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A few questions we are sometimes asked....
When should I order my dress?
We recommend ordering about six to eight months before the wedding as this allows comfortable time for fittings after the gown has arrived. However, things can be done on a shorter timescale and we will always do everything in our power to help you find a dream dress, even if you only have a few weeks until your wedding. We have even been known to provide and fit a gown in a matter of days!
When will my dress arrive?
Generally, we ask for a gown to be delivered to us two to three months before the wedding. Once it's here and has been checked and pressed, we call you to arrange a convenient time for your first fitting. Please bear in mind that fittings cannot be carried out on Saturdays, but that we can do fittings on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, as well as all day every week day.
Do I have to pay storage once the dress has arrived?
No! We will happily store your dress for you until your fittings, and then afterwards as well, until you wish to collect it. Most of our brides want to leave their dress with us until a day or so before their wedding - and that's fine with us.
Do I have to pay in full at the time of ordering?
No. The minimum deposit is 50% at the time of ordering but you can pay in full if you prefer. The gown must be fully paid for on or before the date you first put it on. This is usually about two months before the wedding when you have your first fitting.
What happens if my dress needs altering?
Most dresses will need some kind of alteration or 'tweak' to make them fit properly as they are not made-to-measure but cut to a size chart. Your consultant will discuss the options with you and you will agree a size at the time of ordering. We will always recommend an appropriate size for you, taking into account any diets being undertaken etc. However, ultimately, the decision is yours.
Once pinned to you, your dress will be altered and we will require you to come back and try it again to check that all is well. If there is a lot of work to be carried out, for example if you have lost or gained a lot of weight or you would like some aspect of the gown to be modified, you may well have to return several more times to us, checking each stage as we go to ensure the correct fit.
Please note that alteration charges ARE NOT included in the price of our gowns, and we charge only for the alterations we do (as opposed to a set charge for an alterations package) and a table of our charges is clearly displayed in several parts of the shop. More information on this subject can be found by clicking on the Fittings and Alterations button on the left of your screen.
I'm getting married abroad, can you pack my dress for me?
Yes! We offer a packing service. For a small charge, our cabin approved box can be packed with your dress and accessories. Letters of thanks that we've received tell us that our gowns have arrived at their destinations unharmed and more amazingly, uncreased!
I have seen that you don't do alterations on dresses for bridesmaids - how do I get them altered?
Due to the high volume of bridal gowns that we sell and alter, we regretfully can no longer offer the same service to our maids. To make things as easy as possible for our customers, we have compiled a list of 4 trusted seamstresses - who are happy to alter your maids' dresses. When your order is placed with us, we will give you their contact details and you can contact them direct. This system has been in place for nearly five years now and to date has been a great success.
After my order is placed for my Maids' dresses, what do I do when they arrive at Bellissima Weddings?
Your maids' dresses normally take between 12 and 16 weeks to arrive into us from the date of your order, unless they are ordered at an additional charge on a 'rush cut', in which case they arrive in 6 weeks. Once the dresses have arrived, we press and check them and call you to come and pick them up. If you wish, your girls can try them on in the shop (but not on a Saturday, as the shop is so busy and we'd hate for any harm to come to your dresses). We will ask you to check the dresses over and to let us know straight away if you have any issue with the fit. Please bear in mind that, in most cases, dresses will need some kind of modification in order to fit properly as they are not made-to-measure but are cut to a regular size chart which you will have seen at the time of ordering. We will have discussed what size to order at that time so, if there is any variation to the expected fit of your dresses, please contact us. We will do everything we can to help you.
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