Do boutiques have sample dresses for sale even if there isn’t a sample sale going on?

Do a search on Yelp for bridal salons in your area and call to find out.

Yep! My dress was a sample and they weren't doing any special sale. Sometimes they'll just have sample dresses or returns/orders that were never picked up that they are willing to sell at a cheaper price. My dress was 50% off and looked like new. My SIL also got her dress as a sample.

View Quoted Comment Omgoodness that’s awesome girl!! I’m definitely going to call the place by me and make an appointment!! I’ll probably check and make sure they have some though. Thanks so much!!!

Yes! Same as Hannah ... my dress was a sample that I purchased right off of the rack and it wasn’t during a special sale event or anything. It was a blessing in disguise because I bought my dress and brought it home in March and 5 days later, the world shut down (literally)!!!

View Quoted Comment That’s so awesome!! I hope o can find a dress at one I like David’s bridal but really never found anything I really really liked. That’s awesome tho girl!! Omgoodness that’s wild!

View Quoted Comment The bridal boutique experience is so much more personal. Crossing my fingers you have success! I’m sure you will. 😊

Yup! At a bridal store where I worked for a few months, dresses that were available for purchase might have a sticker on them. There were also discontinued ones in the back at an even bigger discount. But samples sizes are limited.

Several online websites where you have to buy in a salon, have a few ready to ship, or similar. Some list as destination dresses. No delay to make dresses, they have a stock at a distributor ready to go. Maggie Sottero is one. And other online sample stores, you look in the designer site for retailer/ find our stores. Se if you can seethe dress a d try it on, and if you like it, order the sale one. I got a ready to ship Maggie Sottero, Ordered 12 weeks out, arrived at 6 weeks. Also ask about Private Label dresses. These are the generics of the bridal industry. Usually a design with common features , similar to designer dresses, but a few hundred less without the name designer. Without them many small salons could not compete with the buying power of big chains. So it may look like a particular dress a few years ago from a name designer, but the label says Susie's Own, for Susie's Boutique, or other store name. But that is what 60% or more of David's are, only small shops usually give better service.

If you have not heard of Azazie.com, they are a made to order online company. You pick the dress, give your measurements and only a couple months for a dress. And they deliver for try on for a small fee. Their ready to ship section is different from designer's regular stock dresses, ready to ship. Azazie's is for samples, tryons, and discontinued models. So itay be one style, 2 dresses. Or it may say, a ross all sizes, discontinued. It might be worth a look and paying to clean a display model. There regular dresses are a good deal.https://www.azazie.com/all/ready-to-ship-brides?current_in_stock=yes

I bought my dress at Brilliant Bridal- everything they have is anywhere from 25-75% off & once you purchase it, you leave with it. All their dresses are gorgeous! My dress was originally $1700 & I bought it for $810!

View Quoted Comment I knew that the samples would be limited and I’m able to work with that. I am a bigger girl so I know that’s going to be difficult also but when I did go looking at one point the last found a bunch of samples that fit me so I should be okay.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much!! I have checked azaies and thought about doing the try at home option but I’m just so picky and really haven’t found anything that I liked.

View Quoted Comment The good thing about trying them on is you find what kinds you never thought of, that flatter you, as well as what you started looking for. But so you do not worry, there is time.

View Quoted Comment Thank you!! Very true I never tried anything but ballgowns on so I think that’s what I need to do also.

Also look at clearance sections! I got mine at David's bridal in their clearance for super cheap, they were just more limited on size options. I know you said they didn't have anything you really liked but maybe another big chain might have something good in clearance that won't be as in style next year.

View Quoted Comment I didn’t think of that🤦🏻‍♀️ That’s such a great idea!! What other big chain stores are there? I can only think of David’s bridal

View Quoted Comment It probably depends on where you live but I know some chain department stores like Macy's have wedding dresses. I would call ahead to make sure they have them in stock before you go though since it's not a regular thing they sell. Or anthropologie has a spin-off called BHLDN that is all wedding dresses.

View Quoted Comment Thanks girl!! I’ll definitely look into it

View Quoted Comment If you can fit into a Plus Size then that works too! Ask the seamstress but typically a dress can barely be let out but can be taken in up to 2 sizes. My wedding skirt was 3-4 sizes too big and was still taken in (but that would not have worked with a bodice, taking it in too much ruins the original shape).

View Quoted Comment I can fit perfectly into a plus size dress. Im between a 18w and a 20w depending on designer