Bridal Shops Industry Terminology

She chose an A-line silhouette to balance her pear shape; An A-line is versatile for many venues, from barn to ballroom; We stock A-line gowns up to size 26 for inclusive try-ons.

Add a cathedral veil and belt as accessory add-ons to complete the look; Our stylists aim for two accessory add-ons per bridal sale; We bundle earrings and hairpieces as an accessory add-on package.

This bodice features Alençon lace appliqués with a corded outline; We upcharge for genuine Alençon lace due to higher material cost; The hem is trimmed with Alençon scallops for a couture finish.

Alterations typically begin 8–10 weeks before the wedding; Your alterations quote covers hem, bustle, and side seams; Alterations are separate from the gown’s purchase price.

We’ll add an American bustle with three pick-up points; An American bustle lifts the train over the skirt; She preferred an American bustle for a more visible cascading look.

The tulle skirt is embellished with floral appliqués; Hand-placed lace appliqué increases labor time; We can add a few appliqués to extend the lace motif into the skirt.

There’s a $50 appointment fee applied to your purchase; We charge a weekend appointment fee to reduce no-shows; VIP appointments carry a higher appointment fee with champagne service.

Our AOV rose after training stylists to present full looks; Accessory attach rate drives AOV; We track AOV by stylist to coach sales behaviors.

She wanted a dramatic ballgown for a formal cathedral ceremony; Ballgown crinolines add volume without weight; We carry petite ballgowns with proportioned bodices.

A bateau neckline skims the collarbones beautifully; We raised the front to a soft bateau during alterations; Bateau pairs well with long sleeves for a classic look.

Her veil has a blusher to wear over the face for the processional; We can detach the blusher after the ceremony; Add a 30-inch blusher for a vintage moment.

The bodice boning provides structure without a corset back; Add an extra boning channel for more support; This designer uses flexible plastic boning in the side seams.

We can sew in bust cups to avoid a bra; Upgrade to gel cups for more push-up; Bust cups are included in the alterations package.

We’ll discuss your bustle options at the first fitting; Her train is long, so the bustle needs multiple attachment points; Bustle style affects how the dress looks at the reception.

A cathedral veil adds drama to a simple crepe gown; We ordered a cathedral veil with lace edging to match the hem; Cathedral length photographs beautifully down long aisles.

The chapel train gives gentle length without the weight of cathedral; We’ll add a simple bustle for this chapel train; She preferred chapel length for an outdoor ceremony.

Chiffon provides soft movement for beach weddings; This slit is easier in lightweight chiffon; Layered chiffon skirts drape beautifully.

Calculate COGS to set sustainable pricing and margins; COGS includes wholesale, freight, and embellishment costs; Improving COGS raised our gross margin by 4 points.

We accept designer gowns on consignment for 90 days; Consignment inventory reduces cash outlay but may limit margins; Payment to the consignor occurs after the sale clears.

Stretch crepe offers comfort with a clean look; Beware of visible seam impressions on crepe; Minimalist brides love matte crepe gowns.

Our CRM tracks leads, appointments, and follow-ups; Automated CRM texts reduce no-shows; We segment CRM lists for trunk show invites.

A 60% non-refundable deposit starts your special order; Deposits are non-refundable due to made-to-order production; We require full deposit on rush orders.

We’ll host a trunk show featuring next season’s collection; Trunk show incentives include 10% off customizations; Book early—trunk show appointments fill fast.

A fingertip veil complements fit-and-flare silhouettes; She paired a fingertip veil with a blusher; Most brides start with fingertip length for versatility.

Bring your shoes and undergarments to the first fitting; At the first fitting we pin hem, bodice, and bustle; We schedule the first fitting 8 weeks before the wedding.

Fit-and-flare flatters hourglass figures; She preferred fit-and-flare over mermaid for easier walking; We recommended a longer train to balance a fit-and-flare.

Schedule preservation within weeks after cleaning; Our preservation kit includes acid-free boxing; Delays in cleaning can set stains and complicate preservation.

Target a 55–65% gross margin on gowns; Rising freight compressed gross margin last quarter; We increased price to protect margin after MAP changes.

Horsehair in the hem creates a crisp wave; We can add 2-inch horsehair to support the train; Horsehair helps the skirt keep its shape in photos.

An illusion neckline provides coverage without feeling heavy; We matched the illusion tulle to her skin tone; Remove the lace on the illusion for a cleaner look.

Designer lead time is 16–20 weeks plus shipping; Holiday closures extend lead time—order early; Rush fee can reduce lead time if the mill has fabric.

At market we reviewed line sheets with wholesale pricing; The line sheet lists delivery windows and color options; We use line sheets to plan buys by category.

We follow the designer’s MAP policy online; Violating MAP risks losing the line; MAP shapes our promo strategy during trunk shows.

Mermaid fits to the knee with a dramatic flare; She chose mermaid for maximum curves; We advised a stretch lining for comfort in a mermaid.

Mikado offers structure with a subtle sheen; Stains lift well from Mikado compared to charmeuse; This sculpted bow holds beautifully in Mikado.

The accessory vendor’s MOQ is 6 units per style; Private-label veils require a $2,500 opening MOQ; We negotiated a lower MOQ for our first season.

This is an off-the-rack sample available today; Off-the-rack is ideal for short timelines; OTR purchases are typically final sale.

Organza is crisper and lighter than satin; Ruffled organza skirts add volume without weight; Steam organza carefully to avoid water spots.

Our POS integrates with inventory and CRM; Use POS tags to track accessory attach rate; We rolled out mobile POS for in-room checkout.

We launched a private-label collection exclusive to our shop; Private label improves margin and differentiation; MOQ and lead time are key in private-label planning.

A rush fee reduces delivery from 16 to 8 weeks; Not all designers offer rush—check capacity; Rush fees are non-refundable once production begins.

Our annual sample sale clears last season’s styles; Sample sale gowns are sold as-is at deep discounts; We prep samples with repairs before the sale.

Most of our sample sizes run bridal 8–14; We use clips to fit samples across sizes; We’re expanding curve sample sizes for better try-ons.

Duchess satin gives a clean, structured look; Charmeuse satin is slinky and shows more drape; Satin photographs with a subtle sheen—mind lighting.

This designer includes generous seam allowance at the hips; Limited seam allowance restricts letting a gown out; We serge allowances to prevent fraying.

A sheath is streamlined for modern venues; Sheath gowns favor drapey fabrics like crepe or chiffon; We added a slit to her sheath for movement.

Assign a unique SKU for each color and size; Our POS tracks SKUs for sell-through reporting; Incorrect SKU tags distort inventory accuracy.

The sweetheart neckline creates a soft heart shape; We raised the sweetheart slightly for coverage; Strap options can be added to a sweetheart bodice.

Trumpet flares mid-thigh for a balanced drama; She chose trumpet for more movement than mermaid; A cathedral veil complements a trumpet’s proportions.

This skirt layers soft tulle for volume; Illusion tulle creates the neckline effect; Steam tulle lightly to avoid puckering.