General FAQs
We believe in fulfilling every bride’s unique vision thru selection, creativity and expertise
We carry the largest collection of special order designer gowns in Boston as well as designer samples. We also offer mothers and accessories. You will be paired with one of our expert stylists who will help you on your shopping journey!
A special order gown is one that is made just for you. Once you say yes to your dress, we will take your measurements and order your correct size and color of your choice. The lead time for these gowns is typically 4-6 months.
We carry Badgley Mischka, Pronovias, Made with Love, Enaura, Martina Liana, Essence of Australia, Stella York, Paloma Blanca, Mikaella, Enzoani, Blue by Enzoani, Wtoo by Watters, Willowby and Allure Bridals.
Off the rack gowns are floor sample gowns that are typically 50 to 80% off their original retail prices! If you fall in love with one of our sample gowns, you are able to leave with it that day.
Yes! You can simply call us at 1.800.831.8697 and we will help you with your purchase. You can also reach out to us via our contact page or click the “Inquire about this gown” button on the product page.
We would love to see you! You can either call us directly at the store at 800-831-8697 or book your appointment online.
For weekday appointments, we recommend booking 1 to 2 weeks in advance. Our weekend appointments book up quickly so we recommend booking 2 to 3 weeks in advance! If we are booked, we can always add you to our waitlist.
Please call us and we will place you on our waitlist. If an appointment becomes available, we will notify you!
If we are booked on a day you would like an appointment, we can place you on our waitlist. If a time opens up, we will give you a call to come in.
Appointments
If you have already chosen your undergarments, accessories or shoes, please bring them to your fitting!
You will be allowed to bring 5 guests!
We are SO excited to see you! We have had to make some changes to our appointment format to help keep everyone safe and healthy during this time.
Prior to your appointment, you will send us your top 5 gowns that you would like to start with. They will be waiting for you in your bridal suite! Your stylist will be able to pull more styles for you during your appointment.
Upon your arrival, we ask that you call from your car and we will escort you to your bridal suite.
Your stylist will be socially distanced from you and your guests, but not to worry! She will be offering all of her expertise from just 6 feet away. As much as we would love to help you step in and out of dresses, one of your guests will need to be able to assist you at this time.
Alterations
We work with 5 amazing seamstresses throughout the greater Boston area. Of course, you can also use your own seamstress.
On average, alterations start at $450 for wedding dresses and $100 for bridesmaids and mothers. The cost of alterations varies greatly depending on what needs to be done.
We advise calling to schedule your first fitting 5 months before your wedding to give yourself plenty of time.
It depends on how much work your gown requires. The average amount of fittings is between 3 to 4.
Wedding gowns run small. If you are a size 10 in a regular dress, you are likely to be a size 12 or 14 in a wedding gown. The general rule to finding your bridal size is to add one to two sizes to your normal street clothing size.
Bridesmaids & Moms
Please note: We are currently not accepting appointments during the initial stages of reopening during COVID 19 but we will see you soon! <3
Yes, we do require bridesmaid appointments so that you have a stylist to assist you. Please call us at 800-831-8697 to schedule a day and time or schedule an appointment online.
We are an authorized retailer of the following collections: Dessy Collection, After Six, Alfred Sung, Social Bridesmaids, Bill Levkoff, Sorella Vita and Wtoo.
Once you’ve selected the gown(s) you would like your bridal party to wear, you are ready to set up your order with us! The bride should go to our Bridesmaids Order page here and fill out the Bridesmaids Inquiry form with the details of her order. Once the Bridesmaids Inquiry form has been submitted, the bride will receive an email confirming with instructions. Alternatively, please feel free to call us and we can help you set up your order.
Prices range from $125 to $300.
Yes! we offer a 10% discount to VOWS brides. For non VOWS brides we simply guarantee the lowest price for everyone and will match other retail stores’ prices!
Bridesmaids generally ship from the manufacturer within 12-16 weeks unless otherwise noted. Most of the time our designers can accommodate a 6-8 week rush for an additional fee. If you are unsure if your order will require a rush please give us a call at 800-831-8697.
We will need each of your party members to have filled out an online order form, which they will receive from the bride after she has set up her order. Full payment is required before we can place an order. We cannot place the order until all party members have paid. To ensure all dresses match perfectly in color we recommend all dresses be ordered from one location at the same time.
Our designers have a range of sizes. To see the size range for each line please visit our Bridesmaids Size Charts page.
Depending on the designer extra length may be available. Extra length is suggested for any bridesmaid taller than 5’8″. Extra fabric can be ordered for most dresses but not all. Please give us a call or email our bridesmaids consultants at olivia@afterthedressboston.com for more details.
Yes! Please see our shipping policy here.
Not a problem at all! All your bridesmaids will need to do is to take some measurements and compare them to the designer size chart to determine her size. To learn more about how to correctly take the measurements required please click here. Alternatively, if your bridesmaid knows what size she would like to order, she may simply indicate the size she would like to order by selecting the “I Know My Size” option during checkout.
Please see our shipping policy here. If you have any questions about shipping times on a particular item, please call us at 800-831-8697.
Yes, we ship internationally! Please see our shipping policy here.