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How to buy a wedding dress safely during the pandemic
They say a wedding dress is one of the most important purchases a person will make in his life. Although it is an outdated belief these days, it is up to many people – even those who do not have traditional marriages – to choose what to wear on their wedding day. When stores, including bridal shops, were closed due to the pandemic, many brides who were not yet sure were sure what to do. Wait until the bridal shops reopen or try to find a dress online? Although some brides have faced this, they already carry items in their closets. The brides who did wait until stores were allowed to start their search again are now wondering: Is it safe to buy a wedding dress in person? On the one hand, bridal shops are often only appointments, which means that very few people are allowed at the same time. On the other hand, you will be in the store for an entire hour, rather than going in and out after a few swipes of the rack. Bridal shopping also involves a significant amount of trials, while many popular retail stores such as Zara and Uniqlo have temporarily closed their locker rooms and offer easy return policies. However, it is important to prepare in advance for your bridal date. Before you find out what two bridal shops – one in New York City and the other in Chicago – suggest to their guests to ensure they feel comfortable and safe during their bridal shopping experience. What should you do before making an appointment? Read more about the store’s safety guidelines. At Spina Bride, a bridal shop with establishments in West Village and Chelsea in Manhattan, brides are asked to read the COVID guidelines of the shop before coming for their appointments. According to Giselle Dubois, owner, the list includes information on how many people a bride can bring to her appointment – two – what to do before arrival – wait for the exact appointment before joining – and what the appointment will be like – guests must wear a mask at all times, respect the appointment time of one hour and exchange their shoes for complimentary slippers when they enter. The list also asks that all guests notify the store before their appointment if they feel unwell, or if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Upon arrival, employees of the store will do temperature checks and ask guests to wash their hands or use the hand sanitizer. ‘We always leave [our guests] know that at no point during the appointment are their masks taken off, and we also ask that they bring only two extra people with them. ”- Eryn Jones, Stylist At Haute & Co. Haute & Co., a large bridal boutique in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, has similar regulations. “We try to talk to everyone by phone before appointments,” says the stylist from Haute & Co. Eryn Jones to Refinery29. “We always let them know that at no point during the appointment could they take off their masks, and we also ask that they bring only two extra people.” If you are still nervous about shopping in person, talk to your store before the appointment about your concerns and cleaning practices. They will answer your questions. By Haute & Co. for example, any dresses you have tried on are sprayed with a fabric disinfectant. All surfaces are also disinfected before and after each appointment, including the reception desk, couches and changing rooms. At Spina Bride, the store has UV lights that they use to disinfect the store during the 30-minute window between appointments. Remember, these stores want you to feel as comfortable as possible, so no question is too small. Limit your guests While you used to be able to bring a large support system to your bridal date, thanks to COVID, guest lists are now understandably much smaller. Therefore, it is important to consider who you want to bring along. If you have extra people you want to include, bring an iPad or phone with video calling options. This way, as many people as you want can be included without endangering anyone. Check out this post on Instagram A post shared by Plus Size Wedding Dresses (@hauteandco) Keep dress styles in mind. By Spina Bride and Haute & Co. brides only get one hour to see the dresses. But while an hour may seem like a lot of time, you will probably miss 60 minutes if you make an appointment with no idea what style you are wearing. “Look at what we’re wearing, and be prepared to talk to your stylist about your wedding timeline and the desired style of dress,” Dubois recommends. ‘We always ask on our questionnaire if guests have a Pinterest board or something like that. We like to do our homework before the brides come in. According to Jones, the brides from Haute & Co. in two categories: either they know exactly what style they are looking for, or they have no idea and are there to find out. Pre-COVID, brides who fall into the latter category, would tell Jones about their sense of style and what their wedding would look like, and she would pick options out of the back room based on their answers. However, it can be difficult to fit in a time of one hour. Knowing what styles you want before the appointment can help speed up the process, which increases your chances of finding a dress for it. What to do during your appointment Wear a mask Once during your appointment, the most important thing is to stay safe – and to keep others, such as employees of bridal shops, safe – to always wear a mask (maybe even two masks ). According to the CDC, people should wear masks in all public institutions, including events and gatherings, and ‘wherever they may be close to other people.’ Similarly, all bridal shop employees should always wear it. Note the time According to Jones, given the strict one-hour appointments, guests should keep a close eye on the clock so that they do not lose time before finding dresses they like. She also suggests that you try on as many dresses as possible to suit your preferred silhouette, color, length, etc. To be discovered during your appointment. Even if you do not find the right wedding dress, it is useful to limit your choices to a few that you like. Asking Questions One of the biggest benefits of one-on-one bridal dating is that you can ask as many questions as you need. It has not changed due to COVID. If anything, you get an even more personalized experience. It can be about changes – including whether or not they offer it, how much it costs and how long it takes – discounts, personal orders and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SPINA BRIDE (@spinabride) Virtual Dating If, after reading it, you still feel insecure about buying a wedding dress in person, do not worry. Both Haute & Co. and Spina Bride – as well as most bridal shops – provide some form of virtual shopping experience for customers who are not ready to buy IRL. “We have stylists who are happy to show you virtually in-store, either through Zoom or FaceTime,” says Dubois. At Spina Bride, brides who make a virtual appointment can then pay to send dresses to them to try on. If one of the dresses sent is finally the one, the cost of shipping is waived. Since the pandemic took hold, it has been difficult for people to relax. An appointment where you, often or not, are isolated from other shopping and in a pre-cleaned room, may just be one of the few places where the brides can do it. This will help you to truly appreciate the big moment you are shopping for. “Come and enjoy an intimate experience,” she says. Just remember to always wear a mask (or two) – and make it a bridal mask. As you can see? How about a little more R29 goodness, here it will be the biggest jersey trends of 2021? 20 Places to Buy a Wedding Dress Online: 9 Non-Traditional Wedding Look