Bridal Shop FAQs

Elegance is located at 2820 Highway Avenue in Highland, Indiana. We welcome brides, mothers, grooms, and wedding parties from throughout Northwest Indiana, Chicagoland, and surrounding communities.

Our current store hours are:

• Monday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday: Closed
• Thursday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

Holiday and event hours may vary. Please call us at 219-923-0977 if you are planning a visit around a holiday.

Appointments are strongly recommended, especially for bridal and mothers’ shopping. Scheduling ahead allows us to reserve a fitting room and provide you with dedicated assistance from a personal stylist.

Walk-ins are welcome when a stylist and fitting room are available, but customers with confirmed appointments receive priority.

You can request an appointment online or call us at 219-923-0977.

Submitting the online form is an appointment request and does not immediately confirm your appointment. A member of the Elegance team will contact you by phone or email to confirm availability and finalize the details.

Absolutely. You are welcome to take pictures and videos during your time at Elegance. We want you to remember the dresses you tried, the people who celebrated with you, and the moments that made your appointment special.

To help us protect our gowns, outside food and drinks are not permitted during regular appointments. Water is available for customers and guests.

Select upgraded or private appointment experiences may include refreshments provided by Elegance. Please review the details of your chosen appointment before visiting.

Signature and VIB bridal appointments are 90 minutes. This gives you time to speak with your stylist, try a thoughtful selection of gowns, compare your favorites, and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.

Private appointment timing may vary depending on the experience selected. Compare our bridal appointment options before submitting your request.

Our standard bridal appointment area comfortably seats up to four guests. If you would like to include a larger group, ask about a Private Appointment, which may accommodate up to ten guests outside regular business hours.

A smaller group often makes it easier to focus on your preferences and enjoy the appointment, so we recommend inviting the people whose opinions matter most to you.

Bring any dress inspiration, wedding details, or style ideas you would like to share. Photos from Pinterest, Instagram, or dresses you have already saved can help your stylist understand what has caught your attention.

It is also helpful to know:

• Your wedding date
• Your approximate wedding dress budget
• Your venue or wedding setting
• Styles you already know you like or dislike
• Any fit, coverage, or accessibility preferences
• The people whose opinions you trust most

You do not need to know exactly what you want before arriving. Your stylist will help you explore different options.

Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to change out of and undergarments that help you feel comfortable. Nude or light-colored undergarments can be helpful beneath lighter fabrics, but special shape wear is not required for your first appointment.

A strapless bra is optional. Many wedding dresses include built-in structure, and your stylist can help you understand how each gown is designed to fit.

A Signature Bridal Appointment is a 90-minute experience with a personal stylist. Your stylist will learn about your wedding, style, budget, and preferences before helping you explore dresses selected with you in mind.

The Very Important Bride, or VIB, Appointment adds celebratory touches to the traditional bridal appointment. The 90-minute experience includes a personal stylist, Elegance’s signature Blushing Bride bubbly drink, and special gifts.

Visit our appointment page for current VIB details and availability.

A Private Bridal Appointment is designed for brides who want to celebrate with a larger group in a more private setting. These appointments may accommodate up to ten guests and include drinks, treats, and other special details.

Private appointments are typically held outside regular business hours. Please call the boutique for current pricing, availability, and inclusions.

Yes. Include the designer, style number, or link in the notes section of your appointment request. Because our inventory changes frequently, we cannot guarantee that every dress shown online will be available in the boutique on your appointment date.

If one of your requested gowns is unavailable, your stylist can help you find similar options.

Special-order wedding dresses at Elegance typically range from $1,100 to $5,000. Your stylist will respect your preferred price range and help you focus on gowns that fit both your style and budget.

You can browse our wedding dress collection before your appointment for inspiration.

We recommend beginning approximately 10 to 12 months before your wedding. This allows time to find your dress, place a special order, receive the gown, and complete alterations without unnecessary stress.

