Frequently Asked Questions | Whyte Weddings Designer Wedding Dresses
Q. Do all of your shops stock the same wedding dresses and designers?

No. Each of our shops stocks designers and dresses that represent the feel of that store and the style of the brides who visit it. Even though some of the designers might be the same, the wedding dresses at each store will be different. This could be different in terms of wedding dresses themselves, colours or sizes. Brides’ favourite styles are likely to be available at multiple stores, but it is always best to check before booking.

– Essense of Australia and Herms & Margaret Bridal are exclusive to MODE Bridal in Hove.

– Madi Lane is stocked at both Chichester and Hove stores.

– Maggie Sottero and Rebecca Ingram are stocked at both Chichester and Worthing shops.

– Allure Bridals is exclusive to  Worthing.

– Justin Alexander is exclusive to Chichester

Q. How are each of the shops different from each other?

Mode Bridal in Hove has more of a bohemian feel and stocks dresses that are super romantic, individual and fun. You will find lots of modern floral and leaf pattern lace, subtle colours, floaty and relaxed fits. Although we also have some simpler and feminine styles, the store is dominated by romance and modern lace that are synonymous with Madi Lane, Essense of Australia..

Whyte Weddings Worthing brings together some of the biggest designer names in bridal and the styles we carry embody everything one can expect from a wedding dress. You will find a great selection of plainer fabrics as well as romantic lace, lots of sparkle and a wide variety of dress shapes with a little more focus on ivory colourway.

Chichester bridal shop bring together the most opulent wedding dresses from romantic and bohemian to classic and elegant. You will also find amazing handcrafted shoes by Rachel Simpson.

Q. Can I buy a dress without trying it?

Yes, we have an amazing selection of ready to buy dresses which can be found on the ‘online outlet’ section of our website.

Q. When should I begin shopping for my wedding dress?

Leave yourself plenty of time to find your dream dress as most made to order designs take approximately four to six months to be made, although shorter timescales can be accommodated by some designers. We recommend allowing a couple of months for alterations too.

Q. Are some dresses available at short notice?

At times, our brides do not have long to find the perfect dress, so we hold a gorgeous selection of sample wedding gowns at amazing prices and these are ready to take away on the day of purchase. We require payment in full for all sample and sale dresses.

Some gowns can be ordered as a rush cut order, which means that your gown will be produced 2-6 weeks sooner. This does vary between designers and individual dresses and costs an extra £100.

Designers on occasion also hold stock of some gown, so it is always worth checking to see whether we could get the dress for you from their stock. Although we can check this in advance, this does need to be double checked at the time of your appointment as stock levels change constantly. Stock wedding dresses get dispatched straight away and normally arrive within a week of purchase.

Q. How do sample dresses work?

We have a gorgeous range of sample dresses in each of our stores ranging from a size 8-24. These are ideal for Brides who don’t have time to order a new dress or are looking for a bargain. The sample dresses don’t have to fit perfectly as we can alter dresses down by 2 sizes in some cases. These dresses are to be paid for in full and can be taken away with you the same day.

Q. Do I need to book an appointment?

To give you the best possible dress shopping experience we are open by appointment only, so please make sure you book an appointment well in advance, particularly for Saturdays which are extremely sought after.

Q. Do you charge for appointments?

We are lucky enough to stock some of the most sought-after designer wedding dresses in the bridal industry. As such our weekend appointments are in extremely high demand. Each time we have a bride who cancels her appointment at a very short notice or does not turn up as her plans have changed, this has a massive impact on our business and takes away an opportunity from another bride to come and see us. To manage this situation, we do charge a small £25 fee for our weekend appointments

If you would like to visit us out of hours we need to make arrangements with staff to cover this. So we charge a £50 fee for out of hours appointments.

These fees are payable at the time of booking and we will be in touch with you to make those arrangements. If you do need to cancel your appointment, please give us a full 7-day notice and we will be very happy to refund your appointment fee. All fees are also redeemable against the purchase of the dress from us at your appointment.

Q. What will my first appointment involve?

Shopping for your wedding dress with us is a magical experience. During the appointment you can try on a range of designer wedding dresses. When trying on dresses our stylist can pin samples, so that you can see how the finished dress would look and feel in your size.

To complete your look, we have a range of accessories including head pieces and veils. There will be no pressure to make a purchase and you can arrange as many appointments as you wish.

