Hunting for a wedding dress can be an overwhelming experience, and no two brides approach it in exactly the same way. Some have Pinterest boards full of style inspiration, while others don’t know the difference between A-line and mermaid wedding dress styles. Some plan to visit 10 different small boutiques before settling on a gown, while others are looking for the quickest shopping experience possible.
One thing many brides have in common, however, is that they’ve heard of David’s Bridal before. But is the store right for you? We’ve outlined some of the most common questions brides have to help you decide!
What is David’s Bridal?
David’s Bridal, which began in 1950 as a small, family-owned salon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had become a giant corporation over 60 years later, and the store where 1 in 3 brides went to look for their wedding dress. And despite a few changes over the years—including being bought and sold several times and filing for bankruptcy in 2018—they bounced back and are still one of the biggest names in the bridal industry.
WGM Says: David’s Bridal is also a popular choice for special occasion, prom, and wedding party dresses, especially Mother of the Bride dresses.
Where can I find a David’s Bridal near me?
With close to 300 stores in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., you’ll likely find a David’s Bridal store near you. And if there isn’t one within driving distance, don’t fret! You can always shop their selection of wedding dresses online.
Do you need an appointment?
While not necessarily required, calling to schedule a 60-minute bridal appointment is always a good idea. If you can make it to the store at 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday you might be good to go without one, but finding a stylist and fitting room at noon on a Saturday without an appointment can sometimes be impossible.
Before your appointment, be sure to pin some wedding dress styles you love so you can show your stylist your dream gown. They also have a dress finder quiz you can take to help guide you even more.
You’ll also want to figure out who you want to come with you to your appointment, and let your stylist know ahead of time so they can be sure to accommodate your full bride squad.
WGM Says: For the best experience at David’s Bridal or any bridal salon, try to keep your dress squad to no more than 3 people. It will make the process SO much easier.
What style wedding dresses can you find there?
While David’s Bridal used to work with designers like Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Jenny Packham, and Cynthia Rowley, they seem to have moved away from that as of late. They now feature designs exclusively from their in-house labels, including Galina Signature, Melissa Sweet, Oleg Cassini, Jules & Cleo, DB Studio, and Fifteen Roses.
You can browse over 1,000 wedding dresses online, and search by neckline, length, and silhouette, such as A-line and mermaid (our fave!).
Are David’s Bridal dresses good quality?
Much like the inventory you would find at a giant retailer like Walmart or Target, you can sort through a lot of great (and not so great) dresses at David’s Bridal. Their focus is on being budget-friendly, so while you won’t find top-of-the-line materials per se, you can find a large selection of well-made dresses that will look beautiful on you AND your wallet.
How much are David’s Bridal dresses?
Two of the most common reasons brides choose to shop at David’s Bridal are the wide-ranging prices and sizes. With wedding dresses ranging from $70-$1,900, you’re bound to find a dress for a fair price that works for your style and budget.
You can also apply for a David’s Bridal credit card in store or online. With it you’ll get perks like 6-months special financing on purchases more than $210. You can also use affirm to pay for your dress in installments. They also offer layaway plans in their stores.
Another program to consider signing up for is their Diamond Loyalty Program. When you sign up you get diamond member pricing, and also earn earn 1 Diamond Point per $1 spent to reach different loyalty levels. Their highest one is the 5,000 diamond points “sparkle level.” When you reach that you can choose to get a “free
WGM Says: Not interested in their
What does David’s Bridal charge for alterations?
There are a lot of stories online about pricey alterations at David’s Bridals, with some brides saying they charge more than other local alteration specialists. Recent quotes we’ve seen from David’s Bridal alterations are below (which are in line with averages we’ve seen across the country). Our advice is to always get quotes from at least two different places to compare before you decide what to do. And remember that no specialist can accurately give you a price without seeing the dress first.
- Wedding dress hem: $95-$200
- Bodice seams (take or let out): $20-$80
- Shoulders (take up): $25-$65
- Bustle: $50 for the first 3 points, $7 for each additional point
- Add straps: $25
- Skirt side seams (take in or let out): $30-$60
Do they have petite and plus sizes?
Most of David’s Bridal’s wedding dresses are available in sizes 0-14, and they also have gowns specifically designed to fit and flatter both petite and plus-size wedding dresses.
For petite brides, their gowns feature an adjusted neckline, 1-inch shorter bodice, repositioned waist, 3-inch shorter skirt and adjusted skirt and train embellishments. This way, the dress is more tailor-made to your proportions, and you get to save boatloads on extensive alterations.
Their plus size collection goes up to 30W. And unlike many bridal boutiques where you have to squeeze into a sample size and imagine what it will look like in size 24, they have a wide selection of their plus-sized gowns in the store for you to try on.
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Can you order David’s Bridal online?
Before you go into any bridal store, it’s always a good idea to look at the style of dresses they offer online first. This is a great way to see if their vibe matches what you’re looking for. And this is especially true for David’s Bridal.
On their website you can see the majority of their styles, and it will show if they’re available to buy online only, in store, or both. Even though not every store will have the style you want in stock, almost all of them can special order the one you’re looking for.
Can David’s Bridal rush order?
While David’s Bridal assures that they can meet any deadline, most wedding experts recommend that the sooner you start shopping the better.
If you are running short on time, David’s Bridal has a selection of dresses that you can take home with you that day. But if you have more time and find a style that needs to be ordered, that can take anywhere from one to 16 weeks depending on the color, size and fabric. And don’t forget the alterations! The time required to complete on-site alterations depends on how much or little you need to have done and how busy the shop is, but they recommend allowing for an additional six to eight weeks after receiving your gown.
SEE MORE: Where to Find Flower Girl Dresses (And Who’s Supposed to Buy Them)
Don’t forget to look for bridesmaids (and moms) while you’re there
While you’re in the store or online looking for your perfect wedding gown, you can also shop for bridesmaid dresses, veils, sashes, shoes, jewelry, shapewear, lingerie, and even gifts for your wedding party!
You can also preserve your wedding gown at David’s
David’s Bridal offers cleaning and preservation for $149.95 ($99.95 for Diamond members), which is actually a great price. Once you buy the kit in store or online, you put your dress in the package provided, use the prepaid shipping label and bring it to a UPS-authorized shipper, then two to six weeks later you’ll get your dress back, cleaned, treated, pressed, and preserved.
Does David’s Bridal accept returns?
Yes! As long as your dress is in it’s original condition and has the tags still attached (and wasn’t final sale), you can return it within 7 days. You have up to 60 days to exchange a dress.
Are you planning on a trip to David’s Bridal to shop for your wedding dress? Let us know in the comments section below!
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Hi I’m deaf and read lips and don’t sign planning my wedding around last week of april or first week of may . I would like to start looking for a dress and make an appointment the mask makes it hard for me to understand I have friend to help me on phone or u can text me I don’t answer my phone since I’m deaf I can hear but read lips .