Wedding Apparel in Calgary Alberta
by ampmlimo, on Aug 6, 2020 3:38:38 PM
Whether you are the bride-to-be, the soon to be groom, or a member of a wedding party, Wedding Apparel is something you will be looking into. You will want to find the best of the best to celebrate this momentous occasion. Finding your dream wedding dress or tuxedo can take some time, but it's worth it!
What is it?
Wedding Apparel is the clothing worn to a wedding. Wedding dresses, tuxedos, suits, flower girl gowns, mother of the bride and bridesmaids dresses, etc.
How Much Does it Cost?
Wedding Apparel costs vary based on a few different things. For example, if you choose something as-is, the costs will be less. Custom pieces always cost more. The price also varies between the clothing for men and the clothing for women.
Different fabrics, styles, and options for custom detail can cause the cost of wedding apparel to fluctuate widely. Individual spend will depend on the customer, of course.
Men’s tuxedos average between $250 for the lower end and $5000 for the high-end.
Women’s wedding gowns average between $750 for the lower end, $2500 for custom, and into the thousands for high-end apparel.
Questions to Ask Apparel Companies
Some ideas of things to ask potential wedding apparel companies are as follows:
How is your store different than others and how long have you been in business?
When should I start the process of finding my wedding dress and/or tuxedo?
Is an appointment needed and is there a limit to the number of guests I can bring with me?
Can I take photos of my dress in the bridal boutique?
What is your price range?
Do you require a deposit?
Are there any additional fees?
You can ask your friends and family who they have used in the past as references from personal experience are always the best. Alternatively, we have compiled a list of some of the Calgary Wedding Apparel Companies below. Contact them directly for pricing.
Durand Bridal
Durand Bridal has some of Calgary’s most unique collection of bridal gowns featuring top wedding designers from all around the world with beautiful styles for every budget, shape, and size. They supply clothing for over 500 weddings each year. They recommend you shop for your wedding apparel between 8 and 12 months before your wedding day.
However, they can work on a tighter timeline with rush options and off the rack gowns. They do make bridal appointments and these typically run from 60 – 90 minutes. It is recommended to have no more than four people join you for this appointment, but arrangements can be made for larger groups.
Their gowns range from $750 to $3000, not including alterations. You can put 50% down at the time of purchase if full payment is not feasible. All bridal gown sales are final. Timelines to receive dresses depend on the designer.
Elise Spigott Couture
Elise Spigott Couture designs and creates couture bridal, bridesmaid, and formal gowns in Alberta. If you are not familiar with the terminology, “couture” means “dressmaking” in French and is high-end clothing of an original design. This means one-of-a-kind garments that are custom made to order and tailored to the customer’s measurements.
They design with the intent of creating luxurious heirloom quality couture garments that will stand the test of time. They employ European methods of Haute Couture sewing and design, as well as utilizing the highest quality of fabrics.
ESC sources luxury fabrics from around the world, based on customers’ desired design and they work almost solely in natural fibres, such as silks, wools, linens, and furs. They also specialize in custom lacework, embroidery, and hand-beading.
As couture sewing is a meticulous process that cannot be rush, they do no more than 50 weddings each year. As such, all work is based on availability so the sooner you contact them, the better your chance to get in. They recommend you start the process four months in advance at the very least.
Appointments are required for all stages of production from consultation to the final fitting. Consultation appointments are typically 1 – 2.5 hours. Bridal gowns start at $2500 and bridesmaids and formal gowns start at $1000. As all garments are made to measure, alterations will not be required.
After consultation and the design has been agreed upon, a 50% deposit is required. Staged deposits are then required at each fitting, with the remaining balance due at the final fitting. If cancellation is made prior to the start of working on a gown, the deposit will be returned in full, less the cost of materials. Depending on how far out a gown is ordered from the wedding, the goal is for the bride to have her dress in hand no later than one month prior to the wedding date.
Fari Hara Custom Menswear
Fari Hara offers top tier tailoring with all custom made clothing, providing a personal shopping experience from the very start. They typically supply clothing for 30 – 40 weddings a year between Calgary and Toronto. They advise grooms to start the process of tuxedo shopping at least 3 months in advance.
Fari Hara also offers express service with a turn around time of 10 – 20 days. An appointment is required for viewing/measuring tuxedos and suits. This appointment can be booked online and typically takes one to two hours, depending on the number of groomsmen.
The prices of suits vary depending on style and fabric. Suits start at $599 and shirts at $99. As all garments are custom made, there are no rentals available. Full payment is required after consultation and measurements, however, you can cancel and receive 100% of payment back within 24 hours if the order has not been processed.
Regular orders typically take between 4 and 5 weeks to arrive. With flexible clothiers, consultations can take place at their retail store, your home, office, or another location of your choosing.
Harry Rosen
Harry Rosen supplies clothing for multiple weddings a year. Customers deal with individual associates for a more personal experience. They recommend the groom starts tuxedo/suit shopping at least three months in advance, with six months being ideal.
With a large inventory and onsite tailoring, Harry Rosen can turn a suit out in 24 hours if needed. It is preferred that you book an appointment for viewing/measuring as associates like to be prepared for customers, however, it is not necessary.
The length of the appointment will depend on how many are shopping. They are able to get you in and out in 30 minutes if that is desired, but it is best to plan for about two hours.
They are able to take any number of people the groom wishes to bring along. Suits and tuxedos start in the $1000 range at regular price for Ready to Wear (off the rack) items.
There are sales twice a year that affect pricing dramatically. They also offer Made to Measure with special promotions throughout the year. Harry Rosen offers for sale items only, no rentals. Payment is made in full upon purchase and there is no cancellation.
The length of time until a tuxedo or suit is ready depends on what exactly you have purchased. Time can be as short as 24 – 48 hours, or as long as 8 – 10 weeks.
Ed Williams Men’s Wear
Ed Williams Men’s Wear supplies clothing for approximately 80 – 100 weddings a year. They recommend a groom starts shopping for a tuxedo/suit 6 – 8 months prior to the wedding date. Custom made suits take between 4 and 6 weeks to order.
Off the rack, suits can be done in as quickly as one week. Appointments are encouraged but not required and can be anywhere from 30 minutes long to 1.5 hours. There is no limit to the number of people a groom can bring along but appointments are best for larger groups to ensure they can provide clients with the best attention and customer service.
Off the rack, suits range from $650 to $1450, and custom made garments go for $995 – $2000, with some options going higher. Ed Williams offers free alterations on all garments and a 15% discount for parties of three or more.
They also run custom made to measure sales of at least 20% off four times a year. There are no rentals available as they tailor each garment to fit an individual perfectly. A 50% deposit is required prior to ordering.
Customers can cancel and get the deposit refunded as long as the cancellation is made prior to tailoring. If the suit or tuxedo is in stock, it usually takes 7 – 10 days to receive. For custom garments, it can be 4 – 6 weeks. Many manufacturers shut down for summer holidays and this can add to the timeline for August and early September weddings.
Here is a list of some other vendors:
Wedding Vendors
While finding the perfect dress for your special day is essential, all of the wedding planning takes a lot of work and involves a variety of different services. You might be in need of transportation services, looking for wedding photographers, wedding catering services, or need help choosing a venue. Look for local companies and get pricing from more than one place to help you find exactly what you are looking for!