Q. How long is the appointment?

In all three of our stores we will allocate around 1 hour for your appointment to browse our current collections or sale gowns. Your appointment will allow for a one-to-one session with a friendly bridal stylist who will discuss your wedding plans and take all your wishes into consideration.

Q. How many guests can I bring to my appointment?

This depends on the store as each of our stores are different sizes. In Chichester and Worthing, we can accommodate up to 6 guests. In our Hove store we can accommodate up to 4 guests.

Q. Can I make video calls and take photos during an appointment?

The rest of your bridal party will not miss out as you can invite them to share in your experience via a video call. You can also feel free to take and share photos of the dresses and accessorise that you love but need time to consider.

Q. What do I wear to my appointment?

We usually advise Bride’s it’s best to try on dresses without a bra, but if you would prefer a simple skin-tone strapless bar works best. Underwear is best to be ‘no VPL’. You are welcome to bring shoes with you to try with the dresses. The main thing is that you feel comfortable during your appointment.

Q. How does sizing work?

We usually only have one of each dress in store and dresses range in size from 8-24. Our samples don’t need to fit perfectly as we will pin you into the dresses, we aim to show you the closest fit possible with pins.

Bridal wear notoriously comes up small so please don’t worry about the dress sizes once your dress is fitted to you it won’t be a size it will just be your perfect dress. Your personal Bridal Consultant will be on hand to guide you through every step of the process.

Q. What happens when I place an order?

Once you have found your perfect wedding dress, we will take your measurements and agree the size of the gown that will be ordered for you. All the essential details will be noted on our order form, which you will be asked to check through and sign.

You can either pay in full at the time of purchase or secure your order with a 50% deposit, with the balance payable as soon as the gown arrives in our boutique – usually around 4 to 6 months after your order is placed.

Q. How long does it take to make a dress to order?

Dresses normally take four to six months to arrive in our boutique. Once we have received your gorgeous gown, we will invite you for a fitting so you can make sure that you are 100% happy with your dress. We will ask you to make a balance payment for your dress during this appointment, if you have not already done so.

Q. Where Should I Keep My Dress Before My Wedding Day?

You are welcome to take your dress away with you as soon as it has been paid for and store it with a loved one, or we are happy to store it safely for you right up until your wedding day for a small charge. If you do wish to take it away, one of our stylists will advise you on the best way to store it – but please make sure you keep it hidden from your bride or groom!

Q. Do you offer alterations or customisation?

Fittings and appointments to discuss customisations take place in our Worthing boutique, with the first appointment arranged between six to eight weeks ahead of your wedding day. Margaret, a talented independent seamstress, manages all alterations and customisations and you can find out more HERE.

Q. How much are alterations?

There isn’t an exact figure for alterations, as it is dependent on the Bride and the dress. However, we do advise Bride’s to budget around £350. This includes everything most dresses need such as; bust and waist fitted, length, bustle attached and any tweaks to give you the best possible fit.

Q. Do You Provide a Wedding Day Dress Service?

If you would like peace-of-mind on your wedding day, we can be there to help you to put on your gown and ensure that everything is just how you like it. We are incredibly happy to discuss this option with you, so please enquire for further information.

Q. Do you sell bridal and occasion shoes?

Yes, we have an amazing selection of most sought after bridal and occasion shoes by super talented Rachel Simpson. These are available to try on exclusively at Whyte Weddings Chichester. Click link HERE to explore our shoe selection

Q. Do you sell bridesmaid dresses?

Not yet! Although we are working on a very exciting project; and some amazing bridesmaid dresses will be available at MODE Bridal in Hove very soon.

Q. Do you buy preowned wedding dresses from brides?

No. Our insurance policy does not cover us for the retail of preowned goods (even if it is a brand new never worn dress), so we do not purchase or resell preowned wedding dresses.

Q. Do you hire out wedding dresses?

No, this service is not available at any of our stores.

Let Us Help You Find The Perfect Dress Contact Us

01903 237627 info@whyteweddings.com Contact Us
Whyte Weddings

Whyte Weddings was the first wedding dress shop that I went too and it had been the shop I had always wanted to go to since I was about 12 years old. It did not disappoint. All of the staff were lovely and very attentive. They really take on what you like/dislike and are just all so much fun. I had Amy with me and she was fabulous. Each time I have gone back she has been on top form and she has helped to make my experience even more amazing!

Lucy Darling