Budget - Know what you want to spend on your dress prior to going shopping. Why? You do not want to purchase something that you cannot afford or will not leave enough room in your budget for something else. Also, if someone is buying your gown for you, you should discuss this in private as it is sometimes a sensitive topic.
Ceremony/Reception - Having an idea of a date, location, theme, and formality will help the dress selection process. For instance...if you have a formal, indoor wedding in the winter versus an informal, outdoor wedding at a destination.
Wish List; Magazine Tears; Pinterest - For your appointment, you are welcome to bring in create an account on our website and add styles to your wish list for wedding dresses you want to try on! Is there a must-have on your list? For instance, do you want sleeves, straps, and/or lace? Most people do not know their must-haves until they begin shopping, but if you do, letting your consultant know will help in the selection process.
If you find the right dress, we suggest buying it...even if it is a year in advance. Purchasing your wedding dress is not only a great accomplishment, but it allows you to focus on the rest of the wedding planning. Because of the time it takes to make a gown, we recommend coming in eight to twelve months prior to the wedding to create a stress-free buying experience. Need it here quicker? Ask your consultant about available rush and/or in-stock options.
Special Order Bridal Gown
Ella Park Bridal primarily sells special order wedding dresses. A special order wedding dress is one that is made just for the bride. The bride will choose the size and color of her dress from the designer's available options. Some of our designers also offer adjustments to the length and back closure (i.e. zipper and lace-up) to create a more customized look.
Once you have been notified that your wedding dress has arrived, you will need to...
- Call and make a "Try-On Appointment" within 14 days of being notified at (812) 853-1800. Appointment is typically 60 minutes with your Bridal Consultant (if available).
- Inspect and approve the condition of your wedding dress for proper size, color, fabric, and length.
- If you paid for a custom hem, please bring in your shoes to ensure the wedding dress is the proper length.
- Pay for balance owed on wedding dress (if applicable) within 14 days of being notified.
- Complete your look by purchasing accessories (i.e. veil, belt, jewelry, shoes, etc) while your gown is on. Plus! Take advantage of your bridal savings on your purchase. Please take into account special order accessories typically take 4 to 8 weeks to come in.
Bring in your wedding dress to the store to have it preserved with The Wedding Gown Preservation Co. Click here to learn more about this service.
At Ella Park Bridal, our wedding dresses range from $1200 to $2500 with the average of $1500. During the appointment process, Your bridal consultant will work within your budget to avoid any uncomfortable situations. The worst thing you can do is fall in love with a wedding dress you cannot afford. You will also notice that we do not hide our prices as they are boldly displayed on each dress.
Ella Park Bridal accepts cash, *check, and all major credit cards (VISA, Discover, MasterCard, American Express).
*Payment by Check: Please note we will delay ordering merchandise until we are notified by the bank when the check has cleared. This may take up to 10 business days. Checks can NOT be used as final payments. Returned check fee is $25.00.
Yes, Ella Park Bridal offers interest-free layaway or payment plans on wedding dresses and accessories. A customer has three options when purchasing special order merchandise -- pay in full, a 60% deposit, or making a payment plan with a minimum of 25% down. Ask your bridal consultant if you have any questions/concerns.
60% deposit:
- Payment 1: 60% of total order at initial appointment > Merchandise will be ordered.
- Payment 2: Remaining balance due within 14 days after merchandise arrives
Payment Plan:
We require a minimum of 25% deposit at your initial appointment. The next three payments of 25% will be made one month apart for the next 3 months. Once 50% of the order has been paid, we will order the wedding dress and/or accessories from the designer. Please note the merchandise will come in a month later than the current estimated delivery date. Payment plans can not be used on in-stock purchases unless 50% of total order is met. See example below. Please note a credit card must be put on file for all payment plans.Example:
- Payment 1: 25% of total order at initial appointment
- Payment 2: 25% of total order one month later; Merchandise will be ordered.
- Payment 3: 25% of total order is due 2 months after the original order was created
- Payment 4: Remaining balance is due 3 months after the original order was created
Professional opinion? No. Ella Park Bridal recommends ordering your current size. Any dress can be taken down at least two sizes without affecting the look of the dress. And, not all dresses can be let out because of the dress construction. Be realistic in case you do not meet your goals. Our experience shows that while you could lose weight, it might be in the wrong places. Really determined to lose weight? Ask your consultant if you have time to purchase at a later time so that you can get measured closer to your goal.
A trunk show is a special in-store event for a particular designer for a limited time. The designer sends us an exclusive collection of wedding dresses not typically found in our store. If you find the wedding dress of your dreams, be prepared to make a decision that day as the dress will not be in the store afterwards.