If you are a bride who is beginning to shop for your wedding dress, then you have likely spent some time figuring out your budget for your wedding day outfit and accessories. You have likely done some research into the cost of wedding dresses as you have been researching what bridal stores you want to visit when shopping for your dream wedding dress. We have talked a lot in the past about the varying price points of wedding dresses and how the prices of wedding dresses are determined.
One thing you may not have thought about while researching wedding dress pricing and costs is if you should consider giving gratuity or a tip to your bridal stylist. A bridal stylist or bridal consultant is the person you will work with at the bridal store as you try on wedding dresses. This person is going to help guide you through the different styles and designs of wedding dresses and help you narrow down to find your dream wedding dress.
You've likely heard about tips for other wedding vendors such as the catering staff, the band or DJ, wedding planning, or floral delivery, and more. But, should you also tip your bridal stylist at the shop where you purchased your wedding dress? We are going to give brides everything they need to know about whether or not they should tip their bridal stylist at the salon when wedding dress shopping.
Video: To Tip Or Not Tip Your Bridal Stylist?
If you are a bride who is ready to shop for your wedding dress, don't miss this week's advice video so you can learn if you should tip or not tip your bridal stylist when you are wedding dress shopping.
Bridal Store Costs
When it comes to the pricing of wedding dresses and bridal gowns, brides should know that wedding dress designers set the prices for their dresses. Wedding dresses will vary in price depending on the fabrics used, the cost of the materials needed for each dress design, and the level of detail and intricacy of the dress design. There are a lot of factors that go into determining the price of each individual wedding dress, but this is not determined by an individual bridal store. If you are shopping around different wedding dress shops, you should be seeing the same price points for the same designer at each store.
Bridal stores do incur shipping fees that are not transferred over to the bride, and there are some other behind-the-scenes items and fees that the bride does not necessarily pay for. It's important for brides to know that there are things that the bridal store is covering the cost of on their end to give you a phenomenal experience.
Expert Stylists
One major cost that bridal stores are not transferring over to their brides is the chance to work with a bridal stylist or bridal consultant during their wedding dress shopping appointments. These stylists are experts at what they do. It takes many months or even years to hone their craft and build their knowledge base. Bridal stylists have to learn so many details about the wedding dresses in the store’s inventory. They need to understand different body types and how to style different wedding dress silhouettes. There is so much work that goes on behind the scenes as these stylists are guiding their brides through their appointments to find their dream wedding dress.
In our experience at Lovella, we find that bridal consultants are essential for brides to have a successful wedding dress shopping experience. Many times brides need these experts to guide them through the overall process and maybe show them a dress that they wouldn’t have considered or chosen for themselves, but it ends up being “the one”. Bridal consultants will be able to guide you through the entire process from start to finish, from trying on different styles of dresses, to knowing what size you should order, what might be possible in alterations, and ensuring that your dream wedding dress will arrive in time for your wedding day.
To Tip Or Not?
If you are wondering if you should tip your bridal stylist when wedding dress shopping, it will all depend on your personal experience. Bridal stylists and bridal consultants are, of course, being compensated for their role by the bridal store. They are providing you with a service, but this service comes at no additional cost to you. You of course are purchasing merchandise, a wedding dress, but the stylist’s expertise comes as an added bonus at no extra cost to you.
If you feel that your bridal stylist has gone really above and beyond and there's no way you could have done it without that person involved in your experience, then giving them gratuity is truly just a way of saying "thank you" for your expertise and "thank you" for your knowledge. Some people have a stylist on hand to dress them for a special event or show them what type of clothing is best on their body. This is a service that some people pay for, so the fact that you are getting this as a bonus at a phenomenal bridal store is a huge cost savings.
Bridal stylists will not be offended if you do not give gratuity since it’s a completely subjective decision. But if you have a great experience with your bridal stylist, it might make their day to know you’ve gone out of your way to show your appreciation and help them know they’ve really done a job well done and given you a great experience and memory you’ll take with you.
Another great way to show your appreciation if you’ve had a great experience is to leave a review for the bridal store. Many bridal shops are independently owned and a positive review online can go a long way, as well as personal recommendations to any future brides.
More Helpful Wedding Dress Shopping Advice
We hope this advice has helped you decide what color wedding dress is right for you. For even more helpful advice when it comes to shopping for your dream wedding dress, be sure to check out our past posts:
- How Much Do Wedding Dresses Cost?
- The Complete Guide to Wedding Dress Pricing & Costs
- How To Determine What Style Wedding Dress You Want When Trying On Dresses For The First Time
- What Should I Expect When Wedding Dress Shopping For The First Time
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
