Purchasing a Wedding Gown in Illinois: What to Expect at The Altar Bridal

The Altar Bridal, located in Barrington, a Northwest suburb of Chicago, is Illinois’ largest off-the-rack bridal boutique. We have a stunning collection of over 1,000 gowns, all of which are size inclusive and budget friendly.

When our brides walk into our salon, they will not only be helped by our incredible stylists, but by the end of their appointment, they will feel ready, prepared, and confident to purchase their dream dress. Every bride will go about purchasing their wedding gown differently, just how each bride will feel differently about purchasing their wedding gown. If you are feeling nervous about purchasing your dream dress, keep reading!

What Should I Expect When Purchasing an Off-The-Rack Gown at The Altar Bridal?

At The Altar Bridal, all of our gowns are off-the-rack. This means that you get to take your dream dress home with you the same day you say “yes!” Purchasing off-the-rack at The Altar Bridal comes with so many perks that our brides are absolutely loving.

The biggest perk being that you get to leave your appointment with your dream dress in hand. This means you will not have to worry about anything that has to do with ordering and shipping a wedding dress. When ordering a gown, brides sometimes get worried about if the salon ordered the correct gown, in the correct size, if their dress will get in on time for alterations, if the final price will go up drastically because of shipping costs, and all of these worries are totally and completely valid.

When purchasing off-the-rack at The Altar Bridal, one does not need to worry about any of these things. You will leave with your dress in hand, already knowing how it fits, how it lays, how it moves, and how much you love it! All you will have to do is plan your next step, which is alterations — and we have a seamstress on site! So, all you will have to do is call her and book an appointment. The whole process of purchasing your wedding gown at The Altar Bridal is easy and seamless, even the next steps.

How Much Will My Altar Bridal Wedding Dress Cost?

The vast majority of our gowns are between $1,200 and $2,500. We also have an incredible selection of dresses for less than $900. Your stylist will ask what your price point is right at the beginning of your appointment, this way you and them are always on the same page.

Every single one of our off-the-rack dresses at The Altar Bridal are tagged with their price. This is because we do not want there to be any secrets when it comes to the pricing of our gowns or the price you would be paying. Your stylist will always let you know the price of the dress before you put it on your body.

Many of our brides come to The Altar Bridal with a certain price point in mind but then leave The Altar Bridal carrying their dream dress and having spent less than they expected. Who wouldn’t want that?!

Should I Factor the Cost of Alterations into my Dress Budget?

This is absolutely up to you as the bride, but it is always a good idea to do this. Alterations are one of the costs of your wedding that is hard to predict until you have your dress picked out. This is because many factors go into the cost of alterations such as how the dress fits, what material the dress is, if there is lace on the dress, and if there is beadwork on the dress. If you are wanting to factor in a certain budget amount for alterations into the price of your dress, then let your stylist know at the beginning of your Altar Bridal appointment.

When Can I Purchase My Off-The-Rack Wedding Dress?

Unlike ordering a wedding gown, off-the-rack wedding dress shopping has more leeway for timing. Since you will take the dress home the same day as your appointment, The Altar Bridal has helped brides find their dresses who are getting married in one week, and brides who are getting married in a year. Shop for your wedding dress whenever it feels right for you in your bridal journey. But keep in mind that alterations almost always need to be done and the more time you have for alterations, the better!

Follow this link to our Altar Bridal - Barrington website and book your appointment. Your dream dress is ready and waiting for you to take her home!