Questions, answered.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but we strongly recommend an appointment for bridal, prom, and tuxedo fittings. Booking ahead lets a stylist set aside time to focus on you — pulling pieces, fitting, and answering questions without rushing.

Plan on 60 to 90 minutes for your first bridal appointment. Follow-up fittings are typically 30 to 45 minutes. We'll never rush you — if you're close to "yes," we'll stay as long as you need.

Absolutely — bringing a small group of 2 to 4 trusted people is ideal. Too many opinions can make decisions harder. We have comfortable seating and we love welcoming families.

Call as soon as you can. We'll do everything we can to make your appointment work. If you're more than 15 minutes late, we may need to shorten or reschedule the session so the next customer isn't pushed back.

Yes — and it's something we're known for. If your event is in days, not weeks, call us directly at (540) 980-0543. We've helped customers in genuinely impossible-feeling timelines and we'll see what's possible for you.

Yes. Our boutique is welcoming to customers with mobility, sensory, or other accessibility needs. Let us know when booking what would make your visit more comfortable — extended time, a quieter slot, seated fittings, or anything else — and we'll make it happen.

We recommend ordering 6 to 9 months before your wedding date. That gives the gown time to arrive (typically 12 to 20 weeks) and leaves room for 2 to 3 alteration fittings.

Shorter timelines are absolutely workable — many designers offer rush options, and we keep a selection of off-the-rack gowns ready to take home the same day.

Our sample gowns span a wide size range, and our stylists are trained to help you visualize how a gown will look in your actual size once ordered. If you'd like us to confirm specific size availability before your visit, give us a call.

Our bridal gowns generally range from modest entry-level pieces to higher-end designer styles. When you book your appointment, share your budget with us — we'll make sure every gown we pull falls inside it so you're never falling for something that isn't right.

Yes. We carry veils, hair accessories, jewelry, and bridal undergarments. We can also order specific pieces if your gown calls for something special.

Most New River Valley weddings come together comfortably in 9 to 12 months. Here's a working timeline:

• 12+ months out: Set your date and overall budget. Tour and book your venue — the venue drives most other decisions (guest count, season, formality).
• 9 to 12 months out: Book your photographer, officiant, and caterer. Start shopping for your gown — ordering at this point leaves plenty of time for alterations.
• 6 to 9 months out: Book florist, DJ or band, baker. Send save-the-dates. Order your gown if you haven't already.
• 4 to 6 months out: Choose bridesmaid dresses and groom/groomsmen tuxedos. Book hair and makeup. Order invitations.
• 2 to 3 months out: Send invitations. Finalize menu, flowers, and timeline with vendors. First gown fitting.
• 1 month out: Final gown fitting. Pick up wedding rings. Confirm every vendor in writing. Build a day-of timeline.
• Week of: Pick up tuxedos (we recommend 1–2 days before). Rehearsal dinner. Hand off vendor contacts to your day-of coordinator or a trusted friend.

Shorter timelines work too — we've helped couples pull beautiful weddings together in 8 weeks. The key is being decisive and asking vendors directly about rush options.

The core list, in roughly the order people book them:

• Venue — ceremony and reception (sometimes one location, sometimes two)
• Officiant — minister, justice of the peace, or friend ordained for the day
• Photographer — and often a separate videographer
• Caterer — or in-house venue catering
• Florist — bouquets, boutonnieres, ceremony and reception arrangements
• Baker — cake, cupcakes, or dessert table
• Music — DJ, live band, or string quartet for the ceremony
• Hair & makeup — for the bride and bridal party
• Formalwear — that's us: gowns, tuxedos, suits, alterations
• Stationery — save-the-dates, invitations, programs, thank-you cards
• Transportation — if your ceremony and reception aren't co-located
• Day-of coordinator — even an experienced friend can save the day

Not every wedding needs every category. Smaller, more intimate ceremonies often skip transportation, DJ, and even formal catering.

Start with three numbers: guest count, budget, and season. Those three constrain your options more than anything else. Then ask:

• Does the venue host both ceremony and reception, or just one?
• What's included — tables, chairs, linens, sound system, parking?
• Is catering in-house or do you bring your own?
• What's the rain plan for outdoor ceremonies?
• How many hours of access do you get, and when does setup start?

Tour at least three venues before committing. Photos online flatten everything — you need to feel the space.

