FAQ

A: All Gowns are under $1000! We have something for every budget. That said, please be realistic about your dress and budget. Those gorgeous gowns on Pinterest cost thousands of dollars. We welcome you to stop by on Monday – Friday with or without an appointment, or by appointment on Saturdays and Sundays. We have sizes 0 to 32 in stock, and we are off-the-rack 100%! If you fall in love with it, it goes home with you that day!

A: To make your experience more enjoyable, we are a small, personal, one-on-one boutique-style setting, with just 2 dressing rooms.

A: We have a strict 4 guest limit, plus yourself – for a total of 5 people, and no babies or children. Due to our 2 small try-on areas, as well as space for our other bride and their guests, plus our consultants and all the dresses, we simply don’t have sitting or standing room for more than 4 guests. While we love babies and children, not every bride does, and they can be distracting to another bride’s experience. Thank you for understanding that we are not able to make exceptions. We appreciate you understanding and respecting our store policy. As a reminder, when you have lots of people, you have lots of opinions, which may make it more difficult to decide on your dream gown. Have a conversation with the people you bring with you, as to what you’re looking for. Also, bring only the most important (nice!) people with you!

A: Excellent question! Carrie, along with store manager Kristin, design all of the dresses in the store! We have over 500 dresses in our Atlanta showroom. We do not carry any outside designers that are sold to hundreds of brides. We have tons of one-of-a-kind dresses and unique pieces!

A: Of course! It’s impossible for us to have pictures of everything, since we have SO many dresses! Pictures you see on our website are just a SAMPLING of what we have in stock. We have over 400 gowns in stock, and inventory changes daily.

A: Veils are $99 to $169, but we occasionally have $25-35 clearance veils! Belts/Sashes range from $10-$199. Yes, $10! Jewelry is from $20 and up, depending on craftsmanship. We welcome you to stop by on Monday – Friday without an appointment. We do require appointments for Saturdays and Sundays, at 9:30 or 10 am.

A: We focus solely on the bride, and the bride’s accessories. We carry bridal gowns, bridal shoes, veils, belts, and jewelry. We do not carry Mother’s, Bridesmaids or Flower Girls.

A: If you’re coming during the week, no appointment is needed – if you’d like to come on a weekend, an appointment is required! Our Atlanta location books only 9:30 and 10 am accessories appointments on Saturdays and Sundays, and these times book up fast, so please contact us for availability.  Do not use our online booking tool for accessories.  Please see our Contact pages for Atlanta and Macon store hours.

A: On the weekends, we are by appointment. To keep our overhead low, we have open hours Monday thru Friday and we are by appointment only on Saturday, and Sunday! We REALLY appreciate you not cancelling your appointment last minute or not showing up. An appointment at a bridal salon is exactly the same as an appointment at the doctor or hair salon. If you cancel last minute, or don’t show up, we still have to pay employees, which is also a waste of their time that we set aside just for you.

We promise, from the very moment you walk in the door, you’ll feel at ease. Our stylists are *not* paid on commission, so we truly have your best interest at heart! We understand what an important day this is! We’ll sit down and you can tell us all about what you’re looking for, and your wedding details. We’re here to help you every step of the way. We focus on helping you understand everything you’re able to do to personalize your dress. By the time you leave, we’ll feel like old friends!

A: Absolutely. We have over 400 dresses in store, with over 100 being in sizes 14-28! We have gowns with extra length, and also the option to add materials at the bottom, or shorten easily!

A: Our recommended seamstresses ask for 16 weeks before your wedding to begin alterations. If you are close to your wear date, please call the seamstresses we recommend to see if they may accommodate you. You are welcome to use any seamstress of your choosing, not just the ones on our list.   We give out our seamstress list when you purchase your dress, but please note that our seamstresses do not work on dresses not purchased at our store.  Please understand that it is important to call 4 before the 16 weeks to set up your initial appointment. Do not wait! Our seamstresses book up quickly! Also remember that our seamstresses may only be able to give you a general pricing quote over the phone, but it is always best to schedule an appointment to go in and see them for a real price quote. They really cannot quote pricing until they see a gown in person! If you need to add straps, sleeves, or make any other type of changes, please make an appointment with your chosen seamstress to see if you need additional materials, and check with us right away about ordering what you need. Ordering time for additional materials can be up to 3 months.

