Introduction

Planning a wedding is an exciting time in any couple's life. However, it can also be a stressful period, especially when it comes to finding the perfect wedding dress. Wedding dresses are often one of the most significant expenses in a wedding budget, but there's a way to get a dream gown without breaking the bank – bridal sample sales. 

In this blog, Victoria from & Wolf Bridal will explore nine compelling reasons why buying your wedding dress at a sample sale could be your best decision for your special day.

So before we start, what is a sample sale? This event is where bridal shops sell their sample dresses at discounted prices. They can last a day, three, a week or even a month. They are slightly different to buying from wedding dress shops that specialise in 'reloved' or 'used' wedding dresses as they won't have the vast array of bridal designers to choose from, but if you are in love with dresses by a particular designer such as Jesus Peiro, Susan Neville or Madi Lane going to shops that are official stockists, will give you more choice of your favourite designer often including this seasons wedding dresses.

1. Incredible Savings

Probably the most compelling reason to consider a bridal sample sale is the incredible savings you can enjoy. Bridal shops like ours need to make space for new inventory every year, and therefore, they will hold a sale and offer their sample dresses at significantly reduced prices. These designer wedding dress discounts can be anywhere from 30% to 70% off the original price, usually depending on the season that the dress is from, allowing you to invest your saved money in other aspects of your wedding or even your honeymoon. 

Fact: At & Wolf Bridal, when we hold our sample sales, our discounted wedding dresses are reduced by a minimum of 50% with savings of up to 75%.

2. Designer Dresses Within Reach

Brides worldwide dream of wearing a designer wedding dress, but the price tags are often prohibitive for many. Wedding dress sample sales, however, provide an excellent opportunity to own a designer wedding dress without the designer price tag. You might find stunning dresses from top designers that were previously beyond your budget but are now well within your reach.  

3. Unique and Hard-to-Find Styles

Sample sales offer an array of unique wedding dress styles that you might not find in regular collections. Boutiques often include dresses from past seasons or discontinued lines, allowing you to stand out with a one-of-a-kind gown. If you're looking for something extraordinary and original, a sample sale is the place to find it. These gowns usually have the most considerable discount, as they can no longer be ordered.

Bridal shops usually discount these by around 70% if a gown or designer is discontinued. These dresses will usually be consigned to specialist used wedding dress shops if they don't sell during the sale, so be prepared to pay more if it turns out to be the one and you need to sleep on it.

4. Immediate Availability

If you're getting married on a tight schedule, waiting several months for a made-to-order wedding dress might not be feasible. You can walk away with your dream gown on the same day at a sample sale. With no production wait time and immediate availability of wedding dresses in the sale, you can focus on other aspects of wedding planning, knowing that your dress is already taken care of.

DId you know that Outside of a sample sale, particularly relevant if you are getting married in less than six months, & Wolf Bridal will sell any, including new dresses, off the rack at 20% off?

5. Premium Quality and Genuine Designer Dresses

While sample dresses have been tried on before, reputable boutiques maintain their gowns in top condition. Any minor wear and tear is usually repairable, but more often than not, only dry cleaning and the odd replacement button are needed. This means you can find a high-quality affordable designer wedding dress that still looks and feels brand new – at a fraction of the cost.

DID YOU KNOW? All of the dresses of a well-known chain of bridal warehouses, you know who I mean...first word rhymes with shed, are basically shop samples that dozens of brides may have tried on before you? 

6. Made to Fit and an Opportunity for Customization

Buying a sample dress doesn't mean you have to compromise on your vision. You can still personalise the dress through alterations and customisations. Skilled seamstresses will tailor the dress to your exact measurements, a part of the process that all wedding dresses will need to go through if you want them to look like a perfect fit, even ones made to order. A customised wedding dress is also an option as they can add unique touches, such as sleeves or lace, to make it yours. This way, you get the best of both worlds: a designer dress at a discounted price with the personal touch of customisation.

7. Less Stress, More Fun

When you find a dress or a designer you love, wedding dress shopping can be overwhelming and emotionally taxing, especially if the dress you love is far more expensive than what you have budgeted. When buying wedding dresses on a budget sample sales offer you the opportunity to go bridal studio shopping, have a great experience, and find the dress you have been lusting after on sale for £999 instead of £2500. You can focus on finding a gown that makes you feel beautiful and confident without worrying about the strain on your budget.

8. Eco-Friendly Wedding Dress Options

Choosing to buy a sample dress is an environmentally responsible decision. Eco-conscious wedding dress shopping means that when you purchase a floor sample, you're giving a dress a second chance to shine rather than contributing to the demand for new dresses and increased production. Reduce your carbon footprint and embrace sustainable wedding dress shopping with a sample sale purchase.

9. Support Local Bridal shops

Sample sales take place in local bridal shops. Participating in your local bridal boutique events supports small, usually women-led businesses and contributes to your local economy. These bridal shops provide personalised service, expert advice, and ongoing support on top of a unique shopping experience that larger retailers and high street shops might not offer.

Final Thoughts and some Tips for wedding dress sample shopping

From incredible savings and affordable bridal gowns to unique wedding dress finds and immediate availability, the bridal gown sample sale benefits are numerous. There can also be some downsides, but we have provided some tips and things to consider to negate this.

Sample sales can feel rushed. Many wedding dress shops will only give you an hour to look through the dresses, try them on, and decide if you want to say yes to the dress. This breaks down to about 40 minutes trying on dresses and 20 writing up the sale.

At & Wolf Bridal, we trialled running our mid-season bridal sample sale as mini appointments, and they were so successful that we decided to run all sale appointments as full consultations, giving our brides the advice and confidence to say yes to the dress.

Most shop samples will be on the smaller side, with very few sizes 16+ unless the shop carries a wide range of sizes. This can also be the case in reloved shops.

No matter how much you love the dress or that it's a steal. Don't be tempted to buy a dress that is too small, even by one size, as that is a lot of pressure to put on yourself to lose weight - 1 dress size = 15 lbs. It’s also worth remembering that the cost of letting a dress out could cancel all your savings.

Bridal shops don’t tend to hold dresses if you need to bring someone else along or want to think about it, so it can feel very pressurised as once a sample has been sold, it is usually gone for good.

Before attending a bridal sample sale, try on some wedding dresses, especially if the sale appointment is only an hour long. This way, you will have an idea of what you are looking for.

Don’t attend a wedding dress sample sale without everyone you need to be with you to say yes. This can be difficult if the sale is only for a few days, so if they can’t be with you, see if you can video call them.

This final tip is relevant for every appointment; go in with the mindset of ‘I may find my dress today’. This will help your fight and flight response by engaging with your subconsciousness that you are open to finding a wedding dress.

Conclusion

Finding the perfect wedding dress is essential to creating your dream wedding day look. Even without being on a tight budget, it can be a daunting task. Shopping at a sample sale can make the process much more enjoyable. Don't miss the chance to own a high-quality, stunning gown that fits your budget while making an eco-friendly and community-minded choice. 

Book in with & Wolf Bridal or head to your local bridal boutique during the next sample sale event, and you might just find the dress of your dreams.

Happy shopping!