Where to Find Off the Rack Wedding Gowns

Off the rack wedding gowns and rush wedding dresses are popular choices for women who either don't want to fuss with ordering and waiting for a gown, or are getting married in a few weeks or even days, and need that dress fast!

This article will give you examples of two great brick and mortar stores to find off the rack wedding gowns, We also give you rush wedding dress boutique tips to make the most of your purchasing experience.

First: What NOT to do

Do not go to a traditional bridal boutique for your gown if you need it quickly. Often the sample size ranges they provide will not fit you, and sometimes the dresses on hand show a few too many signs of wear and tear. In those cases, you could be stuck with having to order a gown in your size, which is exactly what you don't want.

Instead, try the following options.

Group USA/Camille La Vie: A National Chain

This is a chain of stores that sells 50 to 60 styles of off-the-rack wedding gowns in sizes 0 to 24. Any dress you find in your size can be bought and taken home the same day.The majority of their bridal gowns are priced between $499 and $799, but there is a small amount of dresses priced as low as $349 and as high as $1,999. They also carry veils, tiaras, and bustiers.

Some of the chain's stores are called Group USA, while others are called Camille La Vie. The chain has 26 stores located across the following states: Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. There are also two stores in Puerto Rico. Appointments are encouraged and many stores have a seamstress that can do alterations.

The Sample Rack: An Independent Boutique

For those who like the private boutique experience, The Sample Rack is an example of a great store to buy a rush wedding dress in. It is an independent bridal salon that has its entire stock of in-store wedding gowns available to take home any day you walk in. All of their gowns are priced between $200 and $1,000 and store sizes are 4 to 24. The original retail value of the gowns range from $1,000 to $5,000.

A few examples of designers they carry are Pronovias, Maggie Sottero, and Enzoani. The Sample Rack is located at 918 Pine Street in Center City Philadelphia, between the Society Hill and Rittenhouse Square neighborhoods.

Rush Wedding Dress Boutique Tips

• If you need your gown in less than a few weeks, selecting a style that doesn't need bodice alterations is best. It is usually the case, however, if you are under 5' 9", that your wedding gown will need to be hemmed. If you would like to spare the expense of shortening your gown, skip the walk down the center of the aisle, unless you can hold the front of your dress up with one of your hands. Although it is not ideal, brides sometimes do this if they are having a smaller wedding.

• Check the gown for stains and loose threading and beading. If you see any stains, ask if the salon can remove the stain while you are in the store. It might just need a gentle cleaner and some water. If there are loose threads or beads, ask to have them fixed by the store or to be offered a discount on your purchase.

• Take just one person to the bridal salon with you. Why only one? First, most brides have their own sense of taste, even if it is their first time trying on a gown, and hearing too many opinions from others will often weigh on your mind. Second, if your bridal attendant is busy, your guest can help zip you up or place your unwanted dresses back on the hangers so you can focus on trying them on. It is ideal that the one person you take to the salon be the most important figure in your life, like your mother, or, in other cases, the person who is paying for the dress.

• The dress you loved in a catalog or on a hanger might not be the best look for you. Be open to trying different styles. Your bridal attendant could have some good experience in identifying which styles would be ideal for your shape.