There are lots of things to plan and organise when preparing for your wedding day but we think it’s fair to say that for many brides, the most exciting element of their big day has to be buying the dress.
Whether you’re a bride on a budget or you just want to spend as much time searching for the right dress as possible, visiting sample sales are a great way to explore a whole selection of designer dresses for a fraction of their original cost.
The infamous Maria Modes Sixpence Sample Sale will be back on in store from the 12th to the 15th of April and we’ve got gowns starting from prices as low as £300 but as if that wasn’t good enough, choose a dress with a sixpence inside and your dress will be totally FREE!
But what is a sample dress and what do you need to know before buying one? Here are the top 5 things we think every bride-to-be needs to know before heading to a wedding dress sample sale!
A Sample Dress is Still as Good as New
There’s a common misconception with buying sample sale dresses that they have an almost ‘second hand’ feel to them as they are showcased in store and tried on by brides who visit the shop for regular appointments but sample dresses are still as good as new.
No dress in our Sixpence Sample Sale has any signs of wear or damage and if there does happen to be any blemishes on any gowns, we’re sure to highlight this to any bride interested and ensure the price is reflective of the quality the dress is in.
Just because you choose to buy your dress in a sample sale, doesn’t mean you’re getting ‘hand me downs’, you’ll still be the first blushing bride to wear this gown down the aisle, you’ll just have paid a fraction of the price!
Be Open to Styles
If you’re heading to a sample sale with a fixed idea of what style of dress you want, you might find yourself struggling to find what you’re looking for.
Although our upcoming sample sale is set to showcase over 100 dresses from various designers, there’s a chance that every style of dress won’t be available which means if you’re stuck with one style in mind, you may end up disappointed.
Going into a sample sale with an open mind is the best way to increase your chances of finding a dress for your big day and may even lead you to pick something you never dreamed would be right for you!
Try Before You Buy is Key
As sample dresses from Maria Modes are sold as seen and non-refundable, we always recommend our brides try before they buy to ensure the fit is right for them.
We have gowns in our sale in UK sizes 10-22, so the likelihood is that there’ll be a gown that is your perfect fit and even if there isn’t, it is possible to enlist the help of a tailor after you’ve bought a gown to alter if required.
Shopping in a sample sale can still provide the same enjoyable and memorable experience as traditional wedding dress shopping; you can still bring family and friends along, take your time and try on multiple gowns, the only difference is you’ll take your chosen dress away with you on the day.
First Come, First Served
As with shopping any fashion sale, a sample wedding dress sale works on a first come, first served basis. We recommend booking an appointment to visit our sample sale, so we can allocate a changing room for your visit to make your experience as enjoyable as possible but we can’t reserve dresses, so the sooner you visit the sale, the more variety you’ll have to choose from.
Sample Dresses Still Need Accessorising
It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the sample sale as the showroom tends to be busier than during a regular non-sale appointment but sample dresses still need accessorising in the same way full price gowns do.
A key part of trying on a wedding dress is to try on accessories too and create a whole look for your big day and make the gown look exactly how you want it to, so you need to do this with a sample sale dress too.
We sell a whole range of accessories at Maria Modes and many of these will be in the sale too, so ensure that you try on as many accessories as you like when trying on a sample dress to ensure you find the perfect one for you as it’s often the accessories that make the dress exactly what you were looking for.
Wedding dress shopping is such a fun experience for everyone involved and shopping for your gown in a sample sale can be just as much of an enjoyable experience if you embrace it and take all these things into account before arriving.
We can’t wait to meet all the brides-to-be who will be heading to our Sixpence Sample Sale. Don’t forget that not only do we have a whole range of discounted dresses but there’s also the chance to walk away with your dress for free if you find that lucky sixpence!
Did you buy your dream dress in a sample sale? If you have any tips for brides-to-be heading to the sales, share them with us on Twitter or Instagram!