Shop Local & Here's why

We can all recognize the merits of shopping online. The ease has made it so common it's almost a default when buying most household and personal items. We can also agree that a wedding gown is not a multi-pack of health supplements or a set of King sized sheets. So, with that in mind, we're revisiting this topic in today's blog. We want to remind our beloved brides that they get way more when they shop local.

Rolling the dice

When you buy your wedding gown online, you are rolling the dice. You may get some semblance of the gown you wanted and you may end up with something that is not even remotely close to the quality, the look, the shape that you dreamt of. Most of those gowns are made in overseas in Asia, and when they ship, there is no guarantees. You've scrolled, chosen, paid, and now you wait to see if your gamble paid off. Does that sound overly dramatic? Check out the internet for horror stories; there are many! ​

Hi, My name is "Order Number."

When you shop and purchase at Bridal Traditions, we know you. We know your name, your fiance's name, your ideas and preferences, what you've tried on already, your wedding date, and more. 

​Owner, Kelly Shumate: "We consider it our job at BT to serve our customers from start to finish. In fact, I truly believe that it's an honor. Since we're blessed with customers, you may have to jog my memory, but ultimately it's important that every bride feels valued. Plus, WE MAKE IT FUN. Shopping at BT is about creating a relationship with our clients so that their experience during this exciting time is just that - exciting!"

REMINDER: This should be a time of joy, but often bridal spirits crash when a mail-order dress arrives and it's sub-par or just plain wrong. 

And this is where service come in.

If you've ordered online, and there is enough time, you'll still have to return or exchange the gown, and unfortunate brides have found that getting a representative to fix what is wrong is not always easy. Remember, you're an order number, not a bride-to-be.

While we also purchase gowns from reputable manufacturers overseas, we have relationships and systems in place to assist our brides. And, mostly importantly, we have our team and our knack for service. When you shop locally, like at BT, we inspect your dress to make sure the quality is on point. We will press it for you. And we will troubleshoot for you and advocate if something has gone wrong through our factory connections. 

Will some person in a factory overseas run around behind the scenes finding out what went wrong and ensuring that it gets fixed? Will they have your wedding date in mind? They won't iron or alter your gown, and your arrangements and timetable are none of their concern.

To us, when you shop and buy locally, the service you receive on both sides of the purchase is priceless. 

Buying Local Supports Your Neighbors

It supports your neighbors, certainly, but it also supports other affiliated American businesses and American jobs. Bridal Traditions has been in business for over 20 years, and our factory and vendor relationships span for 10 to 15+ of those years. When we go to the markets to shop widely, they know us by name. Our factory partners take our calls when things go wrong, which means they indirectly serve our brides. When brides buy from us, they are also supporting the sales reps and designers with U.S. based workers. Everything from the people in shipping to customer service to delivery drivers, if it happens on our shores, your purchase from us supports other American jobs, either directly or indirectly.   
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Buy local, and feel good about what you're giving and what you're getting when planning one of the biggest milestones of your life.