A: We give you our list of recommended seamstresses when you purchase your gown. We have a fabulous seamstress next door. However, you are welcome to use ANY seamstress that you choose. If you are planning on adding or making changes to your dress(besides hem, bustle, taking it in), please make an appointment with your chosen seamstress to see if you need additional materials. Ordering time for additional materials can be up to 3 months.

A: We understand schedule changes! Just kindly give us at least 24 hours notice so that we can be able to book another bride from our waiting list. We have just 2 dressing rooms, so we appreciate your understanding. We’re just like your doctor or hair dresser. We have committed our own time to your appointment. Due to the large amount of last minute cancellations and no-shows, appointments booked for same-day or next-day service only will now be charged a $25 non-refundable appointment fee. This will be applied to your dress purchase, and is non-refundable. As a small business owner, I appreciate you understanding that I still have to pay my employees if you don’t show up.

A: Great question! They are not consigned, they are new, and there is nothing wrong with them (some under $599 gowns may, or may not, have minor issues)! You will find similar silhouettes that you will find in other stores, we just cut out the “middle man” designer, because Carrie designs the dresses in the store! This is Carrie’s showroom. We don’t pay outside designers for their dresses, so our dresses cost less! We have superb quality and construction. Drop on by, try on a few, and you will see!

A: Being that we are a small business, our preferred method of payment is cash, so we don’t have to pay credit card fees. We also accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. We are pleased to offer you a 5% discount for cash (paper money), to avoid credit card processing fees.  We do not accept checks.

A: Yes! You are more than welcome to take pictures. Please keep in mind, though, phone pictures will be drastically different from your photographer’s pictures. We also have wifi and welcome you to Skype or Facetime with your friends and family!

A: You can…but we realllllly don’t recommend it. This is the single most important dress of your life. It’s crucial that you take the time to come in and look for your gown yourself. We can almost assure that your likes are different from your mom’s!

A: Bridal appointments are 1 hour. It’s important to be on time. Accessory appointments are 30 minutes. We recommend bringing your dress, but if you purchased it elsewhere, we won’t be able to allow you to try it on.

A: Due to the nature of our store, we are unable to hold gowns. You’re welcome to “take your chances” for a gown not to sell, but it happens frequently that the very next bride buys your favorite dress! It’s impossible for us to predict what will happen.

A: As much as we’d love to have champagne (and indulge with you!), we would require a liquor license to serve. Due to the nature of our store, food and drinks are not allowed. We’re happy to recommend a few great local spots to grab some drinks and celebrate, after your appointment!

A: We sell off the rack, meaning we are a “cash and carry” type store. We offer a 5% discount for cash.   Please keep in mind, you may easily select a dress *below* your budget!  If you are unable to pay for your dress in full up front, please let us know so we can assist you.

A: Yes! Your gown will be sent off, cleaned and preserved, and can be shipped directly back to you.  We can have your veil cleaned and preserved for an additional nominal fee.  Just call us or email us to schedule when you’d like to come in and drop it off. We accept cash only for this service.

A: We give you a breathable garment bag (other stores charge $25++ for this!). We recommend you store it in a closet, where it is protected, and away from any animals. After the wedding, bring it back for preservation!

A: Thank you for thinking of us, but we do not lend out gowns for photo shoots.

A: You are welcome to bring a dress in that was not purchased at Carrie’s, but due to liability, we aren’t able to allow you to try it on.

A: Due to the nature of our inventory, and with most bridal stores, all sales are final.  This is standard in the bridal industry.