® Save precious $8 on wine for your wedding @ Choose from 34 varieties @ We make it for you” ® You enjoy the savings Call Jim or eileen today A pleasure fo give. oA truly delectable way to say s Thank You for sharing i in our joy. Park Royal North . West Vancouver contact Catherine Bury: 925-2213 - South Granville 2820 Granville 733-1994 “Downtown "1105 Rabson St. “| $88-9624 ‘Custom Design id For You! Call for your Frees consultation with our award winninng © 4 staff~ Pleasing brides for over 2 decades | 1804 Lor Buying your dream dress takes careful consideration THERE’S EXCITEMENT and anticipation invalved in look- ing for your wedding gown, but a bride-to-be needs to be un educated consumer to pre- vent the fun from turning into an unpleasant ordeal. By Nancy Davis _Coutributing Writer ‘Beware of the bargains that seem too good to be true (they usu- ally are) and be a wise shopper. Before you begin your search for. the perfect dress, prepare yourself by knowing what to expect and which questions to ask, A full-service shop provides brides-to-be with start-to-finish -assistance, Alterations are done on. the premises, and these shops can . also customize or modify your: gown. If youd like to add some lace or ‘change a sleeve, for instance, a seamstress will be available to do the work, There are charges for this work, but you are dealing with estab- lished, trained professionals, If you buy from other sources, you take - the dress as is and arrange for alter- ations yourself, Bargain-priced wedding gowns are generally final sale and must be paid for in-full at the time of pur- chase. The full-service retailer accepts deposits at the time of purchase, is there to provide service, expertise, commitment and fittings until the gown is picture- perfect. Then the balance of payment is made. Full-service salons have a histo-- ry of reliability because they order quality merchandise directly from the manufacturer. On the other hand, many bargain resources sell copies of name designer gowns . using inferior materials, resulting in poor workmanship. Finally, service is what good salons are all about. Years of expe- rience and a knowledge of the industry give salon owners the cre- dentials that brides-can rely on. Cash-and-carry deals offer no fol- low-up help or means of restitution. What’s next? If you’ve chosen a full-service salon, sit down with a bridal consul- tant from that shop and inform him or her of your plans: date of the Cy [re hotographic Services Wedding Specialist Packages Starting at $550 Chris J. Leger 875-6766 Would you trust the most special event wedding, date you need the dress (a formal portrait for the newspaper announcement must be taken three to four weeks in advance), type of wedding (formal, semiformal, afier- noon garden party), the style of the dress you prefer and your price range, Discuss the details and features that are most flattering to your fig- ure, as well as fabric, train and headpiece options. The facts about delivery Reputable salons usually have good relationships with represented manufacturers. If there are prob- lems with the gown that is delivered to the salon, the error can, be cor- rected because the retailer and mane ufacturer work together. But timing should be closely - investigated. Although a common delivery schedule for most bridal’ " gowns is 12 weeks from the date of the order, some manufacturers take longer, while others work within a time frame of eight to 10.weeks. “It’s best to leave yourself at * least four months when ordering your gown,” recommends Gary Walls of Bridal Bliss and Formal Wear. “T want every bride and her wed- | ding party to look beautifully coor- dinated because it’s a reflection of my work, so I also advise my cus- tomers to order their veil, any accessories and bridesmaids’ dress- es at the same time as their gown so that everything matches and arrives right on schedule.” But before you commit to a pur-. chase, inquire about the actual delivery date, Occasionally, a man- ufacturer may run into shipping dif- ficulties, so ask the consultant at your salon if there have been any delivery delays with the designer line you've chosen. If the date you are given is loo close to your wedding for. comfort, you might consider choosing anoth- er manufacturer. If you require an accelerated delivery date, be pre- pared to pay an additional fee for the special order. Also keep in mind that if you do buy adress from a bargain resource, Jate delivery is always a risk. because of indirect routes. Also, the customer has no recourse if an incorrect or damaged g. gown is deliv- ered. To be absolutely certain you are dealing with a reliable retailer, call the Better Business Bureau to learn if the store where you plan to make your purchase is on-record for any unresolved consumer complaints. With an all-clear from them, you can enjoy the wedding-gown sclec- ¢ tion process without a worry. Arranging payment A full-service bridal shop requires a deposit upon ordering, because bridal apparel purchases are usually non-cancelable. This is because the gown is cut to your measurements, Policies may vary so check with the salons you visit. to anyone else? LA TOQUE BLANCHE 4368 Marine Drive, West Vancouver GOURMET CATERING SERVICE 926-1006 or 926-1016 - ‘know what you will — or ‘dress, . ‘Nonrefundable’ is the key to this contract condition and must be emphasized,” says Walls, “Some . brides shop around and leave deposits in several stores in the course of making a decision without realizing that these deposits won't be returned to them, [t's a very expensive mistake.” When paying, use your credit card rather than a cheque or cush. ' Then, if the dress is not delivered or does not live up to what's promised, ‘ the bank that issued the card can be * contacted to issue a refund. (And, in: the worst case, if the shop goes’ out of business before delivering your. ‘dress, you have some recourse through the credit card company.) - Keep in mind that most fittings as well as all special alterations and extra lengths involve’ additional charges, as do headpiece and veil,:: . So-be prepared to pay for them. | If you ask ‘all your questio; beforehand, keep all sales slips and obtain the delivery date in writing, your shopping experience should be hassle-free, Bridal gown shopping tips '@ Compare the various sources available to you: ‘You may save. cénsiderably by. . purchasing from a bargain resource; but before you make a decision based on price alone, be certain you ill n —~ receive. . 4 Familiarize yourself with ful service bridal salons... 2 From help ia choosing. : your gown to final alterations, all the ele ments:involved in purchasing: _gown can be handled by the profes- sionals who work in these shops, 8 Don't be fooled by, what appears to bea bargain. Naturally, it’s smart to.shop; for the best price — but fully. i inve gate the resource before you sign: contract. E¥ Shop only at Slores'that can actu- ally show. you gowns made. by: hy * manufacturer you've chosen.” One bride-to-be says: “What worries me is 'that‘a. shop’ might deliver a copy of a gown. I: selec ‘How. do. get in touch with'the manufacturer to confirm ‘that this won't happen?" Try to visit stores liste advertisement for the gow ‘near you. ® Decide. how rch you" re c willing to trade off, J a Bargain resources ‘don’ t ‘provide accommodations given at fyll-ser-" vice salons. A late. or. damaged or delivery cf the wrong style, cannot be corrected. M Ask about purchase policy up front. Get all your questions answered first and read your contract careful-\.- ly. to avoid any misunderstandings. : or disappointments. ; . Repr inted with permission 0, Modern : Bride Magazine. Distributed by Los Angeles Times Syndicate. : ey .