SHOULD I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE I COME TO LOOK AT WEDDING GOWNS?
Yes, we recommend making an appointment to be assured that a consultant will be available. However they are not required, just appreciated. (If you have an appointment either a consultant is waiting for you or you will automatically be “next up”.) Call 417-532-2291 or 1-800-767-7085 to schedule an appointment at the Lebanon store and 417-866-9800 for the Springfield store.
WHAT IF I FIND THE GOWN OF MY DREAMS AND I DON’T HAVE ALL THE MONEY TO BUY IT YET?
DO YOU HAVE LAYAWAY?
Yes we do! Normans offers in store financing* for up to 6 months. With a 1/3 down payment and the balance paid in equal monthly payments for up to 6 months. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover as well as checks and debit cards and cash.
*A one time service charge of $25 will apply
SHOULD I BRING IN PICTURES FROM MAGAZINES OR THE INTERNET I LIKE?
Yes, Yes, Yes. BUT, we strongly advise that you keep an open mind. Gowns often appear differently in an ad than they do in person. It has been our experience that when many brides see themselves in a pictured gown it’s not what they thought it would be. The second thing that you should know is that many designers sell gowns that are not advertised in the magazines and are not available online. Lastly, you should know that when a bride brings in a picture of a gown she likes, 70% of the time we either have that exact dress or one very similar.
CAN I GET A CATALOG OF THE WEDDING GOWNS YOU CARRY?
Sorry, it’s impossible for Normans to publish a catalog of every gown we carry. This is because our styles and the wedding gowns we have available change daily. Please call today to schedule your appointment. A friendly bridal consultant will show you all the styles we have available.
ARE ALL THE WEDDING GOWNS “IN STOCK” READY TO TAKE HOME RIGHT AWAY IF I WANT TO?
Yes with one exception. At Normans Bridal we average approximately 400 wedding gowns in stock from size 2 to 30. However, if the gown you love is not in stock in your size and color we can special order it for you.
DOES NORMANS BRIDAL DO ALTERATIONS ON SITE?
Normans has an expert alteration staff on premise. Appointments are necessary for fittings and must be booked in advance. Charges are based on the amount of work needed to be done. A rush fee may occur when they have 2 weeks or less to do the work.
BEACH WEDDINGS; DESTINATION WEDDINGS;
Not a week goes by when we don’t have several requests in this category. We have a large selection of destination wedding gowns so we can give our customers a truly awesome selection of wedding gowns designed to look free flowing, elegant, sexy and exciting for just this type of wedding.
FULL FIGURED WOMEN AND PLUS SIZES AT NORMANS!
Normans Bridal has always enjoyed a stellar reputation with plus size customers. Normans Bridal offers plus sizes coming to you by many prestigious designers.
IF I’M PLANNING ON LOSING WEIGHT WHEN SHOULD I SHOP FOR AND WHEN SHOULD I BUY MY WEDDING GOWN?
Every experienced bridal seamstress will tell you that it is easier and less expensive to take a wedding gown down in size. 95% of all future brides need some alterations and when they open up the side seams, taking out ¼ inch or 2″ costs the same. So if you lose weight it is very possible to make your gown still fit you perfectly if it was purchased in a bigger size. The opposite, releasing a gown if it is too small can be more difficult and more expensive to do. Planning a wedding can be a stressful time and it is a mistake to add more stress because you will not fit into a dress if you don’t reach your weight goal. Most brides buy their wedding gowns 9 to 18 months in advance so they facilitate all of the other planning and purchases that revolve around the gown. You should do the same even if you are planning to lose weight. Buy the gown that fits your current weight and if you reach your weight goals have it altered to fit you beautifully.
WHO SHOULD I BRING WITH ME WHEN I COME FOR MY WEDDING GOWN SHOPPING APPOINTMENT AT NORMANS?
When shopping for a wedding gown all the experts advise not to bring too many people. Your mom and one or two other trusted individuals seem to be the perfect mix. Pick a few people who love you to come and your experience will be a lot more enjoyable and you will have a better chance of being successful in your quest. It’s great to have one or two people who are close to you to give your honest opinions but bringing too many people to “poll the audience” is a recipe for disaster that may make you miss out on your perfect gown. In the end the only opinion that truly counts when picking a wedding gown is YOURS! You will be the center of attention at your wedding. You want a wedding gown the will make you look awesome and feel amazing. YOU are the only one who will really know when you have found the gown that does this.
WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE GOWNS AT NORMANS THAT ARE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I HAVE SEEN EVERYWHERE ELSE?
YES YES YES. The skilled buyers at Normans travel as many as 10,000 miles each year to bring their customers many exclusive styles not found at other area shops. Several styles have even been designed by owner, Brenda Norman. Normans also feature the best of the best of many famous designers.
SHOULD I GET A SITTER FOR THE KIDS?
We strongly advise you not bring children to a bridal store. Your wedding gown choice is one of the most important you will make for your wedding. For the rest of your married life you will be looking at pictures of yourself in that special gown. When shopping for that gown you need to be able to focus and concentrate without distractions. A bridal salon is not a fun place for kids and they will get bored very quickly and totally distract you on this important mission. A bridal salon is also NOT a safe place for children due to lose pins and other hazards. Crying babies also distract other future brides on this important day.
NO COMMITTEES, PLEASE
Go shopping by yourself with one or two trusted friends at the most. This is YOUR decision, and you need to be able to listen to your own instincts about what dress makes you feel great. It’s easier to hear what your heart says if you don’t have a crowd with you.
COMPARING STORES
If you end up comparing dresses between different places, make sure you have a clear understanding of what services will or won’t be included in your purchase price. Consider all related costs so you’re comparing true totals. A price that looks higher might in fact be very competitive by the time you add up all related costs.