If your wedding is coming up sooner, you still have options. Rush ordering may be available from select designers, and our Ready-To-Wed collection includes gowns that can be purchased and taken home without waiting for a special order.

A special-order wedding dress typically takes approximately six to eight months to arrive, although timing varies by designer, style, season, and availability.

This production timeline does not include alterations. That is why we recommend ordering approximately 10 to 12 months before the wedding whenever possible.

Many wedding dresses are produced after an order is placed rather than being stored in large quantities at a warehouse. The gown must be made, finished, shipped, processed through customs when applicable, and delivered to the boutique.

Your stylist will discuss the expected timeline before you place your order.

Some designers offer rush production for an additional fee. Availability, cost, and delivery estimates vary by designer and dress.

A rush order may reduce the production timeline, but it does not mean the gown will arrive immediately. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are working with a shorter wedding timeline.

Not necessarily. Our inventory changes as new gowns arrive, samples sell, and collections are updated. Not every dress shown on our website will be available in the boutique at the same time.

Call us at 219-923-0977 if you would like to check the availability of a specific designer, style, or sample size before your appointment.

Yes. Elegance offers a selection of wedding dresses that may be purchased from the rack and taken home without waiting for a special order.

Availability depends on current inventory. Explore our Ready-To-Wed wedding dresses or call the boutique for help finding options for your size, budget, and timeline.

A Ready-To-Wed gown is a wedding dress that is currently available in the boutique and can be purchased without placing a special order. Once you find your dress and complete your purchase, you can take it home that day.

This collection can be a wonderful option for brides with shorter timelines, brides who prefer to see and try on the exact gown they will purchase, or anyone looking for a wedding dress within the Ready-To-Wed price range.

Ready-To-Wed gowns at Elegance typically range from $900 to $2,500. Prices vary based on the designer, style, condition, and details of the gown.

You can view our current Ready-To-Wed collection online before scheduling your visit.

Ready-To-Wed gowns are generally sold in their current condition. Before purchasing, you will have the opportunity to try on and inspect the exact gown you are considering.

Your stylist can answer questions about the gown’s condition, fit, cleaning, pressing, and alteration possibilities before you make a decision.

Sizes vary based on current boutique inventory. Because these dresses are available for immediate purchase, the size selection can change quickly.

Call us before your appointment if you need a particular size. Our team can check current availability and help you understand which options may work for you.

Many Ready-To-Wed gowns can be altered, but the possibilities depend on the dress’s current size, construction, fabric, and details. Your wedding date must also allow enough time for the necessary work.

A stylist or seamstress can help you understand what may be possible before you purchase the gown.

Ready-To-Wed inventory can sell quickly, and availability is not guaranteed until a purchase is completed. Please speak with an Elegance team member about current hold and payment policies.

Yes. Plus-size bridal gowns are an important part of our wedding dress collection. Elegance carries at least 50 plus-size wedding dress samples, with sizes represented from approximately 18 through 32.

Visit our plus-size wedding dress collection for more information and style inspiration.

Yes. Available ordering sizes vary by designer and style. Your stylist will help you review the designer’s size chart, take accurate measurements, and choose the best ordering size based on the gown’s construction and your measurements.

Bridal sizing is different from everyday clothing sizing, so the number on the tag may not match the size you normally wear.

Call us at 219-923-0977 and share the designer, style number, and size you would like to try. Because sample inventory changes frequently, calling ahead is the best way to receive the most current information.

If that exact gown is unavailable in your preferred sample size, our team may be able to recommend similar options.

Yes. Elegance carries more than 300 mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-groom, and special-occasion dresses in a variety of colors, silhouettes, fabrics, and sizes.

Explore our mother-of-the-bride and groom collection before scheduling your appointment.

Mothers’ dresses typically range from $400 to $800. Pricing varies by designer, fabric, construction, and level of detail.

A Mom Appointment is 90 minutes. During your appointment, a stylist will help you compare colors, silhouettes, and styles that complement the wedding while helping you feel comfortable and confident.

