Appointments are 75 minutes. The boutique is closed to other customers for you, so you get our full attention and can feel completely comfortable.
Our guest policy is bride + 3.
It is not necessary to go out and purchase new underwear especially for your appointment. However if you have the following, then nude or light coloured items are best, and a strapless bra is helpful.
This is not necessary, but if you have them, or know what size heel you are going to wear, then feel free to bring along if you wish.
Your bridal consultant will ask you to un-dress down to your underwear and help you in and out of the dresses.
Yes, we give our honest opinion and encourage you to try on styles we feel would suit you. Often brides leave with a dress they would never have thought of even trying on!
To help care for our dresses we ask- no, or minimal make-up, and no fake tan or body creams.
As many as you wish within the time frame.
No, we work differently to normal bridal shops. All dress are sold off the rail- once a dress is sold, it is gone. We cannot order more of the same dress- which is why it’s important that you are in a position to buy when you visit us. If the dress is still with us months later, then of course you can buy it, but we can’t guarantee it will still be with us.
If you find your dream dress with us and need alterations work- which is normally the case, we give you a list of our recommended and trusted wedding dress seamstress’s local to Chilham Bridal.
You then contact your preferred seamstress and she will book you in for your fittings, which will be carried out privately in their studios, and generally start a few months before your wedding.
There are two payment options available at Chilham Bridal:
Your dress will be packaged in a breathable, cotton dress bag with a zip, and will be completely safe stored in the bag until your big day. Store away from light and hang or lay flat somewhere safe.
We do not offer a dry cleaning service, but we do recommend Master Johns Dry Cleaners in Canterbury. They offer Chilham Brides a 20% discount. https://masterjohn.co.uk/.
Yes, there is ample free onsite parking at Chilham Bridal.
Yes, toilet facilities are available.
It is impossible to predict how long a dress will take to sell. We have had dresses come in and sell on the very same day, others take days, weeks, months, and some don’t sell. It totally depends on who walks through the door- what style of dress they are looking for, and what size and height they are.
The contract period is 6 months from the date the dress arrives at Chiham Bridal.
We will contact you. If interest in your dress has dropped we will ask you to come and collect your dress. If your dress is still getting tried on and is still popular, we will offer to keep the dress on for another few months, to give more chance of it selling.
We take veils and belts. Not shoes or jewellery.
No we do not offer our service on bridesmaid dresses, only wedding dresses.
If you are happy to give the hoop free with your dress, then yes.
We do not have the storage space for dress boxes or dress bags, so if you arrive to the boutique with your dress in either, we will ask you to take it back with you. We can dispose of dress bags if you wish. Unsold dresses will be returned in a dress bag but this will not necessarily be the one you bought the dress in with.
Our commission rate is 40% for wedding dresses, and 30% for accessories.
Dresses are fully cared for and insured whilst with Chilham Bridal.
Please be assured that your dress will be looked after carefully and is fully insured whilst in our care. Chilham Bridal will handle all items with upmost care, and to date we have never had an issue with dresses being damaged or marked through being trying on.
If your dress does not sell during its time with us, we charge a £30 fee- to help cover admin/marketing costs for the time your dress has been on the Chilham Bridal rails. Please note this admin fee is not paid if your dress does sell.
No, we do not offer a dry cleaning service, but we do recommend Master Johns Dry Cleaners in Canterbury. They offer our customers a 20% discount. https://masterjohn.co.uk/.
Yes, we can arrange for a fully insured courier to collect the dress from you. The cost for this is £39 which is pre-payable.