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Frequently Asked Questions

Love Bridal Boutique Inside of Store

Here at Love, we know wedding planning can be a lot to handle. We also know shopping for your wedding gown can seem intimidating from the outside looking in. Our team is dedicated to making the process not only easy - but FUN! Remember that you can
also call us anytime to talk out any
worries or concerns you have.

We can't wait to meet you! 

DO YOU INCLUDE ALTERATIONS?

No - like most all bridal boutiques, our gowns are priced without alterations fees, they also do not include any other fees such as tax, custom or rush fees. We refer to the most experienced and talented seamstresses in North Florida and their pricing is reflective of that. We advise you budget at least $1,000 for quality alterations on your gown. As alterations are a separate service, you of course can see the seamstress of your choosing to complete your alterations.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY DRESS TO ARRIVE / WHEN SHOULD I START SHOPPING?

We recommend beginning your search 10-12 months before your wedding date. It is also a great idea to have your venue booked prior to shopping - it can be hard to pick a dress without being able to envision your wedding location! Our gowns typically take anywhere from 5-7 months to arrive in the store, and you'll want a couple months for alterations. We are able to place rush orders on most gowns, if need be, but to avoid extra fees and stress - 10-12 months is perfect timing.

WHAT IS THE PRICE RANGE OF YOUR DRESSES?

Our collection starts about $1,800 and goes up to $10,000. The vast majority of our gowns are priced between $2,000-$4,000. We have plenty of selection right around $2,500! For pricing of specific designers, see our Designers tab.

WHO SHOULD I BRING ALONG TO SHOP WITH?

We may be biased, but dress shopping is certainly the most fun aspect of wedding planning. So it comes as no surprise you may be tempted to bring everyone along! In our experience, this is really never a good idea. The more people you bring, the more opinions you'll hear and the slower your appointment will run. We find that more than about four guests can start to add unnecessary stress on the bride. We also want to give all our brides a quiet, luxe experience and bringing along a large party can disrupt other appointments. Saturdays we allow you to bring a max of 5 others. If you are hoping to bring more you'll need to visit us on a weekday!

WILL I NEED ALTERATIONS?

When we order your gown, we order off a designers size chart according to your measurements. Often, brides fall in between two sizes and we highly recommend ordering up! This way, your gown can be perfected in alterations. Even if your gown arrives fitting perfectly, you'll need minor alterations. A hem, bustle, and strap adjustment is typically always necessary. Alterations are an important part of the process - and should never be overlooked!

When should I start shopping for my dress?

We recommend having your wedding date and venue booked before you begin your search for a dress.  It is important to have the date and location established so you can envision the wedding’s overall look, and know when your dress needs to be ready! Gowns typically take four to six months to arrive in our store, and alterations generally require one to two months.  Start shopping about eight to ten months in advance to ensure you have plenty of time to make up your mind without any stress!

If your wedding is more than a year away, we recommend waiting a bit.  After all, styles and tastes can change, and dresses can be discontinued.  At Love, we want to make sure you start your search when you’re truly ready to say yes to the dress!

Who should I bring with me to my appointment?

Bring the two or three people whose opinions you value most.
When it comes to choosing a dress, more is not always merrier! You’ll want to
bring guests who understand your true style, give supportive feedback, and will
help you look your best.  Hearing too many opinions can be overwhelming for even
the most confident of brides, so keep the guest list short and sweet. Please note on Saturdays, we ask you bring along a maximum of 5 guests with you!

Why do bridal stores ask what size I wear?

Many bridal boutiques, including us here at Love, ask your typical clothing size for a multitude of reasons. The main, and most important, is so that we provide you with the best experience possible. We believe all brides, from size 00 to size 40 and above deserve to feel special, celebrated, and beautiful. Knowing your typical size ahead of time helps us prepare for your appointment as every gown in store is sampled in a different size. In our case it also helps us know where to book your appointment! We PROUDLY opened Florida's only exclusively curvy bridal boutique in 2021 - Curve Bridal Collection. At Curve, every single gown is sampled in a size between 18-38. If you typically wear a size 14 and up, we would schedule your appointment at Curve. If you typically wear a size 12 and below we would book your appointment at Love. Our team members at both Curve and Love are happy to talk you through it if you have more questions related to sizing or which boutique to visit! 

How much money should I expect to spend on a dress at Love?

Our gowns start at $1,800 and go up to $10,000.  The majority
of our dresses fall in the $2,000 to $4,000 range.  We require a 60% down
payment at the time of your order, and the remainder is due 60 days after purchase.

All of Love’s gowns and accessories are crafted by dedicated designers, and
often incorporate hand-sewn beading and details.  We take great pride in our
designers’ work and are confident that you’ll see the difference in quality as
soon as you try on your first dress.

What if my size isn’t available? How will I try on gowns?

