At your First Look Appointment, we will try on your gown and any additional accessories you would like to complete your bridal look. We use this time to style you for the rest of your day, so this an ideal time to shop our extensive collection of bridal accessories, as it will be one of the last times you’ll have on your gown aside from gown fittings with the seamstress. We have veils, sashes, earrings, headpieces, robes, garters, bridesmaids’ gifts, and much more.

Additionally, during this appointment we will go over the alterations process with you.

Typically ~30 minutes; however, we do book an entire hour to make sure we have ample time to choose accessories and talk through any customizations.

Please remember, we have a guest limit of 2 guests for this visit due to size of our First Look suite — please make sure everyone arrives on time.

The remaining balance on your gown order has to be paid in full at your First Look appointment. No exceptions.

All accessories ordered require full payment at time of ordering.

Yes! You will take your gown with you at the end of your First Look appointment. You will need it in your possession to begin the alterations process. Your stylist will make sure you know all there is to know about taking care of it once it is in your hands.

We have quality hangers and opaque garment bags that provide a safe place for your gown to hang until the big day.

Keep it inside the bag for storage and traveling purposes and in a climate controlled environment away from heat and sunlight.

Plan to have the shoes you’d like to wear for the big day by this time. If you are seeing the seamstress afterwards, your shoes are a must. The seamstress will be unable to execute your hem if you do not have them during this time. If for some reason you still do not have them, bring a pair of shoes with the same height of heel you plan to wear for the wedding so the seamstress can get started on this aspect of the fitting process.

If you’d like to change shoes from ceremony to reception, you will need to stick with the same heel height. Otherwise, your dress will drag the ground and get caught under your feet while dancing. We caution against doing this, as it will cause more significant wear and tear during the reception if you do this.

At Maggie Louise! Just as before, you’ll have a private appointment at the boutique when you step into your beauty for the first time.

Unfortunately, First Look appointments take place on weekdays. We are only open on select Saturdays throughout the year for bridal appointments only, so we cannot do First Looks on Saturday.

You will need to plan for a long weekend or schedule a late afternoon appointments during the week, so feel free to let us know ahead of time if you have specific dates (days off, travel times, etc) in mind for coming back to see us.

All gowns arrive without a bustle. Your seamstress will place a custom bustle in your gown during the alterations process.

Make sure you take someone with you to your final gown fitting with the seamstress who can learn how to execute your bustle on the big day.

We will steam your gown and/or veil for you prior to your First Look appointment; however, you will still need to make sure your gown and veil is steamed the day(s) before the big day. You will travel with everything in their protective garment bags, so once you are at the final destination (after alterations), it will all need to be touched up again.

Tips :

• If you have a day-of coordinator, ask them to help steam your gown or arrange for someone to do so. Talk to them about this prior to wedding day so you have a plan several weeks prior.

• If possible and safe to do so, remove the gown and veil from the bags in the days leading up to the wedding to allow wrinkles to fall out. Steam the day before the wedding as well so that only minor touch-ups, if needed, can be done on day-of.

• You don’t have to have a professional steamer, a handheld steamer should do the job!

We recommend taking bridal portraits as close to the wedding date as possible. Please make sure to notify us and your seamstress when your portraits are scheduled because this does change the timeline and process of alterations. We will all do our best to accommodate alterations prior to your portraits, but please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee another round of alterations between portraits and wedding date (should it be needed due to fluctuations). Its important to communicate this thoroughly with your seamstress to ensure everything is ready to go for the big day!

You will not need to wear a bra under your gow—cups will be sewn into your gown if desired during alterations. Underwear is personal preference, but we do recommend nude colored. (Some styles will require seamless underwear depending on the fabrication of the gown). If you feel more comfortable with shape-wear undergarments, please be sure to take them to your first fitting, so you will have an idea of how they look and feel with your gown.

We recommend taking bridal portraits as close to the wedding date as possible.

Please make sure to notify us and your seamstress when your portraits are scheduled, because this does change the timeline and process of alterations. We will all do our best to accommodate alterations prior to your portraits, but please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee another round of alterations between your portraits and wedding date. It is important to communicate this thoroughly with your seamstress to ensure everything is ready to go for the big day!