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What are your opening hours and do I need to make an appointment?
Hannah Elizabeth Bridal operates by an appointment only service to ensure that all of our brides receive full exclusivity of the boutique, as well as our dedicated time, care, and attention for the duration of their appointment.
Tuesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Late night by appointment only – 8:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
How far in advance should I order my dress?
As soon as you feel you are ready to purchase ‘The One’!
We would advise that you start looking for your dress a year in advance of your wedding date. Gowns can take 4-6 months to be made and you want to ensure you leave around 6-8 weeks for alterations to be made to your gown before your big day.
What happens if I don’t have 6 months until my wedding or even less?
If you have less than the minimum required order time of 4-6 months in advance of your wedding date, we are still able to look into ordering your Bridal Gown as a “Rush order”, which is sometimes an option at an extra cost. Please do not hesitate to give us a call [insert call button] should you have any further questions. We are here to help you.
Alternatively you have the option to make an appointment to visit our Secret Boutique where you can purchase boutique sample dresses off-the-rail, ready to be taken away with you that day! The sizes of these samples vary between 12 & 14.
What is the price range of your Bridal Gowns?
Our range of gowns start from £1,200 and go up to £3,00 with the average dress being from £1,600 – £1,900.
What sizes are your sample gowns?
Our sample dresses are generally between a UK 12 and UK 14, we will order your gown in the size suited to you and your personal body measurements.
How many guests can I bring with me?
We ensure that our brides receive full exclusivity of the boutique in which to find ‘The One’. To ensure that you are comfortable in our bridal haven, we allow up to a maximum of 3 guests. We promise that less is more and will make the experience much more enjoyable for you.
Is there anything I need to bring with me to my appointment?
Of course! We understand the importance of this one-off purchase! Your wedding gown is the most important dress you will ever buy and we want to ensure that you have all the attention you deserve and require in searching for your dream gown!
What happens if I find ‘The One’ during my appointment ?
When you have had that special moment and found your gown, we will then take your body measurements and go through your order paperwork with you. We require an initial payment of 50% upon the ordering of your gown, with the final balance due when your gown arrives in 4-6 months’ time. We will call you on the day that your gown arrives with us – you then have 14 days to make this payment.
If you are purchasing a boutique sample to take away with you, we do require full payment up-front.
Do you have an in house seamstress and will I be charged extra for alterations?
Whilst we order a bridal gown which is closest to your body measurements, almost every gown will need some kind of alteration to ensure a personal fit for you. Whilst we do not have an in house seamstress, we do have a great selection of suggested seamstresses in the local area that we will provide their details upon the ordering of your gown. We recommend booking your first fitting for approximately 8 weeks prior to your wedding date.
Alteration costs are always charged separately and directly to your chosen seamstress. The cost can vary dependant on the amount and intensity of alterations you may need or want.
We can advise you on approximate cost for alterations to give you a rough guide.
If I have not bought a gown from your boutique can I still come along for an ‘Accessory Appointment’?
Yes of course – We warmly invite brides to make accessory appointments within our boutique! We would require that you make an appointment which will last for half an hour. You may find it helpful to bring an image of your bridal gown with you to help us in guiding and styling you with the perfect accessories from our stunning collection of designers.
I have seen you have advertised you are hosting a ‘Trunk Show’ what is this?
Trunk Shows are wonderful and exciting events to attend, they are exclusive events dedicated to one of our specific bridal designers! They are hosted within the boutique and are normally held over the duration of a weekend. During the event, the selected designer sends in a large selection of their gowns which we do not normally have in the boutique for our brides to preview and try. It can vary from a specific or seasonal collection and is a fantastic opportunity to try on a large selection of gowns by one of our designers. We always offer an ‘Exclusive Discount’ for the event to any bride who finds her dream gown!
These events are always very popular and due to high demand do get booked up far in advance. To prevent any disappointment, please do get in touch as soon as you spot one of these events on our social media to ensure you make your personal appointment.
