Wedding Dress Sample Sale 101
looking for a deal on a wedding dress? SHOP OUR WEDDING DRESS SAMPLES!
You want a designer wedding dress without the designer price tag. From scouting online sample wedding dresses for sale to reading blogs that cover common bridal questions like where to buy affordable wedding dresses, you’ve done it all. The bridal industry can feel overwhelming, so we’re here to help answer your wedding dress sample sale questions and hopefully connect you with the details you need to discover an off-the-rack sample sale bridal near you.
This dress blog will be your key resource for education on sample sale wedding dresses, used wedding dresses, and luxury consignment wedding dresses.
What are Sample Wedding Dresses?
Most bridal boutiques carry one dress per design and not a range of sizes for each style. When bridal boutique owners view new dress collections at bridal market, only a select few designs are purchased from each line.
Once those dresses arrive in the salon months later, they are officially the shop's sample dress and brides try on these samples at their appointment. When saying yes to a wedding dress, brides will be measured and a new wedding dress will be ordered for them after taking measurements.
What Does Buying a Sample Wedding Dress Mean?
Brides who don’t order a brand new wedding dress, buy a wedding dress off-the-rack. This is the bridal sample that they tried on in store and the shop is selling off-the-rack for one reason or another.
For brides needing fast shipping wedding dresses, off-the-rack samples are perfect because there is no wait time involved. Brides can expect to take home their wedding dress the day they say yes.
Off-the-rack samples are sold as-is and minor flaws such as slight marks, loose embellishments, etc. will be reflected in the sample’s discount. When purchasing an off-the-rack sample a slight increase in cleaning fees and alterations expenses is to be expected.
Price of Sale Wedding Dresses
The condition of an off-the-rack sample bridal gown as well as its ability to be reordered are the two largest factors when determining the dress price.
Wedding dresses that have not been discontinued can still be ordered by the bridal boutique. With a discontinued wedding dress, the price will likely be lower since shops usually want to make space for new wedding dresses that can be reordered.
Though this price range varies by designer and shop, brides can expect sample wedding gowns to be discounted from 20-60%.
Do Sample Wedding Dresses Cost Less?
Sample wedding dresses can cost less due to the discount mentioned above when buying off-the-rack. Though brides save on the dress, you can expect to spend a little more on bridal alterations for repair work needed and to achieve a better fit.
If you’re looking for designer wedding dresses on sale, shopping for off-the-rack sample sales is the best way to score a luxury wedding dress for less.
Most bridal boutiques will have a sample rack to shop in store. At Anna Bé bridal boutique we provide brides with the opportunity to browse our off-the-rack sample wedding dress selection before their appointment.
You can find Alexandra Grecco sample sale dresses, Monique Lhuillier sample sale styles, and more. Explore each boutique’s off-the-rack sample collection below by clicking on the link and exploring their ‘Off-The-Rack Wedding Gowns’ section.
What is a Wedding Dress Sample Sale?
Wedding dress sample sales are events in which additional discounts are applied to bridal sample collections for a limited time. Wedding dress samples for sale can vary by the season and new dresses can be added to off-the-rack sample collections. Typically bridal sample sales are hosted once or twice a year.
Luckily, brides shopping at Anna Bé bridal boutique, don’t have to wait for a sample sale to shop discounted bridal samples. To shop discounted bridal samples online, check out our Anna Bé bridal boutique Pinterest boards linked above and book a bridal appointment at your closest Anna Bé location.
Wedding Dress Sale
Another way to keep an eye on new bridal samples is by following our brand Instagram. You can preview the highlight titled ‘off-the-rack’ where we regularly feature discount wedding dresses from our bridal boutiques.
Sample Size Wedding Gowns for Sale
Majority of our off-the-rack sample wedding dresses will fit like a street size 8-12. As a general rule of thumb, most sample dresses can be altered up to 2 dress sizes without compromising the integrity of the dress. Though true of most samples, the gown’s silhouette and ideal fit, may create some allowance in this generic guideline.
Besides paying attention to the sizing of sample wedding dresses, brides should also be aware of the length of each off-the-rack sample. Off-the-rack wedding dresses will be long on brides who are short to average in height and a hem is usually an easy fix in alterations. For taller than average, finding a sample wedding dress that is long enough may be slightly more challenging.
Shopping a Wedding Dress Sample Sale
Now that we’ve tackled common bridal sample sale questions and our sample practices, let’s talk a bit about how to find used wedding dresses and why discounted bridal gowns may be the best shopping option for you.
Can you get a wedding dress quickly?
Some designers do offer rush options, but if you want a wedding dress right away, buying off-the-rack will be your best bet. By purchasing your wedding dress as an off-the-rack sample, you’re saving valuable time and can usually start alterations soon after.
New, Used, and Sample Wedding Dresses
While we know you’ve seen secondhand wedding dress and preowned wedding dresses for sale online, off-the-rack sample wedding dresses are usually the best dress option of the three.
Bridal consignment and used bridal gowns, mean a bride has worn that exact dress on their big day. With off-the-rack bridal sample dresses, brides have tried on the dresses in shop, but never walked out of the store in one. Unless unworn, used wedding dresses online have been altered by the bride, impacting your ability to make easy sizing decisions.
Ethical Wedding Dresses
If you want an ethical and eco-friendly wedding gown, buying an off-the-rack sample is a great option. By purchasing off-the-rack you’re preventing a brand new gown from having to be made. Reducing not only production waste, but also the carbon footprint that comes with the shipping logistics, off-the-rack samples are by far one of the most sustainable ways to wear a wedding dress.
