflict and confuse. This is YOUR decision, and you need to be able to listen to your own instincts about what dress makes you feel great. It’s easier to hear what your heart says if you don’t have a crowd with you. If at all possible please arrange childcare for small children. We have limited space in our store and it is difficult to accommodate buggies and pushchairs.
Do I need to bring anything special with me to my appointment?
You may wish to wear a strapless bra for your consultation however this is not absolutely necessary. We see all kinds and colours of underwear in our changing room so please do not worry too much about this! We also have torselettes, slips and crinolines available for your convenience. As we strive to keep our samples in pristine condition we do ask that you wear a minimal amount of make-up that day. A bridal gown is unlike any other item of regular clothing; in order to minimize wear and tear a bridal consultant will help you in and out of each gown.
Do I need to bring a pair of high heels to try on with the wedding dresses?
You may if you wish, however for your convenience we have high heel shoes in a full range of sizes available for you to use while trying on our gowns.
How can I ensure that my Bridal dress shopping experience is fun?
To make your day a pleasant and rewarding one, try not to visit too many bridal shops in the same day. When you are fresh, full of energy and enthusiasm, you will be more able to make sound judgments. On the other hand, if you come to the store exhausted, after trying a few styles you may be confused and find that all the wedding gowns begin to look the same. We would suggest going to a maximum of three stores in one day, and more ideally, only two.
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Sizing Information
What sizes of dresses do Tulle Bridal stock?
Our made to order range of gowns is available in sizes 6 – 26. The majority of our ready to wear and sample gowns are suitable for sizes 6 – 18. Please call or pop in for a chat if you have any queries regarding sizing.
I plan to lose weight before my wedding, how will I know what size dress to order?
Every experienced bridal seamstress will tell you that it is easy to take a wedding gown down in size. 95% of all future brides will need some alterations, and once you've opened up the side seams, the cost is typically the same whether you are taking them in 1/2" or 3". With this in mind we urge you not to postpone your purchase until you've reached your goal weight. Waiting too long can result in rush charges and expedited shipping to get the same dress. Why cause yourself stress ordering your gown at the last minute? At Tulle Bridal we suggest that you order your wedding gown at your current size. All gowns can be made smaller, but the opposite (called releasing the gown) is more difficult, more expensive, and rarely looks perfect. Sometimes, it’s not even possible to make the gown bigger as there’s just not enough fabric to work with. With all the stress of planning a wedding, weight loss plans often fall short of the goal. You don’t need the added stress of a dress that is too small and can’t be made to fit. However, if you lose weight and make your body over 2 sizes smaller than the gown you ordered, alterations will be costly to make the gown fit your smaller body and you may lose design elements of the gown that you won’t like losing. At the time of placing your order we can talk you through everything you need to consider in order to ensure we order the most appropriately sized gown for you.
My measurements vary greatly, which size dress should I order?
Special ordering is sometimes tricky because the various designers that have varying sizing charts and when you add the fact that no two brides have exactly the same body, you can start to understand why alterations are a necessary part of the gown selection process. When a Tulle Bridal staff member selects a size for your gown she is looking at many factors. One of the most important is your figure proportions. Since it is always better to take a large area in then let a small one out, our staff member is going to select a size determined by your largest proportion for the size category you best fit into. This means that if you have a large bustline in proportion to your waist and hips, she will select the size to best fit your bust and you will need alterations in the waist and hip areas to make them fit to your measurements. In contrast, a smaller busted bride will have to select a size according to her hip measurement. Alterations may be needed in the bust area. For an extra fee a ‘split size’ order is also possible, for example, a size 12 dress could be ordered with one meaurement (hip, waist or bust) being switched out to a 14, or a 10.
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Timeframes for Ordering
When should I order my gown?
As soon as you have made your decision on the gown you would like to wear you should place your order. Since our made to order gowns are not custom made to your measurements, alterations are usually needed and you will need to allow at least one month for these. We recommend ordering a minimum of 5 months before your wedding. If you have more time than that, order right away! It is much easier to plan the rest of your wedding once you have ordered your attire.
Can I place the order later?
If any order is placed less than 18 weeks away from your wedding date you will need to anticipate a "rush cut" charge to rush the order to ensure that your gown will arrive in time. If we need to place the order on a rush, we will discuss this with you.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, Eftpos and internet transfers. We also accept Visa and Mastercard for all purchses except Louise Anderson Boutique Collection gowns.
How much deposit do I need to give to enable me to order my wedding dress?
We require a 50% non-refundable deposit on your bridal gown before the order is placed and the further 50% balance is due within 10 days of being notified that your dress has arrived in our store.
Can I leave my gown with you until my wedding?
Unfortunately we have very limited shop space and are therefore unable to offer a storage facility for your gown. We require all gowns to be paid for and picked up within 10 days of our notifying you of the gown's arrival at Tulle.
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Alterations
Will I need to get my dress altered when it arrives?
Wedding gowns are more closely fitted than ordinary garments. Dresses are made to standard sizes so you can expect the fit of your gown to be close but not exact when it arrives. It’s normal that your wedding dress will need to be altered to achieve the perfect fit for your unique contours.
Are on-site alterations available?
Although we do not currently offer in house alterations, to ensure each bride has the perfect fit and a beautiful bustle, we have several seamstresses we recommend. All of the seamstresses we recommend are highly experienced in bridal alterations and do beautiful work. We can arrange your first alterations appointment for you if you like. You are of course free to use any alterations specialist you wish and some brides are fortunate enough to have a skilled friend or family member who can take care of this for them.
Are the alteration prices included in the cost of my wedding dress?
No. The alterations are a separate cost from your wedding dress made payable directly to the seamstress. Tulle Bridal can help facilitate your referral and appointment for alterations but your contract for alterations will be solely with the seamstress.
How much do alterations cost, and how long do they take?
Costs will vary depending on the complexity of the gown, what part of the gown needs to be altered, what type of bustle you want, and any custom work you would like done (for example, adding straps). Commonly alterations can range from $100 to $300. We recommend you ask your seamstress for a quote before she begins work on your gown. This will help to manage expectations, and set a guideline for comparison. Ideally, you should schedule your first appointment for alterations about 6 weeks before your wedding.
What is a bustle and why do I need it?
A bustle is where your train is hooked up so that you can dance and be carefree during your reception without hauling around the train or worrying about someone stepping on it, including yourself. Most brides find it convenient to bustle their gowns as soon as the ceremonial part of their day is over. An ‘over bustle’ is done where the train is taken up on the outside; these are done most times when the train is very decorative and you want that decoration to be shown off. Most commonly clear buttons are attached to your dress securely and a loop is added—these are called Points. An ‘under bustle’, or French bustle, is done beneath the dress and usually the points are done with ribbons that are tied together. Please do not mistake the ribbon tie that is underneath your dress on purchase as a bustle, or as a ribbon you put over your wrist to hang your train on. This is a ribbon that is provided to help the hanger handle more of the train's weight when it is hung up. If you try to wear your train in this manner you will be giving your guests a good show of you lovely bridal lingerie beneath. The seamstress you choose to do your alterations will also be able to advise you on the best method of bustling your gown.
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