Do I need an appointment?

Yes, we are an appointment-only boutique. Each bride has the entire boutique to themselves and our undivided attention while shopping for their wedding gown. We offer private appointments for any type of service, this includes bridal gowns, accessories, and bridesmaids. The easiest way to make an appointment is to use our online scheduler to select the date and time that works best for you or to call us at 907.272.4696.

when do I arrive?

We ask that you arrive on time for your appointment, however, please do not arrive early. Our boutique is set to cater to each bride individually and most likely we have appointments scheduled prior to and immediately following your appointment. If you arrive early and there is another appointment in progress you will be asked to wait outside of the boutique.

how long is my appointment?

Depending on what type of appointment you have scheduled your allotted time will either be an hour and a half or one hour. During your appointment, you and your party will be the only guests in the boutique so we can usually get a lot accomplished in that time frame. If for any reason your appointment time is running over, we will be more than happy to schedule another appointment for you.

What do I bring to my Appointment?

You are not required to bring anything additional to your appointment, besides yourself!  However, many brides find that bringing a strapless bra or shapewear (preferably nude) can be helpful. It is not necessary to bring shoes unless you have a very specific wedding shoe you would like to coordinate with your gown. Please refrain from wearing excess make-up or self-tanner.

how many people can I bring with me?

We love big groups; however, our boutique is small, and we really want to provide an intimate and stress-free environment for you. We’ve found that often times too many opinions can overwhelm the bride and cause confusion. We recommend keeping your group size to four or less. However, we will do our best to accommodate larger parties, we just ask that you communicate with us prior to your appointment. There are many fragile items in the boutique, therefore, if you must bring children, please let us know prior and please make sure to bring someone that will be available to keep a close watch.

is there an appointment cancellation policy?

We kindly ask for as much notice as possible (preferably 48 hours) if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. We are an appointment only boutique and have a limited number of appointments available per day, therefore, we thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

how soon should I start shopping for my gown?

To ensure that you do not feel rushed when deciding on your gown, we recommend starting the gown search 9 to 12 months before your wedding date. Of course, this is just a recommendation, and we understand many brides will have a shorter timeframe or want to start the process earlier.

When should I order my wedding dress?

Ideally, you would want to order your wedding gown six to nine months in advance as most of our made-to-order gowns can take up to four to five months to arrive at the boutique. You will also want to factor in shipping, alterations, and travel time if that is applicable. We work with amazing designers that can accommodate shorter time frames if your wedding day is fast approaching.  Depending on the designer rush fees will apply and vary. For our short-date brides, we have a beautiful selection of gowns that can be purchased off of the floor.

What Price Ranges are your Gowns?

Our made-to-order gowns range from $1000 to $5000, with the majority of gowns averaging $1700 to $2700. We also carry designer sample gowns that are sold “off the rack” at a discount. Most of our off-the-rack gown’s range in price from $600 to $1700. 

What is a trunk show?

A bridal boutique usually only carries a selection of dresses from each of their designer’s lines. During a trunk show, additional gowns from the collection are available in the bridal boutique for a set period of time (often just one weekend). If you adore a specific designer, a trunk show is the perfect time to book your appointment.

Do you offer alterations?

We do not offer alterations in-house; however, we do have several local seamstresses that we will refer you to. We are not affiliated with any of the recommended businesses and do not receive any form of payment from them. Alteration costs are separate from the cost of your gown. You can expect alterations on average to cost about $300 to $600.

What sample sizes do you carry?

We are a size-inclusive boutique, which means that we have sample gowns ranging from bridal size 8 to 28. Do not worry too much about the sizing, we are able to make adjustments to help you get a better idea of how the gown will fit you regardless o if it is too big or small. The majority of our gowns can be ordered from sizes 2-34.

How do I pay for my wedding dress?

We accept most forms of payment (cash and all major credit cards). We prefer that your gown is paid for in full upon ordering. We are more than willing to work with each of our brides and their financial situation, however, we do require that at least 50% of the gown is paid for before we can place the order. The remaining balance will be required once your gown arrives. All off-the-rack gowns must be paid in full at the time of purchase.

What if I do not live near Anchorage?

We love helping brides that live across Alaska and even outside the state. We encourage you to make your appointment as early as possible if you will only be in Anchorage for a short period of time. If you order a gown through our boutique and will not be coming back to Anchorage we are more than happy to work with you to have your gown shipped to your home or desired location.

How does the process work for ordering your gown?

Once you have selected your gown, we can take care of everything during your first appointment. For our made-to-order gowns, it is necessary to take measurements. These gowns are not custom-made to fit you exactly, however, measurements allow us to order the closest dress size for you. Almost always a bride will need some sort of alteration, you want your dress to fit you perfectly and tailoring will give you the perfect fit. We have a large selection of custom veils and accessories, should you wish to order any additional items, you can do so during your appointment. We also offer accessory appointments, for when you are ready to finalize your look.

What if I am not ready to purchase my gown on the first appointment?

If I did not purchase my gown from you, can I bring it in for an accessories appointment?

We are proud to offer a pressure-free shopping experience for each bride and we want to make sure that you feel 100% confident in your gown choice. If you do not find your gown on the first appointment, we offer complimentary one hour returning bridal appointments.

Yes! We love helping brides accessorize for their big day, even if they did not find their gown with us. Having your gown with you while finding the perfect accessories is often helpful and allows you to get a better idea of how you will look on your wedding day. We recommend coming into look for accessories at least three months before your wedding date. Most of our accessories are custom made and can take up to eight weeks to order. We do have a large selection of pieces that can be purchased the same day so no need to worry if your wedding date is fast approaching.

Are returns or exchanges accepted?

All sales are final for any items purchased at Bateau Bridal Boutique. All made-to-order gowns, bridesmaid dresses, sample/off-the-rack gowns, jewelry, veils, shoes, etc. are final sale. There are no returns or exchanges accepted.