FAQ
Hey beautiful bride! This is your guide to prepping for your Adore Bridal appointment. We love setting our brides up with a few simple but essential details ahead of their visit, so you know exactly what to expect.
These “Top 10” come straight from the questions we hear all the time. It’s a quick read, but our hope is that it helps eliminate any surprises so you can walk in feeling confident, present, and fully ready for your magical bridal moment, one that lives up to every bit of the anticipation.
Your bridal appointment is a 90-minute, personalized experience designed to help you find your dream dress without the stress. We know every bride’s journey looks a little different. Some brides say “yes” in less than 90 minutes, and some need more time.
Whether you have multiple appointments planned or you’re putting your trust in us alone, be sure to loop in your bridal stylist so she can best guide you through your decision. We will always do our best to accommodate you if you need more time, even if that means coming back another day. Your stylist has walked hundreds of brides through this moment and shares your same goal: finding the dress you absolutely can’t walk away from.
For the first hour, she’ll make every minute count, getting you into as many gowns as possible. The final 30 minutes are reserved for revisiting favorites and soaking in all the fun moments like accessorizing, celebrating, signing the wall, and taking photos with your favorite people.
We do require it. Be mindful that you’re trying on sample dresses that others will wear after you. If you don’t have traditional underwear, biker shorts, leggings, or tights work perfectly.
Please be sure to have this conversation with your people before you come in. It’s deeply important to us that we respect what you’re comfortable spending, and knowing that number ahead of time allows us to thoughtfully select styles for you and maximize your time in gowns. It would be heartbreaking to fall in love with a dress only to realize it’s not truly an option. We don’t want that for you, and you don’t want that either, so let’s start that conversation now.
Our gowns typically range from $1,200 to $4,400. We carry a small selection under $1,400 and a handful above $2,200, with most of our collection falling within the $1,400 to $2,200 sweet spot.
What does that mean? While browsing and picking out a few styles yourself can be helpful, and you’ll have the chance to do that when you create a wishlist on our website, sorting through hundreds of dresses can quickly become overwhelming and take away from your appointment time. On a hanger, it’s also hard to truly see how a gown will look, fit, or even be priced.
That’s why we do things a little differently in-store. Your stylist is expertly trained and knows our gowns inside and out, from color options to customizations to how each dress comes to life on a real body. You can trust us to pull styles you’ll love and that fit your price point.
Our pre-appointment process is designed to be thorough and helpful. When you lean in, sharing your style preferences, inspirations, and must-haves, you give your stylist the insight she needs to guide you. During your appointment, being open about what you love and don’t allows her to do her best work, helping you feel truly understood and hopefully say “yes” to your dream dress.
All we ask is that you stay honest and present throughout the process. You won’t hurt our feelings or the dress’s either.
Such a good question. But we will ask one back. Are you an emotional person? If you don’t typically cry, don’t expect to cry. Your experience may not look like someone else’s or like what you see on TV, and that’s perfectly okay.
Your stylist has guided hundreds of brides through this moment and will help you recognize every sign that you’re standing in “the one” and fully experiencing it.
You’ve said “yes”, now comes the financial commitment, and we get it, it’s a big one. Purchases like this aren’t everyday moments, so we’re here to guide you through it.
Payment looks different for every bride. If you’re paying in full, we accept card, cash, or check. If you’d like to explore a payment plan, talk to someone on our team during your appointment or call ahead at 309-291-0838.
At checkout, you’ll have the option to leave a gratuity for your bridal stylist. Our stylists don’t work on commission, so their focus is 100% on helping you find your special dress, not on making a sale. You are never just a number to them.
The credit card terminal will offer preset percentages, a custom option, or the ability to skip entirely. No pressure. We love our stylists, our stylists love our brides, and this is simply a sweet way to give a little love back.
Brides have been leaving their mark since 2013, and as you look around, you’ll see the names of past Adore Brides. It’s so fun to spot someone you know and sign nearby.
When you add your name, you become part of our Adore family and join the brides who quietly encourage the next bride standing in that room, hoping to find her dress. It’s also a sweet reminder for us to give thanks for you and the moment we shared.
The best time to order? Right after you say yes! Most special-order gowns take 5 to 8 months to arrive, and you should always expect alterations to achieve the perfect fit. This will be separate from our store, but we will guide you to the best options.
Ordering at least 10 to 12 months before your wedding is ideal if your timeline allows.
A few additional things to note:
- We will only put you in a dress we’re confident will arrive in time.
- If you’re on a shorter timeline, ask about designers with faster turnaround or our in-stock inventory. Your stylist will consider it all and show you the best options for you.
- Some brides get super lucky! Occasionally, a gown is already in stock or in production. We can’t predict this, but if your dress arrives early, you’re one of the lucky ones. We love when that happens, but it’s not something we can guarantee. Be sure to share the earliest possible wedding date with your stylist so she can keep it top of mind.
We promise to do everything we can to make your dress shopping experience feel perfect. We know this is about so much more than just a dress, it’s the beginning of a new chapter in your life. It’s a big deal, and we treat it that way, making sure it feels fun, special, and truly magical.
Thank you for choosing Adore and sharing this season of your life with us.