QUESTIONS?
Frequently Asked Questions by our Brides!
Are Appointments Required?
To ensure every bride gets the very best experience – appointments are required on weekends, and highly recommended during the week. Walk-ins are accepted during the week based on staff & dressing room availability. This makes sure everyone gets all the time they need and gets the full Carrie’s experience!
You can make an appointment online or call in to your closest location!
Please note that children and babies are not permitted at appointments.
Do you have a layaway option?
We’re happy to work with you on a layaway plan, so you can get your dream dress! We typically require a 50% deposit, but if you need adjusting, please ask us so we can work it out with you. Gowns must be paid in full before leaving the store. If you are needing a special order gown, layaway must be completed before ordering. Also, all layaway payments are non-refundable, even if the gown has not left the store.
How should I prepare for my appointment?
Your gown and the experience you receive at Carrie’s is a big deal! Leading up to your appointment, we will connect with you to make sure all of your questions are answered. You will receive a call from one of our Master Stylists to go over all of the important details of your upcoming day, gown styles, and guests. Your Master Stylist dive in to learning about you, your style, your venue. We want to know it all! We are here to help you and your party with any questions, and select gowns for you to try on. Feel free to bring pictures or your Pinterest board. Please don’t worry – our staff is highly trained Bridal Masters at listening to your wants and Styling you!
We do recommend trying on gown silhouettes at a store prior to coming in to Carrie’s, to help narrow down silhouettes that you like! As we are off the rack stores, our gown inventory changes quickly. Our brides that have tried on different silhouettes prior to coming in are more easily able to fine-tune details like lace and beading or plain.
What to bring: Please wear proper undergarments! This helps keep everything sanitary for all brides. You are welcome to bring a bra, but most of the time, we don’t use it. Our gowns have excellent construction and strapless bras actually create thickness and flatten. We want you to be as comfortable as possible, so wear to your appointment what you would wear on your day.
Our boutiques are a down-to-earth, no pressure place where you can relax. Our staff will greet you and you will have your own Master Stylist to help you through the entire process! You’ll have your own changing area and private viewing area for you and your guests for a magical hour and a half experience. We also have mirrors in the front of our store to view your gown in different lighting. We encourage you to ask all the questions and take all the pictures. This is your moment!
We understand that this is an exciting time and some of your guests may want to gown shop all day! Please keep in mind, however, the more stores you visit, the more confused you can become. We call this “white out,” as they all start blending together. We have had many brides come back to us alone, without any other guests, to buy the gown they *really* wanted, because, after purchasing a gown at the end of their shopping day, they are tired and overwhelmed and settle just to be “done.” We don’t want that for you! We never know when that gown magic will happen, and it is important that you recognize that moment for yourself. It is YOUR moment. Not your mom’s, not your mother in law’s, not your best friend’s, not anyone else’s, but your moment. When you have that moment, acknowledge it, bask in it, and celebrate it!! Don’t let anyone take that away from you!
Most brides leave our stores saying, “That was so easy!” and it truly SHOULD be. We’re here to help!
How many guests can I bring with me?
We love our brides and their guests! We have a 4 guest limit, minimum age is 13. Space is limited in the store, so please don’t try to sneak in extra guests! ?
While we love babies and children, but to protect the experience of other brides in our store, babies and children cannot attend.
Please be sure to bring the most important people with you! Do keep in mind that the more people you bring, the more opinions you will have, and this moment is about YOU! While we love the little ones, our small staging areas simply aren’t safe for infants and toddlers, and can be distracting for brides and other brides, so our minimum age is 13. We want this day to be all about the Bride, as well as other brides in the store.
What is the difference in your locations?
We love this question! Our boutiques have their own unique styles, just like our brides! Each store is charming and boutique-y, but relaxed and fun. Our inventory in each store changes daily, so you never know what diamond you will find! You are more than welcome to book an appointment or walk in to either or both locations.
Our Atlanta location has strictly wedding dresses, while our Macon location also has formal wear like Mother of the Bride, Bridesmaids and Prom! Both locations have bridal accessories as well.
Do you do plus size wedding dresses?
We don’t categorize gowns or brides as “plus size!” We get that question a lot, but please know that our brides are brides, not a number or a category. We have all size gowns. Our inventory includes sizes 00-30, and we have over 100 dresses in sizes 14-30, and our inventory changes daily! We also have gowns with extra length and options to add materials to the bottom, as well as easy ways to shorten a gown! Our seamstress referrals are rockstars!
How is Carrie's different than other bridal boutiques?
Your Gown Shopping Experience is an EXPERIENCE! We offer an intimate boutique salon, as opposed to the big name stores. We promise that from the moment you walk in the door, you’ll feel at ease! We truly have your best interest at heart. We understand what an important day this is! We focus on helping you throughout the entire process! By the time you leave, we will feel like old friends!
How are your prices so much lower than elsewehere?
Great question! Our dresses are not consigned. We do not buy back gowns. Our brides love that each dress is a brand new gown that you can only find with us! You will find similar styles in other stores, we just cut out the “middle man” because Carrie designs in-house! Our stores are Carrie’s showrooms. We don’t pay outside designers for their dresses so ours cost less! When you try on our gowns, you will be able to feel the superb quality and construction of our dresses!
Do you have seamstresses you recommend?
Our recommended alterations seamstresses typically will ask for a first fitting about 12 weeks from your wedding date. We certainly have seamstresses that can accommodate a shorter timeline, we just urge our brides to start rather sooner than later so there is no pressure to rush!
Keep in mind, if special ordering, you will need to factor in alterations to your timeline.
Upon checkout we give you our seamstress list and an alterations “cheat sheet” telling you what to expect.
A seamstress can give a general quote over the phone, but an accurate quote can only be made after seeing a dress on a bride in person. Please be mindful that most seamstresses do book up quickly, so we urge you to call you seamstress as soon as possible to make you appointment! If you need to order extra materials, we will need at least 3 months for the order to come in. Your Stylist will go over all these options with you during your appointment, and we encourage you to purchase during your gown purchase.
You are welcome to use any seamstress of your choice, whether we recommend them or not. It’s up to you! We do recommend using a bridal experienced seamstress.
Do you have seamstresses you recommend?
Our recommended alterations seamstresses typically will ask for a first fitting about 12 weeks from your wedding date. We certainly have seamstresses that can accommodate a shorter timeline, we just urge our brides to start rather sooner than later so there is no pressure to rush!
Keep in mind, if special ordering, you will need to factor in alterations to your timeline.
Upon checkout we give you our seamstress list and an alterations “cheat sheet” telling you what to expect.
A seamstress can give a general quote over the phone, but an accurate quote can only be made after seeing a dress on a bride in person. Please be mindful that most seamstresses do book up quickly, so we urge you to call you seamstress as soon as possible to make you appointment! If you need to order extra materials, we will need at least 3 months for the order to come in. Your Stylist will go over all these options with you during your appointment, and we encourage you to purchase during your gown purchase.
You are welcome to use any seamstress of your choice, whether we recommend them or not. It’s up to you! We do recommend using a bridal experienced seamstress.
What is your return policy?
All sales are final. This is standard in the Bridal industry and we thank you for understanding.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO CELEBRATE YOU!