**Why boutique is best**

Buying online is a very modern and convenient way to shop. These days we tend to buy a whole host of products in this way from food, shoes, clothes, Christmas gifts and even holidays. Some of you would have even met your husband/wife to be online so may definitely consider purchasing your wedding dress this way too. What could possibly go wrong you may ask? In actual fact there are so many things that could go wrong leaving you disappointed and out of pocket.

The majority of us will have made a previous online purchase and then had to deal with our buyers remorse but is it worth risking that when buying probably the most important garment that we will ever wear. The true beauty of a bridal gown takes time. Most designers ask us to allow around 6 months when ordering our customers gowns as most of the detail is done by hand. Sewing together each layer of lace or tulle for example takes TIME. There is then the bead work, embellishments and fastenings. All put together with love and care to ensure the quality that you should demand.

Buying from a registered stockist such as The Wedding HQ, assures that you will only receive a genuine garment from an actual bricks and mortar retailer, where we work closely with your chosen designer to ensure the best service possible. You can trust that you wont fall victim to a scam where some online sellers are using designers digital images, lulling customers into a false sense of security yet supplying a far inferior product. If you are still to be convinced, keep reading below where we can advise on why Boutique is Best.

FABRIC – Yes the fabric may be described as Tulle, Satin or Chiffon but what does that actually mean in reality? There are so many different grades of these fabrics. If it is a cheap grade tulle this can be very stiff and more suited to a fishing net than a wedding dress. It can be very itchy and uncomfortable (probably highly flammable too) and doesn’t move how you want it to do. You need to actually physically feel the fabric that you will be wearing to ensure the that the structure and support is there for your shape too.

MEASURING – Inevitably you will need to be measured for your gown. At The Wedding HQ like most Boutiques, we have years of experience at measuring you perfectly and transposing those measurements against each designers size charts. Believe it or not most ladies wouldn’t know the difference between the high/low hip or have a clue where on the bust to measure either. If you are petite or particularly tall we may need to go for custom sizing, certainly to accommodate a particularly lacey hemline.

SIZE – How do you know what size to order? Many wedding dresses do not run to the high street sizes so, often you will need a larger than normal size. This cannot however be taken for granted though, as a dress silhouette can also have an impact on the fit. The vast majority of ladies will be in between sizes so why not take advantage of your boutiques expertise when deciding which is the best option for you. We can tell you how a gown will sit on the hip or waist for example or how you can expect it to move with you. All of these factors can be extremely confusing and must be approached with care and confidence.

ALTERATIONS – The most important stage of your gown purchase has arrived and before the big day you may need a few nip and tucks to make sure your gown fits perfectly to your body. We at The Wedding HQ have an in house seamstress (whom works independently) like many boutiques, available to deal with any necessary amendments. Most gowns have hidden boning and supports unlike your regular clothing so, do not just entrust your precious wedding dress to just anyone.

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM – So you have searched for that designer dress that you fell in love with that is £1800 with your local stockist but you come across a seller online that is only charging £350. Seems very tempting doesn’t it? A bargain you might think. Approach with caution though as looks can be deceiving. More and more often we are seeing online disasters where the dresses show up looking NOTHING like the real thing, or maybe its the wrong colour or size. A true bridal shop would hardly ever expect a full and final payment on your dress unless its an ex sample/sale dress that is available to take away with you on the day (off the peg). Most of us work on a deposit basis but online retailers want you to pay the whole amount and it is often very difficult almost impossible to get a refund if when it arrives its not what you expected to receive. Due to time restraints this could then make it difficult and more costly to get a replacement gown in time for your big day.

Save yourself the heartache and start the search for your perfect gown with a reputable local boutique. Many will come highly recommended by friends and family whom will have already enjoyed their excellent service and expert advice.

Here at The Wedding HQ we would love to welcome you and your bridal party into our lovely Boutique, where we would be happy to assist you in finding ‘THE ONE’. Your dream dress awaits. Xx