Don’t worry!  We’ll help you envision how the dress will look on you, even if it’s not an exact fit. Bridal sizing can be confusing and your consultant will help you even if you don’t happen to be a perfect sample size (and who is?!). Some silhouettes, like ballgowns and A-line dresses, are easier to try on even if the size isn’t perfect. Talk to your consultant and we’ll do everything we can to help you feel comfortable and confident during your appointment! Our consultants are experts using clips and panels to secure the gown for you to see.

What will my appointment be like?

During your appointment, you will work with your assigned expert Love stylist. Our stylists are dedicated to finding the dress that will make you look and feel your
absolute best. If you have already have some ideas about your dream dress, feel
free to bring along pictures, Pinterest ideas, napkin doodles…we can work with
anything!  And if you’re coming in blind and have no idea what you want yet, we
can work with that, too.  Our experienced stylists will make the search as
fun and easy as possible; we LOVE (no pun intended!) finding you exactly what
you’re looking for, even if you don’t know what that is yet.  Be ready to leave
with your dream gown babe.

What if I need more time to choose my dress?

If you need more time to make your decision, or want to come back for a second appointment, we totally understand. This is a big decision, and if you need more time we want you to have that. We are a pressure free shopping environment! Return appointments are offered Tuesday-Thursday, select Fridays, and are $100. Your return appointment will be up to an hour long, and with the same consultant (if possible) as your initial visit. Questions about this? Just give us a call! 

Can I bring children to my appointment?

While we are a family-friendly store, we host multiple
appointments at a time, and although you’ll have your individual appointment
space, children can be a distraction. In our experience, children also get
bored quickly, seeing wedding dress after wedding dress.  We also have very delicate decorations and accents in the store that can be easily broken if handled wrong.

As such, we strongly encourage you to leave the kids at home and let yourself focus on your dress hunt.  If you need to bring children to your appointment, we do ask they are given a separate form of entertainment and remain seated and quiet during the appointment.

Can I bring champagne to my appointment?

Who doesn’t love champagne?!  We certainly do!  However, as we are a smaller boutique and Saturday’s can be very busy – we do not allow any champagne in the store on Saturdays.  We also have found that champagne WILL slow down an appointment, and we want you to make the most of your appointment time while here, focusing on finding your gown!  If you really, really, really want to have some bubbles during your appointment, please give us a ring.  We can schedule you an appointment during the week and make special arrangements.

When will my dress be ready?

Generally, our gowns take five to seven months to arrive, and you should plan for about two months for alterations.  Like most bridal boutiques, we do not have in-house alterations. We do provide you with a referral list to tailors and seamstresses nearby who we know and trust. While you’re waiting for your dress to arrive, we recommend you select your shoes, because you’ll need them when you start your alterations!

Will I need alterations?

Yes! Alterations make a dress truly YOURS, tailoring your gown perfectly to your body and your style.  A seamstress can work wonders –shortening straps, hemming the length, adding a bustle – almost anything you can imagine to make your dream dress a reality.  Don’t be worried that your dress needs altering! It’s a totally normal part of the process, and you’ll be so thrilled when you put on a gown perfectly customized for you. We want you to know everything ahead of time, so please note professional, high-end alterations by a talented seamstress will typically be $800-$1,500 depending on how many alterations your gown requires.

Are alterations included in the price of my gown?

No, we do not perform alterations at our boutique, although we’ll happily refer you to a trusted seamstress to perfect your gown.  We recommend budgeting $600 to $800 for most alterations, although more complex alterations – like adding sleeves or extra beading – may incur additional costs.

What happens during my pick-up appointment?

At your pick-up appointment, you’ll be trying on your actual
wedding dress, and – most exciting of all – taking it home with you that very
day! Your dress will be packaged in a beautiful Love garment bag, so it
will be protected and, if you’re storing your gown at home, your fiancée won’t
be able to see. Please note, this is not an alterations appointment as we refer to local seamstresses for your alterations.

How can I choose my accessories?

At Love, we have plenty of gorgeous veils, jewelry, and headpieces to complete your look.  Your consultant will recommend accessories during your appointment to help accentuate your gown.  If you don’t choose any accessories on your first visit, we recommend you try on
some with your dress at your pick-up appointment, so you can see the whole look
together! We are also more than happy to schedule you an accessories appointment during the weekdays.

How can I clean and preserve my dress after my wedding?

After the champagne, the toasts, and the dances, have your dress cleaned and preserved as soon as you can!  The longer stains set in, the harder they are to get out, so have a plan to drop your dress off at a trusted cleaner.

If you’re a Jacksonville bride, Love works closely with Oceanside Cleaners.  They will carefully examine and hand-wash your dress, protecting any beading, lace, and embroidery, then give it back to you looking as beautiful as the day you brought it home – regardless of what happened at the reception.  Ask about their discount for our Love brides, too!

Visit Oceanside Cleaners website by clicking here

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