These bridal retailers, designers and suppliers have introduced virtual bridal appointments to help brides-to-be (and grooms) during lockdown.
Virtual Bridal Appointments at Anne Barge Bridal
Just when you thought planning your wedding couldn’t get any more difficult – a global pandemic is thrown into the mix. For many bridal designers and retailers, suddenly the exclusive and personalised bridal fittings and appoints they offer have become obsolete due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
This has been the case for bridal atelier Anne Barge, who we were faced with the question, what now?
In an effort to stay connected with their brides in a time when many of us are unable to leave our homes, the Anne Barge Bridal Atelier has embraced the new normal and introduced Virtual Bridal Appointments.
When a bride schedules a virtual appointment, she is able to see all the collections on offer at the atelier and have any questions answered by the Anne Barge team. The key to the virtual appointment is not to make a purchase, but to establish a relationship with the customer – as you would with any other fitting or bridal appointment.
Here is how the virtual bridal appointments work:
- Get Connected – First, head over to www.annebarge.com and create a wish list of all of the gowns you are interested in. Then, schedule your virtual appointment by emailing Erin Krut, the Anne Barge Bridal Atelier stylist at [email protected]. Virtual appointments are done via Facetime or Zoom.
- During Your Virtual Bridal Appointment – Erin will begin each virtual appointment by learning about your wedding plans and discussing every detail, from the venue and time of year to the general aesthetic you prefer. Erin will go through your bridal style and your desired wedding day looks, explaining each dress on your wish list based on fit, shape and fabric. She will also discuss possible customisation options or special sizing needed.
- Narrowing Down Your Options – You will then narrow down your gown choices to your top looks. The Anne Barge team would be happy to send fabric swatches for up to three gowns, which will be mailed directly to your home. This will help you visualize the gowns by actually seeing fabrics and colours.
- Set A Date – Finally, you will set up an appointment to try on your selected gowns once the atelier has reopened.
- Who Will Benefit? – Brides looking for a gown who have a Summer or Fall 2020 wedding will be prioritised for virtual appointments. Brides who have postponed their big day and are now considering a smaller ceremony and a second gown will also benefit from these appointments.
- Added Bonus! – Anne Barge will be waiving all rush fees on new orders for Summer and Fall 2020 wedding gown purchases.
You can still have your dream wedding and feel supported throughout the entire process.
Virtual Bridal Appointments at The OWN Studio
Over at The OWN Studio – a design studio and bridal retailer specialising in sleek and sustainable modern bridal wear – founders Rosie Williams and Jess Kaye have adapted their bespoke service to adhere to lockdown measures.
Sample postage service
Advocates of the try before you buy mantra, The OWN Studio has launched a sample postage service to make sure customers still have the opportunity to try their favourite styles, feel how the fabric moves and see the quality of the pieces in real life before making that all-important decision.
How does it work?
Customers just need to send an email (or get in touch via instagram) with the styles they’d like to try, then the studio will get these posted out to their home address where they are able to try the pieces in the comfort of their home with any shoes or accessories they like.
Clients can take as may pictures as they like before returning the pieces to us. From there customers can place their order on our website – once the order has been placed brides are provided with a really easy video tool that guides them through how to take their measurements at home.
Once the measurements are sent back to the studio, the work begins work to make your dream dress. Brides are kept updated at every step of the way.
Virtual consultations
For brides that have had a look at the pieces online but want to see them in more detail before making a decision, they can ‘meet them’ over FaceTime, Zoom or Skype and talk them through the styles (albeit virtually!). Brides can invite anyone they like to join the appointment call, whether that’s a bridesmaid, friend or family member.
During the virtual appointments, Jess and Rosie take time understand exactly what you’re looking for. Sharing Pinterest boards and any other inspiration references in encouraged.
The designers then chat through each style, showing how the fabric moves, explaining any finer design details and answering any questions you may have.
More details on these services can be found on The OWN Studio’s blog
Virtual Tailoring and Grooms’ Services at Alexandra Wood Bespoke
It’s not all about the brides (but it mostly is), and the grooms out their may also be struggling to crack on with finding the perfect suit for their upcoming nuptials during this lockdown.
Alexandra Wood Bespoke – specialists in creating tailor-made suits for grooms – are offering virtual consultations so they can look and feel their best on the big day.
How the virtual consultations work
- Zoom chat: Alexandra Wood set up a Zoom meeting to understand more about each groom – where you’re getting married, the style and season and your personal tastes. Your fiancé can then be involved too which can be a nice touch.
- Ideas and samples: Next up Alexandra and her team put forward ideas and samples via email for grooms to choose from along with some suggestions from the pros.
- Measurements: After you’ve decided on the design and style, another online meeting is set up where you will be guided through the measurement process.
- Order: You can then place your order and in the same way as usual. Each bespoke creation should be ready 6 to 8 weeks later and either delivered directly to you or you can set up a fitting in person (once lockdown is lifted of course).
Virtual Bridal Appointments at Sassi Holford
From Monday 27th April, British fashion and bridal designer Sassi Holford will be hosting one-to-one virtual appointments with brides-to-be.
The appointments can be scheduled to take place via Zoom, Facetime and WhatsApp video call.
Digital Bridal Boutique at Pretty Heritage
Pretty Heritage offer a very bespoke bridal service, with a very hands on design and development approach. The bride has full control over the vision for her dress – selecting fabrics qualities, embroidery swatches, colour swatches, dress shapes etc. creating one off pieces for each bride.
However, since the current climate has us all in lockdown, they have had to act immediately to cater for those brides who have no dress.
Pretty Heritage has created personalised Digital Bridal Consultations – an online service where they are able to provide a one-to-one design consultation. This includes a carefully selected music list along with a shop front presentation to set the scene. A designers table set for creating concepts, presenting swatches and sketches, and bringing a toast to the end of a consultation.
They are also offering a Design Consultation Pack. This consists of all swatches, sketches discussed for a more tangible experience. Since the Pretty Heritage workshop team are effective and highly experienced, they are able to begin pattern cutting and initial sampling almost immediately after the digital consultation.
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