Pre-Appointment Guide
Wedding Dress Shopping
Get ready for one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning: finding your dream dress! We’re so excited to welcome you to Amanda’s Bridal and Tux and can’t wait to help you discover a gown that’s everything you’ve envisioned (and more). We believe dress shopping should be fun, memorable, and totally stress-free, so we’ve put together a few expert tips to help you feel prepared and confident before your appointment.

What To Bring
An open mind and a heart ready to trust the process! Let us help you find the gown that makes you feel like you—but even more beautiful.
Just like everyday fashion, bridal trends are always evolving—and our stylists stay ahead of the curve! While having a vision for your wedding day look is a great place to start, we encourage you to stay open to fresh ideas. You might be surprised how your dream dress takes shape with the help of our expert team.
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Mindset is everything. Coming in with the intention of finding your dress allows you to relax and truly enjoy the experience. Every bride’s journey is different—some say “yes” through joyful tears (don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of tissues), and others feel an instant sense of calm and clarity. No matter how your moment unfolds, we’re honored to be a part of it.
When To Shop
Weekends at Amanda’s
Saturdays and Sundays are full of excitement—perfect for brides who want a big, joyful “say yes” moment! Expect lots of energy, celebratory vibes, and bigger entourages. Don’t be surprised if other guests join in the cheering—weekends bring the party!
Weekdays at Amanda’s
Looking for something more low-key? Weekday and evening appointments offer a quieter, more intimate setting. It’s the perfect time to soak in the experience with fewer distractions—and if you’re lucky, you might just have the place all to yourself!​

Know Your Timeline
Timing is Everything. Most of our special order gowns take between 4–7 months to arrive, and seamstresses typically require at least 12 weeks to alter the gown. To give yourself the widest selection and a smooth, stress-free process, we recommend saying “yes” about 9–16 months before your wedding day.
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Pricing and styles from wedding dress designers change constantly. What you see in a bridal shop are the most current styles. Designers offer a Spring and Fall collection every year, which means they discontinue most gowns from past seasons to keep it current and help stores make room for new styles. Don't fall in love and wait 6-12 months to say yes, it might not be available or it may have a higher price point. If you are wanting to look at what's out there but not ready to buy your dress or if your wedding is more than 18 months away, a silhouette appointment is a great starting point!
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But don’t worry—if you’re on a tighter timeline, we’ve got you covered! Many of our designers offer rush options. Whether your wedding is next year or just around the corner, we’re here to help you find the dress—right on time.
Know Your Investment
Let’s Talk Budget! Before you start trying on dresses, your stylist will check in with you about your price point. This helps us guide you toward gowns that not only match your vision but also align with your budget—because we truly respect the investment you're making.
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Our special order wedding dresses are priced from $1200-$3500. But most of them fall between $1800-$2500. We have a beautiful selection of dresses $1700 and under that you can pre-shop HERE. Our stylists believe in being upfront and very transparent about costs so you can shop with confidence. The price you see on the tag is exactly what you pay—plus tax. No hidden fees, no shipping charges, no surprises—just honest pricing to help you feel good about your investment.

Bring Your Closest People
Saying “yes” to the dress is a big moment, and having the right support makes all the difference. Whether it’s just one person or your full crew, choose to bring those whose opinions truly matter to you.
While friends and family mean well, too many voices—or overly blunt feedback—can sometimes make the experience more stressful/hurtful than helpful.
Surround yourself with people who understand your style, honor your vision, and lift you up. The right guests will make your “yes” moment feel even more magical. We have seating for up to 5 special guests, look into our VIP appointments to bring more!
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Wedding dress shopping is such a special and emotional experience, and it’s easiest to truly enjoy the moment when you can give it your full attention. For that reason, we recommend making your appointment a kid-free outing so you can relax, focus on yourself, and soak in the experience without distractions.
Sizing
Let’s get real about bridal sizing. Bridal sizing is… different. It’s totally normal to try on dresses that are too big, too small, or see a number on the tag that you've never worn before. Don’t stress—it’s not you, it’s the system.
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Our sample gowns range from sizes 10–28, and our expert stylists have all the tricks to help you visualize how a gown will look and feel in your size.
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When you're ready to order, we’ll take your bust, waist, and hip measurements and walk you through the designer’s size chart. Most brides fall into different sizes for different areas, so we typically recommend choosing the largest measurement and tailoring the dress to fit you just right. You can always take a dress in 1-2 sizes, letting a dress out can be a bit tricky. Don't worry, we will guide you through this process and talk everything out so you are fully comfortable with the size we need to get.
But at the end of the day, the sizing decision is entirely yours—and we’re here to support you every step of the way!

Alterations and Tailoring
Alterations are an essential part of making your gown truly yours. While we’ll order the size closest to your largest measurement, alterations is what ensures the perfect fit for your unique body. If you alter in house with us, we require at least 12 weeks for alterations, and most brides can expect 2–4 fittings. Hems are almost always necessary. Wedding gowns come in a standard length that’s intentionally long to accommodate taller brides—it's always easier to hem than to add length. Many of our designers also offer custom or shorter/longer length options.
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Alteration costs vary depending on the work involved. Basic alterations typically start around $600–$900, but more extensive/customization can range from $1,200 to $1,500 or more. It’s important to include this in your overall dress budget.
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We’re proud to have an incredibly skilled in-house seamstress who’s been with Amanda’s for over 20 years and works every Saturday (she books up fast!). We also partner with Tailored In White in Denver, who offers weekday appointments. Whichever route you go, rest assured—your dress is in expert hands.
Saying Yes to the Dress
Once you’ve had your special “yes” moment, we’ll walk through sizing and any customizations you’d like to make. From there, it’s time to place your order. If you're unable to pay in full upfront, no problem—we only require a 60% deposit to get your gown ordered. The remaining balance is due within two weeks of your dress arriving at our store. You’ll receive a text notification as soon as your gown is here. We ask that you pick it up within two weeks of its arrival. Live out of State? No problem! We can arrange for the dress to be shipped directly to you! If you're having alterations done with us, you’ll bring your dress back for your first fitting after pickup.
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We also off payment plans! You would need to put down a minimum of $300 to start your plan. Then we would calculate your monthly payments depending on how much more is needed to get to your 60%, and when you would need to order it by so it comes in with plenty of time for alterations.
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