Our standard mothers’ appointment area comfortably seats up to two guests. Request your appointment online here.  

We recommend shopping approximately six months before the wedding whenever possible. Special-order mothers’ dresses may take four to six months to arrive, and additional time may be needed for alterations.

If the wedding is approaching sooner, ask about dresses that may be purchased from current inventory.

Elegance does not currently provide in-house alterations for mothers’ dresses. We can provide a list of independent local seamstresses who may be able to help.

Elegance provides in-house alterations for qualifying wedding dresses purchased at Elegance. To qualify, the first fitting must take place at least eight weeks before the date you plan to take your gown home.

Visit our wedding dress alterations page for complete information about eligibility, scheduling, and the fitting process.

Your first alteration appointment must take place at least eight weeks before you plan to take your gown home. We recommend contacting Elegance well in advance so fitting appointments can be scheduled around your wedding timeline.

Call us at 219-923-0977 to discuss availability and schedule your first fitting.

Most brides have approximately three to four fittings. The exact number depends on the gown, the alterations needed, any requested custom work, and how the dress fits throughout the process.

Bring the shoes, undergarments, shapewear, and slip you plan to wear with your wedding dress to every fitting. These items affect the gown’s length and fit.

Changing your shoes or undergarments after alterations begin may require additional adjustments and charges.

Custom alterations may be possible for qualifying wedding dresses purchased at Elegance. This can include changes such as adding sleeves, straps, coverage, or other personalized details.

Please discuss custom work as early as possible. Certain changes may require additional fabric or materials that must be ordered months in advance.

Alteration fees are due in full at the end of the first fitting. Work will begin after the alteration balance has been paid.

Yes. Elegance offers suit and tuxedo rentals for grooms, groomsmen, fathers, ring bearers, attendants, and other formal events.

Our collection includes classic tuxedos, modern suits, slim-fit options, and more than 150 tie and vest colors. Learn more about our suit and tuxedo rentals.

Suit and tuxedo rentals typically range from $229 to $259. Final pricing depends on the style, package, and accessories selected.

Brides who purchase their wedding dress at Elegance receive 10% off suit and tuxedo rentals for their groom or groomsmen.

Measurements and deposits should be completed at least two months before the wedding. Members of the wedding party may be measured at Elegance or at another experienced formalwear or tuxedo shop if they live out of town.

Tuxedos typically arrive during the week of the wedding. Elegance will contact the couple after the rentals have been received and checked.

We recommend picking up and trying on the tuxedo by Wednesday or Thursday whenever possible. This allows time to request an exchange if an item needs a different size or fit.

Tuxedos should be returned to Elegance no later than 5 p.m. on the Monday following the wedding. For a Friday wedding, rentals may be returned Saturday or Monday during business hours.

Another person may return the rental on your behalf, but all pieces should be placed neatly on the hanger and returned together.

Elegance accepts cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Payment schedules and deposit requirements vary based on the merchandise or service being purchased.

Your stylist will review all payment terms and ordering policies with you before your purchase is finalized.

Elegance will contact you after your gown arrives and has been checked into the boutique. We ask that you schedule a Meet the Dress appointment within 10 days to inspect the gown, try it on, and make sure it meets your expectations.

Any remaining gown balance is also due within 10 days of arrival.

A Meet the Dress appointment gives you approximately 45 minutes to try on your wedding dress after it arrives and explore possible accessories.

Meet the Dress appointments are available on weekdays and are not offered on Saturdays. Please call Elegance to schedule this appointment.

Yes. If you would like your gown professionally pressed and steamed before pickup, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice. Additional time may be required during busy seasons.

Wedding dresses receiving alterations are typically pressed and steamed after the alteration work is complete.

Pressed gowns and gowns completing alterations are generally scheduled for pickup after 1 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Your Elegance team member will confirm the pickup date and time with you.