Photography is one of the few wedding decisions you can't redo, so it's worth taking seriously. Look for:

• A full gallery, not just highlights. Ask to see an entire wedding from start to finish — not just the best ten frames.
• A style you actually like. Light and airy, moody and dark, photojournalistic, traditional posed — these are very different aesthetics. Pick one that matches the wedding you're picturing.
• Personality fit. You'll spend more time with your photographer on the wedding day than almost anyone else. Make sure you like them.
• Clear deliverables. How many images? How long until you receive them? Are prints and albums included or extra?

Bring your florist two things: a color palette (matching your gown, bridesmaid dresses, and venue) and a few reference images of arrangements you love. Then ask:

• What flowers are in season for your wedding date? In-season is dramatically less expensive.
• What's included — bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, ceremony arch, reception accents?
• Do they deliver and set up, or is pickup required?
• What's the minimum spend?

Florists' prices vary widely. Get at least two quotes for the same shopping list before deciding.

There's no "right" wedding budget — we've seen beautiful $5,000 weddings and $80,000 weddings. But the rough percentage breakdown most couples land on:

• 40–50% Venue, catering, and bar
• 10–15% Photography (and videography)
• 8–12% Attire — gown, tuxedos, alterations, accessories
• 8–10% Flowers and décor
• 8–10% Music — DJ, band, ceremony musicians
• 2–3% Stationery and invitations
• 2–3% Cake and dessert
• 5–10% Buffer for the unexpected

Set the total first, then allocate. It's much easier than picking each vendor and hoping the math works.

Prom and pageant planning is much simpler — most of the work is in two categories: the look (dress or tux, hair, makeup, nails, shoes) and the night (transportation, dinner reservation, photo plan).

Our recommended order:

• 3 months before: Shop your dress or order your tuxedo. Confirm with us early if alterations are needed.
• 1 month before: Book hair and makeup. Make any dinner reservations — popular spots fill up.
• 2 weeks before: Final fitting. Confirm transportation if you're using a limo or service.
• Day of: Pictures with family first — the light is better earlier in the evening.

No — we focus on what we do best, which is dressing you beautifully and making sure every fitting goes smoothly. For full planning or day-of coordination, stop by the shoppe and we'll be happy to point you toward coordinators we've worked alongside in the past.

Yes. We track which dresses have been sold to which schools so no two students show up to the same prom in the same gown. Just share your school and the prom date when you book.

The earlier the better. Our best selection arrives between November and February. By March, the most distinctive pieces are usually claimed — though we can still help you find something beautiful right up to the event.

Yes — we love working with pageant contestants. Many of our prom gowns work beautifully for pageant evening-wear divisions, and we can special-order specific pageant-line dresses if you have a particular look in mind.

Yes. As an authorized retailer for Jim's Formal Wear, we offer the full catalog of tuxedo and formal suit rentals. We do measurements on-site, let you handle physical fabric swatches, and coordinate pickup and return.

We recommend 6 to 8 weeks before the event for tuxedo orders and wedding party coordination. Rush options are available — call us if you're inside that window and we'll see what's possible.

Groomsmen who live out of town can get measured at any authorized Jim's Formal Wear retailer nationwide — their measurements will sync to your order with us. We'll coordinate the details.

Yes. We can place purchase orders for suits and tuxedos in addition to rentals. Just tell us which direction you'd like to go and we'll guide you through the options.

We offer precision fitting and coordinate alterations for pieces purchased with us. Alteration pricing is provided at your fitting based on the work needed — every gown is different.

In many cases, yes — though it's case-by-case depending on the piece and the work required. Bring it in for a quick look and we'll let you know if we're the right fit.

Bring in your gently used formal wear or bridal gown for an intake review. If we accept it, we'll agree on a price, a consignment period, and a payout split — everything in writing on a simple intake form. When the piece sells, you receive your share by check or as store credit.

• Items must be cleaned and in excellent condition.
• Designer pieces and current-season styles move fastest.
• Unsold items must be picked up within 14 days of the term ending.

Bridal gowns, prom and pageant dresses, mother-of-the-bride/groom formal wear, and select men's formal pieces. We focus on quality and current style, so seasonality matters — call before bringing in a large quantity.

Special orders, altered items, and intimate accessories are final sale. Off-the-rack stock that hasn't been altered may be exchanged within 7 days for store credit, with tags and receipt. Defective merchandise is always made right.

Full details on our Returns & Exchanges page.

We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and cash. For special orders, a deposit is required up front, with the balance due on arrival.

Yes — we have a dedicated parking lot at our 71 Commerce Street location, plus street parking in downtown Pulaski.

We proudly serve customers throughout Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Radford, and Wythe counties — and we welcome anyone willing to make the drive to downtown Pulaski.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (extended to 12 – 5 during prom and wedding seasons)
Wednesday & Sunday: Closed