BBB shares advice on dress buying amid prom, wedding season

JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s prom and wedding season, meaning you may be on the hunt for a dress. We have some tips that you may want to remember before beginning.

Whether you are purchasing a prom dress or a wedding dress, this is an important decision for many people. Not only that, but it could potentially cost a lot of money.

Of course, it is not as simple as walking in a store and buying a dress. You need to have a budget in mind.

“Always be upfront with your salesperson to show dresses in your price range. Don’t get out of your budget,” said Toddnetta Trice with the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South. “We are living in a type of environment now where everything is costly. Everything is super expensive. It is only going to go up.”

You will most likely be wearing this dress for quite a few hours, so you want to make sure that it is comfortable for you.

“Always walk in it, sit down in it, dance in the dress if you have to. Just to see if you are comfortable with it,” Trice said. “Also consider bringing a pair of shoes just to try it on, try it out, test it out with the dress. Make sure it all aligns and it is your desired taste.”

The dress is not going to be a perfect fit right off of the shelf. Alterations will most likely be needed. You need to consider this and talk with the store before you make any commitments, as this can drive up the price.

“I myself have been in that market where I found my wedding dress and I had to pay for alterations, which is additional money. So you also want to factor in, when you are setting your budget, I need to ask about if there is any extra fee for alterations,” said Trice.

You need to be clear about your schedule as well. If you need alterations, you do not want to run out of time. Planning ahead and purchasing early is important.

Another great tip is to always double check what the cancellation policy is.

For more local news, click here.