Frequently Asked Questions :: Tickled Pink :: Bridal Gowns Doncaster/Bridal Dresses South Yorkshire/Mens Formal Hire/Prom Dresses/Bridesmaid Dress

What will suit me? When should I start looking? Suppose I'm on a tight schedule? What about payment? How secure is my money? What about fittings? Will the fabric crease? Can I hire? Isn't a dressmaker or the internet cheaper? What lingerie do I need? Do I need an appointment? Suppose I change shape? Can I get my dress cleaned afterwards? Same sex marriages?

For Mens Hire FAQs please go to Mens Formal Hire

What will suit me? You will have your own ideas, but trying on is the true test, so you may fall in love with something completely different to what you had in mind. Here at Tickled Pink in Hatfield Doncaster South Yorkshire, we've 21 years experience in listening to brides and helping find the most flattering styles. Fabulous labels include Maggie Sottero, Hollywood Dreams, Ellis, Romantica, Donna Salado, Jenny Packham, Suzanne Neville, Ronald Joyce, Ilana, and Ian Stuart. Also a great selection of dresses for weddings abroad. For more information please call on 01302 842234 or email shop@tickledpinkbridal.co.uk

When should I start looking? Allow four months for most dresses to arrive once ordered, add a month to that for any alterations and an extra month for 'peace of mind'- in an ideal world that's six months before you start looking. A year or eighteen months isn't too early, but it's up to you. Four years is our longest ahead planned wedding dress orderwe have ever taken. Bridesmaids dresses can take 16 weeks too. On a tight schedule with a quick wedding ? ... Read on.....

Suppose I'm on a tight schedule with a "quick wedding" ? Ask for a "sample dress", in your size and a style you like. Sometimes these are discounted. A dress from our "Love Story" range can usually be made specially for you. Some of our suppliers do offer an "Express" service- at an extra charge. Our shortest ever timescale - Thursday, for the Saturday wedding. And that included alterations. Phew !

What about payment? A 50 per cent Initial Payment is needed with your Order, and the second half is due when the dress is delivered, before your fitting. We can offer an instalment plan. Most credit or debit cards accepted. Our new dress prices start from £400, but a survey by upmarket Brides magazine in 2010 revealed the average price paid by their readers to be around £1,200, up £100 on the previous year. Some of Tickled Pink's more elaborate and individual gowns are price-tagged around £2,500 - or more.

How secure is my money? These can be difficult times for some retailers and this will be a natural concern for any client. Tickled Pink has been a thriving business for twenty-one years through many boom and bust periods. As a founder member of the Retail Bridalwear Association we are obliged to ensure we remain in a sound trading position and settle our accounts with our suppliers on time, ensuring delivery of your ordered goods on time. When a bride places an order we simply ask for half the retail price in advance, which can be paid by cash, cheque or credit card.

What about fittings? For a perfect fit, there may be adjustments to make to your wedding dress. One, sometimes two, fittings are needed, and unless you decide on made-to-measure for your bridal gown, there will be alteration charges. These are listed and each item is based on the time taken by our expert alterations hands to do the job. You will be told in advance of the likely amount. As you will have paid for the dress at this stage, you may decide to use your own alterations hand. To help the fitting process, choose your shoes and lingerie as early as possible. Be realistic about any slimming plans.

Will the fabric crease? Creases drop out of most modern fabrics, so if the dress gets crumpled on the journey home just hang it up out of the bag in a room away from any cooking smells. Silk got a bad reputation for creasing, because Princess Diana had to sit for hours in a tiny horse-drawn coach with fifteen yards of silk train around her. No wonder it creased !

Can I hire? Brides usually want their own dress and one that fits perfectly, so a hire dress fails on both counts. Bridesmaids dresses to buy are so reasonably priced, we believe there is no point in hiring.

Isn't a dressmaker or the internet cheaper? You will be surprised what wonderful value our wedding dresses are. We sometimes have to 'rescue' disappointed brides who have gone to a dressmaker or bought online and the result hasn't lived up to expectations or turned out to be an internet scam. With a reputable "bricks-and-mortar" retailer you can try on a range of dresses and feel confident about the service. Tell us your budget and we'll work within it.

If you are thinking about buying from the internet, please consider these points - will your dress be the right one, the right colour, will it fit, will already have been worn, where will you go for any alterations and what happens to your Consumer Rights ? As a test, our bridal trade organisation the Retail Bridalwear Association, (www.weddingshops.org.uk) ordered two famous name dresses online and when they arrived both were counterfeits - inferior quality fakes. The RBA is constantly taking calls on their Helpline from disappointed brides who have been let down by fraudulent online traders. The Sun newspaper recently featured a bride who had been let down in this way and were immediately swamped with calls from brides citing similar cases.

Please don't waste our time, or yours, by trying on a dress in our shop and then searching the internet for it. We use our own codes to identify each dress style. We do operate a Price Promise on reputable labels.

What lingerie do I need? We have a trained corsetiere to call upon to advise brides, and all our sales staff have years of experience and an understanding of the concerns of all our clients. Bridal lingerie needs to be well fitting, supportive and attractive and not show through your outfit. Choose lingerie at the same time as the outfit as this determines your shape for the fitting process and makes the most of your figure. We have a full range of sizes available and the very latest figure control garments..

Do I need an appointment? In busy periods we cannot guarantee our immediate attention to brides who drop in without an appointment, so it is in everyone's best interests to call us first. We want you to enjoy your visit. Most Saturdays all our bridal rooms end up fully booked from nine to five, so please call in reasonable time. Call us on 01302 842234 or email shop@tickledpinkbridal.co.uk

Suppose I change shape? Your measurements will be on the Order Docket/Receipt you are given when you order your dress, so let us know if you change shape. Sometimes brides lose weight, gain weight or become pregnant in the run-up to a wedding. Confidentiality is our watchword -so keep in touch - and don't leave it until the last minute- we are here to help you.

Can I get my dress cleaned afterwards? We can help you arrange for a courier to collect for specialist cleaning, the sooner after the wedding the better. Ask for a leaflet. It's the same cleaners we use for our own stock dresses.

Same sex marraiges? We welcome the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act, December 2005, which permits same sex marraiges. Gay or lesbian couples are welcome, whether looking for weddings dresses, menswear or both. Any special fashion requirements may be discussed in confidence with our award-winning staff.

E-mail shop;@tickledpinkbridal.co.uk, or phone 01302 842234 extn 20 or extn 26 (Menswear)

2-4 Manor Road, Hatfield Doncaster South Yorkshire DN7 6SB