We Love What We Do

We love what we do and are committed to giving first-class customer service. We will treat you as our most important customer. We will go flat out to create a remarkable experience for you. 

COVID 19

But COVID-19 has changed the way we do things for now.

Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of brides-to-be, prommers and staff in the face of the pandemic.  For as long it takes, we will keep up with the latest guidance from the UK Government and will continue to adapt to stay on top of the challenges.

– Essential Info about SBB COVID 19 Compliant Appointments

What Can Brides-to-be Expect?

• Initial Appt
• 1st fitting
• seamstress
• Final Fitting
• Pick Up

• Initial Appointment (COVID Compliant)

  Information Gathering

  When you arrive, we will wel­come you warmly. We will con­firm when and where your occa­sion is, what style you may have in mind and your budget.

  It's essen­tial at this stage to be real­ist­ic. But whatever your  lim­it, the chances are we'll bring you in with­in budget.  Once we have an idea what you're look­ing for, we'll explain what we have in stock to match that. Then we invite you to delve through our extens­ive range.

  Trying on:

  You can try as many dresses as you want, but your pre­ferred style and the time avail­able will typ­ic­ally dic­tate how many. We alloc­ate 1½ hours for each bridal appoint­ment.  Cus­tom­ers have the pri­vacy of our fit­ting rooms to dress, often with the help of a com­pan­ion. But, we are still on hand if you need help to dive into a dress and, of course, for the doing-up part.

  Once you're in the dress, we'll help you onto our ​'magic box'. It adds height and allows you to see how the dress will look once the hem is custom-fitted.

  At this point, we'll chat through with you how the dress looks and feels. We will see how it com­ple­ments your fig­ure and may recommend some improve­ments. If you are happy that this could be the dress for you, we'll look for a suit­able bridal tiara or hair­piece.  Sparkle in your hair helps lift the sparkle in your dress and helps light it up.

  We'll also try a veil. Don't under-estim­ate its power. Lots of brides say they don't want to wear one. But the moment they try it on, they change their minds. A veil helps to frame a dress and cre­ates a dream-like halo. It can add extra sparkle and detail to the back of the dress too. So many of our brides-to-be are moved to tears the moment the veil goes on, Mums too.

  2 – Trying on Appointment:

  Your pre­ferred style and the time avail­able will typ­ic­ally dic­tate how many there are for you to try. We alloc­ate 1½ hours for each bridal appoint­ment.  Cus­tom­ers have the pri­vacy of our fit­ting rooms to dress, often with the help of a com­pan­ion. But, we are still on hand if you need help.

  Once you’re in the dress, we’ll help you onto our ​‘magic box’. It adds height and allows you to see how the dress will look once the hem is custom-fitted

  Ordering:

  When you find the gown to match your dreams, we can meas­ure you there and then and order it. Some brides like to have anoth­er  month or two to reach their per­fect bridal shape and weight. We agree on a date with them when to meas­ure and have their dress made.

  In either case, once we have final meas­ure­ments, we will agree with you when you would like your dress in the shop. The shortest time is 12 weeks before the wed­ding; the longest time is one year. At this point, we request a 50% payment to place the order.

• 1st fitting (COVID 19 Compliant)

  Dresses arrive from the Design­er three weeks either side of the estim­ated date we quoted when you ordered.  When your dress comes, we con­tact  you right away to book an ini­tial fitting. Our purpose will be to check that all is at it should be. We will gain a thorough understanding with you of nips and tucks the dress might need to make it perfect. Only then do we book a timely appointment for you with the seamstress. We will let you know what you need to bring with you for that.

  By the time of your ini­tial fit­ting, you will have a good idea of how you will be wear­ing your hair on the day. So, with your almost-ready dress present, it’s an excellent time to decide on shoes, hair­pieces, veils, gloves, jack­ets, etc.

  Once we’ve agreed on alter­a­tions and accessor­ies, we will ask you to pay the bal­ance or plan with us when you can clear it. The seam­stress can start work and your dress released once you settle the balance.

  If your dress arrives with us within six weeks of your wedding date, we have to dispense with an initial fitting. We book you straight into the seamstress instead. We’ll be there with you to get it all done in the time available.

• Seamstress (COVID 19 Compliant)

  A Stitch in Time has appropriate COVID-Secure protocols in place. These are independent of Sarah Belle Bridal.

  We recom­mend that you see the seam­stress 6 to 8 weeks before the wed­ding. You will be close to the body shape and weight you will be on the day. 

  The seam­stress will take exact instruc­tions on the alter­a­tions required to make the dress per­fect for you. Hayley will quote a price and time frame to you too.

  You don’t have to use our seam­stresses. You can use any seam­stress to make y­our alter­a­tions. If you do, we will still happily store your dress and give it a final steaming for you.

  If you don’t use our seam­stress, we can­'t guar­an­tee to assist in cases of dam­age or dispute.

• Final Fitting (COVID 19 Compliant)

  This fit­ting is usu­ally a direct arrangement between bride-to-be and seam­stress. Pay­ her once you are happy with the fit of your dress. The amount will be in-line with the quote you received at the ini­tial fit­ting.

  This approach saves every­one time and money. The seam­stresses are gen­er­ally will­ing to see you out­side the shop’s reg­u­lar open­ing times. They give you their undi­vided attention.

  The final fit­ting aims to make sure that the dress is a perfect fit. If there’s any­thing at all you’re not happy with, speak up and let us know in the shop right away. The seam­stresses can work won­ders. They want, every bit as much as we all do, for you to look flawless and feel beau­ti­ful on your great day.

  Once happy with your dress, tell the seamstress. She will deliv­er it back to the shop for final preparation.

  Some dresses may not need final steam­ing. If you’re ecstat­ic with your dress and can’t wait to get it home, you are wel­come to col­lect it dir­ectly from the seam­stress. But, if you want to avoid the stress of stor­ing your dress until the wed­ding, we are more than happy to look after it. Most brides-to-be ask that we do.

• Picking-Up Your Dress (COVID 19 Compliant)

  When you make your appoint­ment with the seam­stress, we will have agreed a date and time for you to pick up your dress. It isn’t set in stone, though. If you need to bring the date for­ward or push it back let us know in plenty of time.

  Two days before your pick-up, we will give your dress a final inspec­tion and steam, let­ting it dry overnight.

  When you come for it, very short-term park­ing is avail­able to the front of the shop.

  We will explain what you need to do when you get home with it and how do-up your dress on the wed­ding day. An incor­rectly cor­seted dress looks ter­rible. A trouble­some zip on it can cause unne­ces­sary stress on the wed­ding day. So pay atten­tion, and plan to set aside enough time on the day.

  We will make sure you under­stand how to hang your dress for trans­port­a­tion. Allow enough room in the car to get your dress hanging flat. For instance, from the rear suit jack­et hook and across the entire back seat. Or the pas­sen­ger-seat fol­ded down to a near flat pos­i­tion. Don’t plan to pick up the monthly shop from Tesco on your way home. Try to avoid hav­ing to load the car with dogs and chil­dren on board too. We’ll help you load your dress in the car.

  Then its big smiles and elbow bumps and pleas from us to see your wed­ding pics when you finally return to Earth.