FAQs

On average, brides go to about 2 shops. Why? It makes sense not to put all your eggs in one basket, but going to more than two shops can feel like you’re trying on the same dresses over and over, and can be overwhelming.

We usually keep 150-250 samples in our store at one time, spread across every shape and size.

Not everyone has this big crying moment. A lot of times it’s just not ever wanting to take the dress off! So really just trust your intuition—if your gut keeps comparing every dress back to one particular dress, that’s something to pay attention to.

Yes, dress regret is a real thing, but the best way to avoid it actually starts before you say yes.

First, stop trying to find the dress on Pinterest. Pinterest is amazing for figuring out your vibe: flowy skirt, cool back, long train, lots of lace. But trying to recreate one specific photo can set you up for disappointment, especially when that dress is couture, wildly outside your budget, or (hello, AI) doesn’t actually exist. Come in with inspiration, but stay open-minded enough to fall in love with a dress because of how you feel in it, not because it checks every box from a photo.

Second, know your budget and stick to dresses you could realistically say yes to. Once you see the $5,000 dress, you can’t unsee the $5,000 dress, and suddenly the $2,000 gowns you were perfectly happy with can feel different. Don’t do that to yourself!

And finally, once you’ve found your dress, stop shopping. Stop searching dresses on Pinterest and Instagram, and hot take: delete the photos of the dresses you didn’t choose. There will always be another beautiful wedding dress out there. You chose yours after seeing it from every angle, wearing it, moving in it, and knowing how it made you feel. Trust your gut, let yourself be done, and go enjoy being excited about your dress.

• Bring your beautiful self and your special people. You can’t recreate that moment when you find your dress, so make sure you bring those special people.

• It’s not super important to bring any particular bra since the dresses are made with bras built in, but if it makes you more comfortable to wear a strapless bra, go for it. We want you to feel totally comfortable.

• No need to bring any particular shoes—the dresses are all made very long.

• Wearing your hair and makeup similar to how you will at your wedding can be very helpful to get a feel for the whole look.

• We will be in the room with you helping you in and out of the gowns, so please DO wear some form of underwear for hygienic reasons. If you forget, no biggie. We have some here you can purchase.

Yes, all the time. It’s actually more common to get something that you didn’t think of than what you had in your head. And if you think about it, it makes total sense. (1) Your Pinterest board is full of models who are positioned and pinned in the perfect way and lighting, and (2) you don’t know how each dress feels on your body or restricts your movement.

It’s a bit of a process, but the short story is that we do a lot of trend and data research. Then, we go to what’s called a bridal market or bridal fashion week—that’s where all the shops across the country (yes, shops like Kleinfeld Bridal are there) come to watch the fashion shows. Then we choose the dresses based on what our brides and future brides are asking for.

Pro Tip: Want to influence what dresses we get next? Just email charlene@bellabridesbend.com with what styles you’ve been dying to try.

It totally depends on what you are looking for! We have 4 distinct collections to fit everyone’s budget:

• HAYLEY PAIGE COLLECTION (± $3500-8500)

  • These iconic gowns are hand-made with exquisite materials and thoughtful craftsmanship, blending romance, whimsy, and modern bridal elegance. Designed by bridal icon Hayley Paige, this collection is known for its thoughtful details and unforgettable style. Dresses are available off-the-rack or for special order.

• COUTURE COLLECTION (+/- $2500-5500)

  • These highly specialized gowns are made with the industry’s best fit and materials. They feel luxurious and fashion-forward. Designers include Maggie Sottero and Madi Lane. These dresses are available for special order only.

• EVERLY COLLECTION (+/- $1500-2500)

  • These gowns are quality, yet affordable. They feature trending bridal styles and are comfortable to wear. Designers include Madi Lane, Rebecca Ingram, Maggie Sottero, and Muse Private Line. These dresses are available for special order or off-the-rack.

• ADORE COLLECTION (+/- $500-1500)

  • Sometimes designers have to discontinue dresses because a certain lace or particular bead is no longer available. The dress then moves into the Adore Collection, and that one discontinued bead saves you over $1000. These dresses are available off-the-rack only.

Absolutely! For a special order, ½ down is required to get the dress ordered, then the rest can be split into a monthly payment plan. If your dress is off-the-rack, you can split your entire dress cost into monthly payments!

We get new dresses every single week! The best way to see our brand new styles is to follow us on Instagram @bellabridesbend as the newest dresses are featured on our story and feed.

HINT: there is a giant flower mural on our entrance.

While our street address is 800 NW Wall Street, our entrance is actually around the corner on Franklin Ave, right before JC’s Bar. We are the only ones upstairs.

Each appointment all said and done usually takes a little over 2 hours, so we recommend parking in the parking garage on Lava Road since it has 3-hour parking instead of the 2-hour street parking.

We find that the perfect amount of time is 1.5-2 hours, but if you are upgrading to our Shut Down the Store Appointment, there is no time limit!

Most dresses take about 6 months to come in. Sometimes designers surprise us and they get here way early, yay! But most of the time, it’s around 6 months.

90% of the dresses in our collection are available to take directly off-the-rack the day of your appointment. This is extremely unusual in the industry, so you found the right shop!

We carry sizes 2 - 26 in our store, and we can special order sizes 00 - 30.

Because we have so many brides that travel from out of town, we do not do alterations in-house; but that also means you get to go wherever you want (just make sure they do wedding dresses day-in and day-out). If you need a recommendation, we trust Scissorbird Alterations (541) 382-4141.

We recommend allowing 8-12 weeks for alterations. If you have a shorter time frame, check with your individual alterations professional.

99% of wedding dresses need some kind of alteration after your order has come in. The most common alterations are bust, waist, hem, and bustle.

Alterations costs vary widely depending on the dress and the alterations professional. The average in this area is $800 - $900. Sewing is a dying art, so make sure your alterations professional does wedding dresses often.

Absolutely! Many dresses come with options to make changes directly from the designer - like adding or removing sparkle, changing the undercolor or lining, or adding or removing sleeves/straps. We also facilitate further customizations by ordering extra lace, material, or beads to create a more custom vision in your alterations.