Your appointment

FAQs

• Why should I choose Rachel Ash?

  We are passionate about the wedding dresses we carry, and the service we offer to our brides. We truly believe it isn't just about choosing a beautiful dress, at a good price, it's about all the little details that we put in to make the whole experience stress free, relaxing and fun, which of course it should be. The whole process, from choosing your dream wedding dress, to the alterations and steaming of your gown, is managed by us, in-house at Rachel Ash.

• When should I start shopping for my wedding dress?

  The sooner the better we always say so that you are not limited by manufacturing times. That being said 12 months before your wedding is usually a good time to start looking for your dress. You should look to order your dress at a minimum of 8 months before to allow time for it to be made, delivered and fitted. Certain designers will accommodate shorter time-scales but there is usually an additional charge for this service. Some of our designers also have 'stock ready' dresses meaning, if you really have left it to the last minute, we can usually get your dress delivered within a few weeks. Alternatively, we have a range of sample-sale dresses which are 'off-the-peg' and ready to take away the very same day.

• What is the price range of your collections?

  Our wedding dresses range from £995 to £3500 with the majority of our collection priced between £1500-£2500. Our separates start from £640 the upper limit depends on whether you purchase multiple combinations. We usually also have a collection of 'sample' dresses which start from approximately £350.

• What will my appointment be like with social distancing in place?

  With the guidelines set out by the government regarding social distancing, your appointment will be slightly different to what you may have been used to pre COVID-19. However you will still get the same level of service and attention as you would do normally at Rachel Ash. Find out more about your appointment here.

• What sizes are your samples?

  Our wedding dress samples are sizes 8-14, but the majority of them are a size 12. Don't worry if that's not your size, there's lots of little tricks to give you a good idea of how they will look when they are in your size and fit properly.

  A lot of our designers also offer a petite range or made-to-measure service. This is at a slight additional cost but is a great option when ordering your dress.

• Do you offer a dry cleaning service?

  We offer dry cleaning of our samples prior to shipping using professional wedding dress cleaners Terrington Burchett. If you would like your sample dress dry cleaned prior to shipping please allow an additional 6-8 weeks for your dress to arrive with you.

  To find out more about Terrington Burchett and their exclusive Baptiste Process® check out their website here.

• Do I get to pick the dresses that I would like to try?

  Absolutely! We do like to chat about your wedding style dreams and then we let you pick some dresses out. We are of course on hand to pick out some dresses that we think match your style, and also once we have seen you in a couple of dresses, we will have a good idea of others that will look amazing.

• What are your opening hours?

  Monday: 10:00 - 18:00
  Tuesday: 10:00 - 14:00
  Wednesday: 10:00 - 18:00
  Thursday: 12:00 - 21:00
  Friday: 11:00 - 20:00
  Saturday: 9:00 - 18:00
  Sunday: 10:00 - 16:00 (One Sunday per month, enquire for details)

• Do I need to book an appointment?

  We run the boutique on an appointment only basis, this is to ensure each of our brides gets our undivided attention, and exclusive use of our large appointment room. Trust us this will make your shopping experience so much more relaxing.

  To book your appointment you can do so through this website or by calling us on 01827 713515.

• Do you charge for appointments?

  We do not currently charge for appointments however, we do request card details when booking an appointment to cover our late appointment cancellation policy. This means that we will charge a fee ranging between £10-£25, depending on the type of appointment if you do not to show up for your appointment, or if you fail to cancel your appointment with at least 48 hours notice.

  Any charges will be deducted against a future dress purchase, should you say "yes" and find your dream wedding dress, bridesmaids or accessories with us.

• Who should I bring with me and how long will it last?

  We know that you may want to capture this moment by bringing your mum, BFF, aunties, grandma, future mother-in-law, sister, and all your bridesmaids, but if you can limit this to a couple of key people, we promise that your shopping experience will be that much more enjoyable! You'll want to bring guests who understand your true style, give supportive feedback, and will help you look your best.

  We'll never rush you through the process, in fact we schedule all of our appointments for a full hour and a half. For many, this is enough time to find your dress (yep, even on your very first visit) and if you're not ready to decide after 90 minutes, it's probably a good idea to give yourself a well-earned rest.

• Do I need to bring anything with me?

  We always advise our brides to wear suitable underwear, nude or white underwear will work best under the dresses. If you have a strapless bra, that can be handy but a lot of our dresses have in-built support so they aren't always needed. A hair-band or clip can always be useful too if you are thinking of wearing your hair up. We have plenty of shoes for you to try on with our samples so bringing your own shoes isn't necessary but if you prefer to do that then its not a problem.

  We also request that in order to protect our beautiful gowns we also request that you avoid wearing heavy makeup, fake tan or jewellery on the day of your appointment to avoid any damage to the gowns.

• How do I place my order?

  Having said 'yes' to the dress and once the excitement has calmed we get to the boring paperwork! To place your order, we require a non-refundable 50% deposit. The remaining balance is then due at your first fitting with our seamstress. Any additional cost for fittings are due once we achieve the perfect fit.

• How does the fitting process work?

  It is likely that your dress will need a few tweaks here and there to achieve the perfect fit. All of your fittings and alterations will be carried out in-house by our self-employed highly skilled seamstress, Katrina. The fitting process usually starts around 8-12 weeks before your wedding and standard alterations start from approximately £180.

  Quite often people also want bespoke alterations. Perhaps you would like the back lowered, a lace cap-sleeve adding, or a bespoke overskirt, we can offer this service. Katrina has been a dress-maker for longer than she'd like to tell you, and it reflects in the quality of her work. She is a true perfectionist and you, and your dress, will benefit from her knowledge and experience in the bridal industry. Bespoke alterations at your request are at an additional cost and will require further consultations with Katrina.

  We offer late Thursday and Friday evenings (until 8pm) for fittings as we can't always accommodate fittings in the shop on a Saturday during busy times.
  

• What do I need for the fitting?

  First of all it can be nerve racking for brides seeing the dress again after waiting for so many months, so please rest assured we totally understand and are on hand to guide you through the process. Please bring your wedding shoes and the underwear you plan to wear under the dress.

  We do also ask that you bring one guest or maximum of two, as our seamstress will require your undivided attention.

• When do I collect my dress?

  Once the fittings with our seamstress are complete we will arrange a collection date. We are happy to store your dress for the final weeks before your wedding. Most of our brides collect the dress a few days before the wedding, once it has been streamed and fully prepared for the big day.
  

• How should I store and clean my dress after the wedding?

  We offer an after care package priced at £175. This includes dry cleaning by a specialist wedding dress cleaning company and having the dress packed in a special hand made wedding dress box, in a design of your choice.

  If you would like to take care of this yourself then we can share details of fantastic dry cleaning and boxing companies.