How to Shop the Sample Sale @ Saks Fifth Ave. - SF

If you're looking for a place to trim wedding costs, here's one. The Bridal Suite at Saks Fifth Avenue begins their sample sale tomorrow, January 7th, 2009, with savings of up to 50% off.

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
384 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-986-4300
Bridal Suite Hours: T-Sat. 10am-6pm

Several of my former brides (with some pretty impressive wedding budgets) have saved big bucks buying at sample sales and no one has ever suspected a thing (Barney's has a great one too!).

If you've never been to a sample sale, prepare yourself. It can be a little crazy and it's not exactly a red carpet experience (some are more civilized than others). If you can handle the drawbacks, the savings can be significant. Here are a few tips:

1) Be early because others will be.

2) Make sure you have an idea of what style of gown you are looking for so you can narrow it down right out of the gate. Ideally, you should have your location and the time of your wedding set so that you are purchasing a dress that suits your event (a long train dragging through a dirty vineyard just isn't pretty!) You'll also save valuable time if you know your wedding dress size in advance.

3) You will probably not have any sales assistance so bring friends. It's helpful to have someone to give you a second opinion and a few extra hands to gather dresses.

4). Bring some heels to try on dresses with and be prepared with appropriate undergarments in case you need to try it on in public.

5) Be warned, the dress will be dirty and you will need to have it cleaned and altered. Be sure to figure those costs in to your overall dress budget. Try to get the bridal salon to recommend the name of a reputable cleaner and seamstress. Otherwise, a good wedding planner will certainly have those contacts.

6) Be certain that this is THE dress and that you have examined it carefully before purchasing. Sample sales are final and you don't want to be stuck with a wedding dress with stains that can't be removed or that you might change your mind about.

Good Luck!