FAQs
Do you charge for appointments?
From 21st March 2024, we are running a 1 month trial period where we will only charge in the event of failure to arrive for your appointment or do not give us 72 hours notice.
We are a small boutique offering a very big and unique bridal styling experience. As our appointments are limited we want to ensure we are devoting our time and expertise to brides that are genuinely hoping to find ‘the one’.
As last minute cancellations and no shows can affect our business, we hope the consultation fee will encourage brides to keep their appointments. However we understand plans can change so should you need to cancel, please do so in good time.
It should also help discourage those who are purely window shopping - allowing us to devote our time to brides who need us.
What is the price range of your gowns?
Typically our dresses range from £1800 to £5000. Should you require a gown outside of this range please do let us know, we may still be able to help.
When should I start looking for my dress?
This does depend on the bride! However, in our experience we find that 12 - 18 months before the wedding is ideal. We feel this is the best time scale as it gives you the maximum choice without fashions changing too much. If you do not have this long please do contact us, we may still be able to obtain your gown within a shorter time frame.
We are happy to see organised brides with longer timescales and understand the need to choose a gown before planning other aspects of your wedding. We just recommend shopping once you feel in a position to commit to a dress as the styles and samples we hold in the boutique are constantly changing.
Who should I bring with me?
The boutique comfortably seats the bride and our recommended number of 2 guests (maximum of 4 guests). We advise bringing those whose opinion you value the most and who will help you feel really amazing!
We understand this is a really special time for you and your family/friends. If you had planned to bring more people than this, we have Zoom facilities so that they can still be involved. There will also be the opportunity for further guests to see your chosen dress at your accessories appointment (should you require one) and fittings.
How do I prepare for my appointment, do I need to bring anything?
Ideas! We highly recommend initially browsing our collection on the website. We love to see your Pinterest boards, saves from our Instagram page or any images that help give us an insight into the look you envisage for your day.
We also highly recommend having an ideal spend in mind to ensure your stylist is showing you the best possible collection of gowns.
On the day we recommend wearing nude (or pale colour) underwear to your appointment. A lot of our dresses are far more supportive than you might think, so you may find you don’t need a bra.
It’s also a good idea to bring a pair of shoes that are a similar heel height to those you intend to wear on the day. They don’t have to be the exact pair, it just helps you get more of a feel of how the dresses will look.
What will happen at my appointment?
During your appointment, you will receive a one-to-one personalised consultation with one of our highly trained bridal stylists. Once we have found out a little bit about you and the look you wish to achieve for your wedding, you will be guided through our collection of gowns. The fun then starts by choosing your selection to try, with your stylist on hand to make suggestions and help where needed. You will then be helped into the dresses ready for the grand reveal to your friends and family.
Our stylists are experts at finding ‘the one’ so we often find this can happen quite quickly. A lot of our brides are surprised to find this can be the first, second or third gown. Although there is of course no limit or rule! We typically require a 50% part payment to secure your dress once chosen.
Will you store my dress?
We can safely store your dress for a flat fee of £35.00. The dress is fully insured and kept in a safe storage room at MiliMili Bridal.
Do you provide an alterations service?
All of our brides have the option to use our extremely talented seamstress. The cost of alterations are NOT included in the price of your gown. Usually, you will need a maximum of 2-3 fittings and prior to buying, we can provide you with guidelines as to the cost of possible alterations.
When your dress arrives, we will contact you to invite you to come in and try on your dress. You are also then required to pay the final balance outstanding on your dress. At this point we can discuss and arrange your fittings. When you come for your first fitting, you need to remember to bring with you the shoes and underwear you intend to wear on your wedding day.
Do you stock accessories?
We have a stunning range of accessories in store to complete your bridal look. These include intricate designs from Victoria Percival as well as handmade, made to order pieces. Many of our designs are customisable, meaning we can create a truly unique personalised finish.
We would love to see you in the boutique for an accessories appointment, this can booked this via our Appointments page.
What sizes are your sample gowns?
Due to the nature of wedding dresses, it is highly unlikely that a sample dress will fit you perfectly. It’s amazing what we can do with some pins to give you the best indication of how your dress will look once fitted, though! The sample sizes we tend to stock range from a 10-16, and your bridal stylist can best advise on how easy a sample dress could be altered to fit you.
Do you price match?
Our gowns are all sold at each of our designers' Recommended Retail Price (RRP) - but in the unlikely event that you find any dress that we stock, sold locally for less, then we will be happy to match the price (excluding sample sale/off the peg gowns).
Do you have ‘off the peg’ and sale dresses?
Yes, please call or email for details of these. Often we have to make way for new collections arriving from our designers and we also have the occasional discontinued dress. Keep an eye on our website and socials for details of our next sale event.
Am I able to use your seamstress for dresses not purchased from you?
Alina is more than happy to alter dresses that have not been purchased at MiliMili. Give us a call and we will book you in so she can work her magic!
If there are any other questions you have prior to booking an appointment, please feel free to get in touch using the social links below, or via our Contact page.
MiliMili Bridal Ltd, 19 Sir Isaacs Walk, Colchester, Essex CO1 1JJ - 01206 616368