What happens if there is a specific gown which I would like to try by a designer you stock and you do not have this gown in the boutique?
Some of our designers offer a loaning service, giving our brides the opportunity to try on a gown that they may have spotted within a collection which we do not necessarily have in the boutique. The charge to loan a gown is £50.00 which we do deduct off the cost of your gown should you decide to order on the day that you loan the gown.
Please do let us know if you’d like to see a specific gown by any of our designers and we can tell you whether we stock this design and, if not, whether we are able to loan it in for you to try.
Is there parking near the boutique?
Yes, there is a free car park situated behind the Dolphin Pub, which is less than a two-minute walk from the boutique. It is free of charge but ensure you print out a ticket and pop it in your car. Please see the Find Us page.
We are also a 10 minute walk from Botley Train station and a 15 minute taxi ride away from Southampton Airport Parkway.
If you could tell me anything about shopping for a wedding dress, what would it be?
Whether you bring guests with you, or decide to go it alone, the most important opinion is always your own. Over the years we’ve seen hundreds of beautiful brides turn away from their dream dress because of the opinions of their bridal party, mothers or friends.
At HE Bridal, we strive to ensure that the bride’s wishes are always put first. We’ll support you, help you select only the most perfect of dresses and allow you to see yourself as the empowered woman you deserve to be.
Can I come on my own?
Of course!
We relish the opportunity to support indepedent brides who have a vision they want to create. And besides, with Kelly and Hannah ready to support you, no bridal experience is ever truly solo. Trust us to support you through this exciting and memorable time, effortlessly. Enjoy a luxury experience, time to unwind and a bespoke service that’ll have you ready to take to the aisle.
What should I look at before my appointment?
Seek inspiration from bridal magazines, social media, Pinterest and designer websites. We would advise that you have a rough idea of fit and style before you come to us, but can also advise on the best style for you, your wedding and your body.
Visiting lots of bridal boutiques can be overwhelming and confusing, so we recommend that you find some inspiration online first. Brides come to us for specific designers, luxury collections and the most couture of wedding styles.
If you’re looking for designer pieces, curated lookbooks and catwalk styles, we can help you make an exquisite choice.
If you could give my entourage three pieces of advice for our appointment what would they be?
1. Take care to know exactly what it is that your friend or family member is looking for. If you can see that they’re seeing something they’re in love with, try to keep your own opinions aside. Please resist the temptation to suggest other styles if they haven’t asked.
2. If you’re already married, endeavour to leave your own bridal experience at the door. Whether it was positive or negative, allow your wonderful friend to experience this herself for the first time.
3. Remember that trying on clothes can be a difficult experience for some women. Put on your most supportive hat and be ready to dish out the compliments.
Why do you charge for your appointments?
If you have an appointment on an evening or weekend there is a £25.00 appointment fee. HE Bridal introduced this charge to create a calmer, more tranquil experience. We find it allows our stylists to work personally with each bride, all the way through each appointment.
During your appointment there will be some cross over with other brides and their guests. Therefore, if you would like absolutely 100% privacy or simply the luxury of having HE Bridal to yourself please let us know, we can absolutely organise a bespoke appointment for you.
TAILORED FOR YOU
Your bridal appointment
Our award winning boutique is located in the charming Hampshire village of Botley, home to our carefully curated collection of beautiful, elegant gowns. From the streets of Paris, to timeless lace and luxury, we’ve selected the finest designers from across the globe, all specialising in delicate designs, sheer elegance and exclusive styles. Your bespoke experience starts the moment you make contact with us. From our first phone consultation to your exciting and luxurious bridal appointment. We lead you with our expertise and passionately provide an unparalled and inspirational, blissful bridal shopping experience.
5 High Street, Botley,
Southampton, Hampshire,
SO30 2EA
As seen in the Directory of Southampton Wedding Dress Shops
