The Cicily Bridal Guide To Wedding Dress Sample Sale Shopping
It’s SALE time in the world of retail. The high street is full of windows shouting “We are having a SALE”, and it’s no different in our wedding world.
You’ll have noticed on your social media feeds of the bridal shops you follow that they are having a Sample Sale, but what exactly is a Sample Sale?
It’s a term that us wedding-industry peeps use on a regular basis but to a newly engaged bride might mean very little. We all know (and most of us LOVE) a sale but what makes a Sample Sale different from any other sale on the high street?
Let Cicily Bridal hold your newly engaged hand and guide you through our wedding dress Sample Sale because with this advice you could find the dress of your dreams at a price that doesn’t give you nightmares!
Here’s our top 5 Tips on Savvy Sample Sale Shopping;
You need to understand what the term Sample Sale actually means. Samples are the wedding dresses that hang on a boutique’s rails and are tried on by brides during their appointments. Why do some of these dresses become sale dresses you might wonder? The main reason is that boutiques need to make space for the new season collections from their designers. With the ongoing creative process designers decide to discontinue certain styles from their previous collections and so these dresses can no longer be ordered again. Not all dresses in sample sales are discontinued styles, however. Some are there because the boutique does not represent that design label anymore or the designer might have updated a style so the one in store is no longer a true reflection. These ‘sale’ dresses become collectively known as a #SampleSale.
What you must realise, and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE understand is that most of these dresses will be a little less than perfect. There will most probably be little marks or there could be a button missing here and there. But all of this can be remedied with dry cleaning or a little magic from the seamstresses. If you are unable to see past these small imperfections or that other brides have tried on the dresses then a sample sale is not the place for you to buy your wedding dress. However, if you can then you are going to love, love, love the price tags……and this is where we make way for number….
……..THE PRICE. With having to say a fond farewell to some of our sample dresses we say “Hello” to the amazing price tags! The dresses can have up to 70% off!!!!! So for example, one of our stylish boho inspired creations that would normally retail for £1500 could be as little as £800 in a sample sale!!! Yes, there are HUGE reductions to be had. Can you imagine the smug feeling of buying your beautiful wedding dress with possibly over £500 off the original price? #Savvyshopping!
The reduced price tag might be tempting and we all love a bargain but a Sample Sale is not the time to try dresses for your first time. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!! Try on dresses before you attend a sample sale so you know your style and what suits you. Then, fully loaded with knowledge you can shop savvy during the sale. Attend sales at boutiques that you have researched – do they stock dresses from designers you love? Do they stock the styles of dresses that you know suit you and fit into the wedding look you are trying to create? Also, find out what is the size range of the sale dresses, the majority at Cicily Bridal are a size 12/14 and can be taken in by up to two sizes fairly easily.
If you are not in a position to buy a dress or are not ready to commit to one don’t book your very first appointment at a boutique during their sample sale. You won’t enjoy it as much. Remember a sale is a sale wherever it is being held – slightly manic and very busy. The most successful brides at a sample sale are those who have either tried on before so know the style they love or are ready to commit to a dress because they know what suits them. As in any sale, once it’s gone it’s gone. So if you fall in love with a dress but are not ready or can’t buy it at that time then the next bride to try it will be!
The Terms & Conditions…. All sample sale dresses are sold as seen but each boutique is different with regards to service level and after care. At Cicily Bridal we expect 100% payment for the dress. Dry cleaning is not included but we will organise cleaning with the best dress cleaning experts in the industry (average cost £60). Any remedial work (eg. buttons, lace damage) will be carried out by our seamstresses with no extra cost to the bride. We will store the dress for you free of charge until the time of your fittings. Fittings costs are not included in the price of the dress.
So remember to ASK QUESTIONS to fully understand what level of service etc you will receive after the sale and what is included in the sale price.
Bring people you trust. We have all got carried away in a sale and bought something we wish we hadn’t, blinded by the price tag! I always seem to buy shoes that are too small, convincing myself that they will stretch! Sample sale dresses have amazing price tags, some of Cicily Bridal’s cost as little as £300! So the temptation to grab a bargain is huge. If your shopping behaviour is impulsive as soon as you see a sale sign then invite people who will bring you back from the brink of making a wrong decision. Sale dresses are non-refundable so making the wrong decision can be costly! Three is the magic number for your entourage. Any more can cause confusion with the excitement and enthusiasm of their thoughts. However, with good research and bridal consultants you can trust…like us, shopping on your own is also a great option so you are not clouded by other peoples opinions.
So there you have it!!
5 tips to savvy-up your Sample Sale shopping. Believe me, if you follow them then you will be going home with that smug look upon your face that we all get when we have bagged the ultimate bargain.
Cicily Bridal’s Sample Sale essential info:
Date: Saturday, 26th January
By appointment only
Time: 10am – 5pm
Telephone : 01530 587336
Email: info@cicilybridal.com
Boutique Address: Cicily Bridal, 6 Bath Street, Ashby de la zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 2FH
