Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start shopping for my perfect dress?

Wedding dresses can take anywhere from 6-8 months to come in, then allow up to two months for alterations before your wedding! We recommend starting your planning process about a year in advance. If your wedding is sooner than a year out, don’t panic! We do have options available.

Do I need to make an appointment?

Yes! We require appointments for everyone – including brides, moms, and accessory shopping. We require appointments simply to be sure there is a consultant as well as a fitting room available to you. You are welcome to bring up to three guests to accompany you for your appointment. Please feel free to contact us here to schedule your appointment!

What is the price range at The Perfect Dress?

Our orderable gowns start at around $1,200 and go up to about $9,500! On average, our brides typically find their dream dress within the $1,500 to $2,500. We also have an incredible off-the-rack selection with gowns primarily under $1,000! 

Do you charge for appointments?

Appointments during the week don’t cost a thing! However, on Saturdays and certain holiday dates, we require a $50 Reservation Fee. It’s non-refundable and non-transferable, but you can use it towards purchasing a gown during your  appointment. If you decide to purchase later, unfortunately, you’ll lose the fee. But no worries! You have up to 72 hours before your appointment to cancel or reschedule and get your reservation fee refunded.

When should my mom start shopping for her perfect dress?

Mother of the Bride/Groom dresses can take anywhere from 4-6 months to order, and allow 6-8 weeks before the wedding for alterations. However, sometimes our designers have a limited amount of stock to order immediately. Almost all of our gowns come in a multitude of colors! Traditionally, Mother of the Bride selects her color first, then Mother of the Groom to follow.

What should I expect at my first appointment?

We’re so excited to meet you! The week of your appointment, we will email you a bridal questionnaire to get to know you better & see what styles you’d like to try on. Upon arrival, you’ll meet with your Bridal Stylist to sit and chat about what styles you’re liking (or disliking)! From here, your Bridal Stylist will pull anywhere from 6-8 gowns based on your chat. Typically we will pull a few different styles/silhouettes for you to try since it is your first time! Once we have narrowed it down to your top 2-4 favorite gowns, we will retry those gowns with accessories including veils. If you choose to say YES, we will go ahead and take your measurements, discuss sizing, collect payment in full and go over your contract with you!

How long is my appointment?

We allow up to an hour and half for all appointments! Please be sure to arrive on time to take advantage of your full hour and a half time. If you reach the end of your appointment and still are unsure, don’t worry – we completely understand! Please feel free to ask your consultant for a follow up appointment to come back and retry your favorites.

Will I be able to try on my size?

We offer a wide selection of sizes ranging from 4-34! During your appointment, we will do our best to choose the most comfortable size we may have available in store to try on. When ordering your gown, we always take measurements and guide you to which size your gown designer recommends! 

How many people should I bring to my appointment?

You are welcome to bring up to three guests to accompany you at your appointment! We also find that any more than three trusted loved ones’ opinions can get overwhelming and cause unnecessary stress on what should be the perfect day! If you would like to bring more than three guests, please feel free to give us a call and inquire with a manager for additional options! 

Can I bring champagne?

You are welcome to bring champagne! Respectfully, we please ask you to only bring one bottle and your own drinkware. We have a designated drink station away from gowns just to be safe – we’d hate for any accidents to happen!  If you would like to elevate your experience, ask about our Appointment Experiences!

The Perfect Dress

of Sarasota

3750 S Osprey Ave
Sarasota, FL 34239
info@theperfectweddingdress.net
(941) 925-5888

Boutique Hours

Monday through Saturday
10 AM – 5 PM
Wednesdays
11 AM – 7 PM
Closed Sundays