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Why Choose a Designer Wedding Dress?
When you start wedding dress shopping, you'll quickly discover just how much choice there is. Different silhouettes, fabrics, price points and, of course, designers.
So, is a designer wedding dress worth it?
For many brides, choosing a designer gown isn't about having a particular name on the label. It's about the design, quality, fabrics and details that make the dress feel special when you put it on.
And buying designer doesn't necessarily mean paying the full made-to-order price.
At & She Loves Bridal in Arborfield, near Reading, Berkshire, we specialise in designer sample wedding dresses available off-the-peg, giving you the opportunity to find an incredible designer gown for less.
Here's why a designer wedding dress could be right for you.
What makes a designer wedding dress different?
A designer wedding dress is about much more than the label.
Established bridal designers develop their own collections, bringing together particular silhouettes, fabrics, construction techniques and details to create a recognisable style.
Some are known for sleek, contemporary bridalwear. Others specialise in romantic gowns, statement silhouettes or intricate detailing.
Finding designers whose style feels like yours can make wedding dress shopping much easier.
Beautiful fabrics and attention to detail
One of the things you'll often notice when trying on a designer wedding dress is how it feels.
The choice of fabric, construction and finishing can completely change the way a gown sits and moves.
Details such as lace placement, boning, seams, necklines and embellishment are considered as part of the overall design rather than added as an afterthought.
Sometimes those differences look subtle on the hanger but become much more noticeable once you put the dress on.
Distinctive designs
You don't necessarily want your wedding dress to look like everybody else's.
Designer collections give you access to distinctive silhouettes and details that can be difficult to find in more mass-produced bridalwear.
You might love the effortless Australian style of Made With Love, the modern femininity of Jenny Yoo, the contemporary silhouettes of Jane Hill, or the statement bridal style of Chosen by KYHA.
The right designer isn't necessarily the most famous one.
It's the one whose dresses make you feel most like yourself.
A choice of different bridal styles
One of the benefits of shopping across several bridal designers is that you don't have to commit to one particular look before your appointment.
Our collection includes designers such as Madi Lane, Trish Peng, Hera Couture, WONA Concept and more.
That means you can try different approaches to bridal style in the same appointment.
You might arrive thinking you want a fitted wedding dress and leave with an A-line. Or discover that the designer you'd never considered creates exactly the sort of gown you've been looking for.
Keep an open mind. Wedding dresses can look very different on you than they do on a hanger or screen.
Do designer wedding dresses cost more?
They can, particularly when you're ordering a brand-new gown through a traditional made-to-order bridal boutique.
But that's not the only way to buy designer.
A designer sample wedding dress is a genuine designer gown that has formed part of a bridal boutique's collection. When these dresses become available for sale, they can often be bought for considerably less than their original retail price.
At & She Loves Bridal, our designer sample gowns typically range from £500 to £2,500.
That means you can access the quality and design of luxury bridalwear without necessarily paying the full made-to-order price.
What is a designer sample wedding dress?
A sample wedding dress is a gown that has typically been part of a bridal boutique's collection for brides to try on.
It hasn't previously belonged to another bride or been worn at her wedding.
At & She Loves Bridal, our designer samples are sold off-the-peg. The dress you try on is the actual dress available to purchase.
There's no waiting for another gown to be made and delivered.
If you find the one, you can take her home.
How do I choose the right wedding dress designer?
You don't need to know your favourite bridal designer before you book your appointment.
In fact, we'd encourage you not to become too attached to a particular label.
Instead, think about what you love.
Do you prefer clean and minimal? Romantic and soft? Structured? Fitted? Dramatic? Contemporary?
Looking through designer collections online can help you identify styles you're naturally drawn to, but trying them on is where you'll really discover what works for you.
Browse before your appointment
Take a look at our current designer collections and save a few gowns that catch your eye.
Because our dresses are sold off-the-peg, our collection is constantly changing.
Know your budget
Have an idea of what you're comfortable spending before you start trying dresses.
It makes the experience much more enjoyable when you're looking at gowns that are realistic options for you.
Remember to leave room in your budget for any alterations and accessories too.
Be willing to try something different
Your stylist may suggest something that doesn't immediately look like "you" on the rail.
Try it anyway.
Some of the best wedding dress moments happen when a bride falls in love with something she would never have picked herself.
Can a designer wedding dress be altered?
Yes. It's completely normal for a wedding dress to need alterations to achieve the right fit.
This is particularly relevant when buying off-the-peg because you're purchasing an existing gown rather than ordering a particular size from the designer.
What can be altered will depend on the construction of the individual dress, so it's something to consider when choosing your gown.
Don't let the number on the label be the only thing that determines whether you try a dress.
Designer Wedding Dresses in Berkshire
If you'd love a designer wedding dress but don't love the idea of the traditional price or ordering process, come and explore our collection.
& She Loves Bridal is a private bridal studio in Arborfield, near Reading, Berkshire, with more than 300 designer wedding dresses in sizes 4–24.
Every appointment is private and one-to-one, giving you the space to explore different designers, silhouettes and styles without pressure.
And every gown is available off-the-peg.
So when you find the designer dress that feels like yours, you can take her home.
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