Tips & Insights

Finding “the Dress”

Don’t be overwhelmed by the sea of white in the bridal shop. Take your time, have fun and try on a bunch of dresses. We don’t mind and we want you to have a great experience on your journey to find “the Dress.”

Take size off the table. Wedding dresses tend to run small, just to torture us. So, just don’t look at the tag and find a dress that fits your body.

If you like anything about the dress on the hanger, try it on. Dresses look very different on your body than they do hanging on the hanger.

Trust your bridal consultant. We probably know the dresses that will look the best on your body type. If your consultant has an idea for a dress you might like, keep an open mind and be willing to try a dress that you might not have thought you like.

Don’t expect the dress to fit perfectly. Almost every dress will need to be altered to ensure the perfect fit. Little tucks and tweaks here and there can make all the difference.

Don’t settle. If you are not sure about it – don’t purchase the dress that day. Take time to think about it, look at pictures of you in the dress and get feedback from friends and family. But, ultimately, it is your decision and we want you to be content, satisfied and completely happy with “the Dress.”

Comparing Boutiques

There are a lot of options when it comes to where to purchase your gown. If you find yourself comparing boutiques, be sure to consider and understand what each will provide in terms of services included with the purchase of your dress. Consider all costs including steaming, alterations, and so on in order to compare true totals. One boutique's price may look high but be very competitive when you add all the related costs in.

Holding  A Dress

We can hold a dress for you for 2 weeks at no cost. Any longer than 2 weeks will require a $50 non-refundable deposit. If you decide to purchase that dress or purchase another dress from Kari Lynn's, that deposit will be credited to your total. 

You’ve Found “the Dress,” Now what?

Once you have found “the Dress,” it’s time to make it yours and perfect.
- Always ask your bridal consultant about all the various costs involved with the dress. These will include alterations, steaming, slip rental. Also ask about payment plans to pay for everything and when things need to be paid for.
- If you are special ordering “the Dress,” be sure to discuss how long it will take to get the dress into the store. Will it be here early enough to have alterations done? Don’t cut it too close. Make sure to take into account shipping and unexpected delays.
- Also talk to the bridal consultant about when you should schedule alterations and your fittings. If alterations are minimal, two fittings will be fine. But, if major alterations are being done, plan on at least three fittings and be sure to build that time into your timeline, so everything will be done and perfect by your wedding day.

Payment & Financing

Kari Lynn's accepts Cash, Checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Debit Cards. We do offer financing for your gown purchase. A 50% deposit is required with monthly payments. If the dress is paid off in 6 months, there is no interest charged. See a wedding consultant for more information about financing your purchase. 

Alterations – The Very Important Step

Even the most perfect dress will need something done…a hem, bustle, tweak here or there. Be sure to be very comfortable with your alterationist. Be honest with her and tell her what you really think. If you can’t breathe, let her know so she can let it out and so on.
- Ask your bridal consultant if they have an alterationist they use through the shop. You want to make sure to use someone who is very familiar and confident with working on bridal gowns.
- For your alteration appointment, be sure to bring everything you will be wearing under your dress. This would include undergarments and slips. Also remember your shoes. All those factors effect the way the alterationist will pin the dress and ultimately, how “the Dress” will look when she is done.
- Trust your alterationist. If she has an idea of how to make “the Dress” fit you, trust her expertise to make your dress perfect.
- Plan your final fitting a couple weeks before your wedding to ensure the perfect fit…due to the excitement and stress of planning a wedding, we all gain and lose a little bit of weight right before the wedding.

Preserve the Perfection

Your day has come and gone. It is time to think about what to do with the dress.
- Take ‘the Dress” to a professional cleaner as soon as you can. Some dry cleaners will not clean wedding gowns. At Kari Lynn’s, we use a professional service for all of our cleaning and preservation. The dresses are sent to the company where they spot clean, mend and prepare the dress for preservation.