Once you say yes to your gown and complete the required non-refundable minimum 60% payment, our team will officially place your gown order with the designer using the size and specifications selected during your appointment, as detailed in your sales contract sent via email.
Once submitted, the gown enters the designer’s production process.

When your gown arrives at Whittington Bridal, our team performs a careful quality inspection before contacting you to schedule your gown pickup appointment.

Standard Designer Timeline

Most wedding gowns arrive approximately 4-8 months from the date your order is placed.

Rush Orders (If Available and Purchased)

If you paid for rush production, this will shorten delivery to 8-12 weeks. Rush availability and fees vary by designer. Please contact us for specific questions regarding your rush order.

Accessories

Accessories such as veils, jewelry, sleeves, and other styling pieces typically arrive within 4-16 weeks, depending on the designer. Once any items from your order arrive, they will go through our in-store quality process before we reach out to schedule your appointment.

Because bridal gowns, veils, and accessories are made-to-order, production begins shortly after an order is submitted with the designer. For this reason, changes are generally not possible once an order has been placed.

If you have a concern shortly after placing your order, please contact us as soon as possible. While we cannot guarantee changes, we are always happy to check with the designer when possible.

If your wedding date changes, please notify Whittington Bridal as soon as possible - especially if the date has moved sooner.

While production timelines typically cannot be adjusted once an order has been placed, sharing your updated wedding date allows our team to prioritize your gown during our in-store quality inspection and contact you as soon as it arrives, ensuring you have ample time for pickup, alterations, and accessory planning.

All bridal gowns are made-to-order, and any purchase made, regardless of order status, is considered a final sale. 

If you are feeling unsure after your purchase, please reach out to us. Our team is always happy to talk through any concerns and help reassure you about your choice. We take great care during each appointment to ensure every bride feels confident and excited about her gown.

A note from our stylists: Once you’ve said yes to your gown, we encourage you to focus on the excitement of your choice and the feeling you experienced when you found the one.

Limiting photos of other gowns and avoiding excessive social media browsing can help prevent unnecessary second-guessing of a dress you truly love.

Whittington Bridal partners with designers who produce gowns both domestically and internationally.

Many gowns are handcrafted by specialized bridal ateliers dedicated exclusively to wedding gown design and construction. Production locations vary by designer and may include the United States, Europe, Asia, or Australia.

All of our designers follow strict quality and craftsmanship standards to ensure the gown you receive meets the highest bridal industry expectations.

Because gowns are made-to-order and are made by hand, designers typically do not provide frequent updates while a gown is in production.

However, if you would like to check on your order, you are always welcome to contact us.

We are happy to reach out to the designer for an update when available.

Once your gown arrives at Whittington Bridal, we will notify you promptly.

Before we schedule your pickup appointment, every gown goes through our in-store quality inspection process.

Once your gown passes inspection, our team will contact you to schedule your gown pickup appointment.

At this time, you will also receive a secure link to complete any remaining balance on your gown.

Your remaining balance is due when your gown arrives at Whittington Bridal and before it is taken home.
Final payment will be completed through the secure payment link sent when your gown arrival notification is issued.

We ask that brides schedule their pickup appointment within two weeks of being notified that their gown has arrived.

Your gown pickup is a special moment and one of the most exciting milestones in your bridal journey. During this appointment, you will try on your gown, complete your bridal look with accessories if desired, and review the standard alterations that may be recommended to ensure the perfect fit. Any remaining balance will also be completed at this time.

You will take your gown and any accessories home with you that day unless you have purchased an Aftercare Bundle for gown storage.
We recommend bringing one to two guests to share in this special moment with you.

Aftercare Bundle Policy

If you purchased an Aftercare Bundle, you will still attend your gown pickup appointment within two weeks of gown arrival to try on your gown.

The remaining balance for your gown must be paid in full at your pickup appointment.

 After your appointment, we will safely store your gown at Whittington Bridal until it is time for you to retrieve it for alterations.

Yes, this is completely normal and expected in most cases.

The gown you try on during your appointment is a sample gown, which is used for styling and fitting during appointments. Sample gowns are often tried on by many brides, clipped to demonstrate the intended silhouette, and a different size than the one ordered.

Your gown will arrive new and unaltered, which means it may fit differently than the sample. Professional alterations refine the gown to your body for the final fit.

Alterations are not performed in-house at Whittington Bridal, and alteration services are not included in the price of your gown.

We provide a curated list of trusted bridal seamstresses who specialize in wedding gown alterations.

Please note:

• It is the bride’s responsibility to select her seamstress
• It is the bride’s responsibility to schedule alteration appointments
• Alteration costs are paid directly to the seamstress by the bride

We are always happy to guide you and share recommendations.

Alterations are not included in the price of your gown.

Bridal alterations are completed by an independent seamstress and are paid directly to them.

Bridal alterations typically range from $800-$1,300+, depending on the complexity of the gown and the adjustments required. While pricing varies by gown, most brides should anticipate alterations beginning around $1,000 or more.

Yes. Bridal gowns are designed to be professionally altered, and you want alterations to ensure a custom fit.
Common adjustments include: hemming the gown, creating a bustle for the train, strap adjustments (if applicable), bodice shaping, waist or hip adjustments, etc.
Working with a professional bridal seamstress ensures the gown is tailored beautifully to your body.

Small body changes are completely normal during your engagement.

Most gowns can accommodate adjustments of one to two sizes through alterations. If significant size changes occur, please let us know, and we will gladly help guide you through your available options.

Please note that bridal gowns are ordered in the size selected at the time of purchase. If body changes require a different size than originally ordered, a new gown may need to be purchased, as gowns cannot be exchanged with the designer or through Whittington Bridal once an order has been placed.

We recommend beginning alterations 4-8 weeks before your wedding date.

Seamstresses book quickly, especially during peak wedding season, so we encourage scheduling your first fitting once your gown has arrived and you have selected your seamstress.

If your timeline ends up shorter than this, there is no need to worry. Many bridal seamstresses can accommodate rush timelines when needed, though availability and additional fees may apply.

If you find accessories you love during your gown appointment, we recommend purchasing them at the same time as your gown to ensure everything coordinates beautifully with your dress. Many of our brides find this to be the easiest way to begin building their complete bridal look.

We also encourage selecting your accessories soon after purchasing your gown so they are available for your fittings and your overall bridal look feels perfectly cohesive. Whittington Bridal offers complimentary accessory styling appointments, where our team will help you select the perfect veil, jewelry, hairpieces, and finishing touches to complete your bridal vision.

Your experience with Whittington Bridal doesn’t end when you purchase your gown. Our team is here to support you with styling guidance, timeline questions, and encouragement throughout your engagement. Should you need anything - you can give us a call, or shoot us an email or text and we will respond as soon as we can!

We cannot wait to see you walk down the aisle in your Whittington gown.
— The Whittington Bridal Team