bridal market as a buyer

This past week was Bridal Market week in NYC and we were bummed we could not attend due to a hectic wedding schedule. We were really excited when our dear friends at Hitched Salon here in DC were willing to let us feature their experience of attending Market and filling all of us in on what market is all about and thankful for Cyn Kain Photography for being the official photographer for the trip. Many thanks to the Hitched Salon ladies for sharing all of their insight and background on why Market is so important to a bridal salon buyer...

What, exactly is Bridal Market?

Hitched: Bridal Market happens twice a year – April and October – it’s a time for salons to pick out new stock for their customers. Bridal gowns are not seasonal but we know brides love to consider new styles during their shopping process.

What are you looking for at Market?

Hitched: We prep for market year round by listening to our brides during appointments – we ask ourselves what styles and details we hear our brides ask for over and over, and what we need more of at Hitched. We are always keeping an eye on current trends in bridal and ready-to-wear to see what new and fresh options we’d like to see at Hitched. We’re constantly researching new and upcoming designers to bring to our brides and market is the best time to see all of our options!

Why is it important that the entire full-time Hitched staff attend and not just the owners?

Hitched: We love our staff and we very much value their opinions on all things bridal. As our store and staff have grown, so has our Market entourage! We think it’s so important to bring our entire full-time staff to Market, because they work with the brides day in and day out, and they have first-hand experience with what brides like. Our staff sees the gowns through to alterations, so they have a solid foundation for evaluating fit and construction of the gowns. We love when brides come into Hitched and feel like the gown selection matches their own taste and aesthetic, and that’s directly due to our staff listening to what brides want and purchasing those styles at Market!

What is the process in making final selections after market for the salon?

Hitched: The market meetings are the easy part of the gown selection process. The real business takes place back at the store where we hash out which gowns will make it to the Hitched racks! We spend hours pouring over photos to choose the best of the best! If you know the Hitched girls, you know that this is NOT a quiet group or without opinions – so these conversations can get quite heated! Hitched girls love their gowns. If we’re considering picking up a new designer, we make sure they are a good fit with our store aesthetic, and we feel confident in their quality and design – we’re really picky!

Stay tuned tomorrow...we'll have the Hitched gals back to talk about trends they saw at Bridal Market and some fun behind-the-scenes of Market tid bits.