Frequently Asked Questions

GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU SHOP

#1. Try to avoid scheduling back-to-back appointments. We believe shopping for your wedding gown should be a fun, special, and simple experience. Yes, we said it—simple! Although it may seem logical to book back-to-back appointments at boutiques around town, it can be very overwhelming, confusing, and lead to frustration. Trying on gowns is emotionally and physically draining.

#2. Set your budget. Before you book a private appointment and start trying on gowns you should understand the shop’s pricing and determine if they are a good fit for you and your budget. Falling in love with a gown and then finding out the price tag can be dangerous and disappointing for brides. It never feels good to find your dream dress just to discover it is out of budget. We always want to respect your financial priorities and empathize that the dress isn’t the only expense for your big day! This is why we tend to discourage trying on gowns you know are out of reach. It will lead to disappointment (and oftentimes, tears).

#3. Prepare yourself to ‘say yes’ during your appointment! Contrary to popular belief (and terrible, scripted television shows) you CAN find your dress during your first appointment and you DON’T need to shop until you drop. Think about it, babe. You’re engaged to the love of your life, you’ve set your budget and you’ve intentionally scheduled a bridal appointment to find your dress. Typically, brides actually do find their wedding gown during their first appointment with us. When you find something you love and want to get married in, why wait?! It really can be that simple. Don’t overthink it or overcomplicate your decision. Live in the excitement of finding your gown. You deserve it!

#4. We understand sh*t happens and in life, things come up unexpectedly. However, out of respect for other brides hoping to book with us, our staff, and schedule we kindly ask that you contact us within 48 hours if you need to cancel or reschedule. We are a small boutique offering private appointments for our brides, so we are only able to serve a handful of brides a day. If your plans have changed and you no longer plan on coming to your appointment, please extend common courtesy to let us know you won’t be able to make it. That will affect our daily schedule and we may be able to offer that appointment to a bride on our waitlist.

WHAT IS YOUR PRICING?

Our off the rack wedding dresses start at $1,500 and can go up towards $7,500 with most dresses falling between $2,000 – $4,000. Short dresses, jumpsuits, separates and completer pieces can be found at or under $1,200. Inventory changes frequently—so if you are looking for a particular size or price range, please contact us at our Nashville boutique to inquire.

WHAT SIZES DO YOU CARRY?

Our gowns range in size from 0 – 24.

DO I NEED AN APPOINTMENT?

Yes, darlin! We offer our entire studio to each bride and her loved ones during a 75-minute private appt. We do this so our brides feel relaxed and have our undivided attention.

WHEN SHOULD I BOOK AN APPT?

We recommend booking when you are ready to find and purchase your wedding gown. Because we sell our gowns off the rack, you want to be able to purchase your dress the day you find it.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO MY APPOINTMENT?

Just your beautiful self! Really, that’s all you basically need. However there are a few things that will help mimic your actual look on the big day. For example…

A pair of nude color underwear if you think you’ll be wearing any shape wear on your big day, bring it along! A strapless bra or nipple pasties if you might want them for a dress.

WHO SHOULD I BRING TO MY APPOINTMENT?

This is an important one! We recommend keeping your bride tribe on the intimate side rather than a large party. Although we love a great girl gang, we have found that the more opinions thrown at the bride, the more confused she gets. Bring up to 4 of your most supportive family and friends. Or come alone (we see this a lot – don’t worry, it’s not weird. In fact, sometimes its the best way to shop!).

HAVE THESE GOWNS BEEN WORN BEFORE?

No. Our bridal ready to wear is new, unworn and unaltered.

DO YOU DO HOLDS?

We do not hold any items. It is first come first serve.

DO YOU OFFER IN-HOUSE WEDDING DRESS ALTERATIONS?

Since our Nashville wedding boutique is dedicated to our brides and private appointments, we do not have an in-house seamstress. However, we can highly recommend a few seamstresses who handle wedding dress alterations in Nashville, TN. Each bride that purchases with Ila Bridal will receive a preferred vendor list with companies in our industry that we love and trust.

WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM?

Ila, the owner, was named after a dear family friend. Growing up, she was always told that the woman she was named after was a loving, kind, bright light. As Ila grew up she thought that was what her name meant because all she ever heard was positive things about this magical “Ila”. We want our brides to feel loved when shopping with us in our wedding dress shop. We want women to be treated with kindness and believe they deserve to work with and be surrounded by nothing but bright light while planning one of the most special occasions in their lifetimes… well, everyday really but specifically when shopping for her dream wedding dress near Nashville, TN!