Brides that want a discounted designer wedding dress, often book an off-the-rack wedding dress appointment. This can also be true of brides with a tight wedding timeline or brides who are looking for instant gratification during wedding dress shopping. In this blog, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about off-the-rack wedding dress appointments at anna bé Bridal Boutique.

What Does It Mean to Buy an Off-The-Rack Wedding Dress?

Wondering what it means to buy an off-the-rack wedding dress? An off-the-rack wedding dress is a gown that is available for immediate purchase right off of the bridal shop’s rack. Usually when dress shopping, you place an order for the gown you say yes to.

Unlike the time it takes to order a wedding dress and get your custom gown in store, purchasing an off-the-rack dress means you are able to take home your wedding dress the exact same day. This is one reason that brides with a shorter timeline or a wedding quickly approaching, often seek out off-the-rack wedding dresses.

Are Off-The-Rack Wedding Dresses Discounted?

Off-the-rack wedding dresses are typically discounted from 30-70% off. The discount of a particular off-the-rack wedding dress varies due to the condition of the gown and the status of the particular dress style.

Condition Of Off-The-Rack Wedding Dresses

Since off-the-rack wedding dresses have been tried on in shop, wear and tear is to be expected. Brides shopping off-the-rack dresses can find everything from gowns in almost perfect condition to gowns that have minor imperfections such as missing beading, loose buttons, snags, etc.

At anna bé, we go to great lengths to care for our inventory. Our off-the-rack collection will include imperfections and the dress will be final sale. Our expert bridal stylists will guide you through what the process of buying an off-the-rack wedding dress may look like. By working with a bridal stylist, you can also learn more about how certain dress flaws could be adjusted in alterations.

Why Do Dresses Become Off-The-Rack?

Another factor that dictates the discount on an off-the-rack wedding dress is the style’s status. Dress designers occasionally discontinue wedding dress styles. A wedding dress is usually discontinued when it has been around for several seasons or when the mill runs out of fabric to make the gown.

When a wedding dress is discontinued, bridal shops are no longer able to place orders for that particular style. Many boutiques will move their discounted dresses to their off-the-rack collection and make room for new inventory. This also makes off-the-rack dresses highly sought after, as some brides seek them out when they realize their dream dress style is no longer going to be available to purchase new.

How to Prepare for an Off-The-Rack Appointment?

Explore Our Off-The-Rack Wedding Dresses

One of the best ways to prepare for your off-the-rack appointment is to view your individual store’s ‘off-the-rack wedding gowns’ Pinterest board. Our inventory is always changing, but this board will give you a good idea of what our off-the-rack bridal collection looks like.

Understand Bridal Sizing and Off-The-Rack Dress Sizes

Since off-the-rack dresses are wedding dresses that were bought for the shop, the majority of off-the-rack dresses will fit like a street size 8-12 with a smaller selection up to size 20. We highly encourage you to inquire about your specific size range when booking an off-the-rack appointment. ALL Ann Bé Bridal Boutique inventories vary by location.

As a general rule of thumb, most wedding dresses can be altered up to 2 dress sizes without compromising the integrity of the dress. This guideline is dependent on the gown’s silhouette and ideal fit.

Another factor to be mindful of when shopping off-the-rack bridal samples is the length of the gown. If you are short to average in height, off-the-rack wedding dresses will be long, but a hem is usually an easy fix in alterations. For brides that are taller than average, there may be less off-the-rack gown options due to dresses being too short and not having the ability to add length.

Be Open-Minded When Exploring Off-The-Rack Wedding Dresses

Many brides enjoy off-the-rack wedding dress shopping due to its element of surprise. Trust that your bridal stylist understands your vision and try to be open-minded. Remember, you’re allowed (and encouraged) to explore when you go wedding dress shopping.

Be Ready to Find Your Dream Off-The-Rack Wedding Dress

Off-the-rack wedding dresses are first come, first serve. There’s no guarantee that the dress you fall in love with one day will still be there the next. For the best bridal shopping experience and the least amount of stress, we encourage you to prepare yourself to commit to the right dress if you find the one.