A Stylist’s Guide: 3 Tips For A Stress-Free Bridal Appointment

Photo Courtesy of Vogue and Elena Stanton

Navigating the world of bridal fashion can be both exciting and overwhelming. Trust me - I know! As a bridal stylist, creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for your clients is a necessity. With these three essential tips, you can ensure that your bridal appointments run smoothly and stress-free, creating a fun and memorable visit for your brides!

1. Preparation is Key

Creating a positive energy for a bridal appointment starts before you ever actually meet your bride! Before they come into the shop, it is key to do a pre-appointment consultation, typically through the form of a phone call. Through this consultation, you should focus on learning more about the bride on a personal level, and finding those me-too moments! Some great ice breaker questions include, “How did you and your fiance meet?”, “What was your engagement like?”, “How is the wedding planning going?”.

Photo Courtesy of RVA Weddings

Following these opening questions, the conversation should naturally flow into a discussion about the bride's vision for her wedding (colors, venue, etc.), as well as talking about style preferences! Does she like an A-line gown versus a fitted gown? Is she looking for a clean and simple dress, or does she prefer lace, glitter and beading? Lastly, BUDGET! Talking through a bride's budget for her wedding dress is a step that CANNOT be skipped! Having this piece of information will guide the entirety of the appointment, and can make or break the experience.

All of these questions provide essential information when it comes to being well prepared and ready for the appointment! On the day of, you are now prepared, and have already started to form a relationship with your bride. This takes the stress off of both you and the bride!

2. Active Listening

As stylists, it is easy to start going through the motions on a busy day full of appointments. We've all been there! However, it is important to practice active listening, in order to better understand your bride, and work through any tough decisions when it comes to finding their dress! While we may hear the same questions day in and day out, this is often a bride's first time ever putting on a wedding dress! We must give our full attention, and provide a space for them to voice their questions and opinions.

Every word that a bride says is like gold, and should be treated as such! Whether they know it or not, they are helping you get a better understanding of their vision for their dress. Without having a genuine interest in what your bride is telling you, you will miss out on key pieces of information. Making mental notes of every small detail - likes and dislikes - will ultimately lead you to the one!

3. Stay Calm

Photo Courtesy of Joanna Hartsook Photography

Getting married is a huge event for not only the couple, but the family and friends as well! Oftentimes, brides are accompanied by people from all different stages of their life. That includes Mom and Grandma, their college BFF, future Mother-In-Law, and more! With that being said, each guest will likely have different opinions, mannerisms, ideas, and beliefs as each other - which is great! However, when there is a situation where personalities clash, the number one thing you must do is to stay calm!

Our main goal as stylists is to provide our brides with a safe, relaxed, and welcoming environment, and to make her feel comfortable! In order to preserve this experience for her, try to take a moment with her in the dressing room! Complement her, take a moment to ask her thoughts on a dress, and even give her space and time to take a breather if necessary! At the end of the day, we are in the driver's seat of the appointment, meaning we can determine the outcome of an appointment. So, take this as your sign to not let the dynamics of the group dictate the outcome of the appointment!

Overview

In your next bridal appointment, keep these three easy tips in mind, and see how they will change the atmosphere in the room! If we are cool, calm, and collected, our brides will trust us with one of the biggest decisions they will ever make!