Explain the FREE WEDDING GOWN OFFER.
The wedding gown rental is FREE. All accessories such as veil, shoes, tiara jewelry, etc… are options that are available for purchase only. Slips are available for purchase or rent. All accessories can be added to your contract for one normal r total price.  If the bride chooses to purchase her accessories, she will need to pay a minimum of $25 down on her contract today. The brides wedding gown will remain in the computer at theental price until all of the requirements are met. If the bride is purchasing her gown, then she can receive $100 off the purchase of her gown as long as all requirements are met.

• A minimum of 10 rental or purchase dresses with shoes is required to receive this offer. They may order any shoes from the Touch Ups catalog. EVERYONE is required to get shoes whether there are 10 or 15 attendants. This includes: flowergirls, mothers, candlelighters, hostesses, etc… anyone who gets a dress from the store must get shoes. If someone can’t fit the shoes you’ve selected, they must still purchase shoes, even if it means they will be wearing a different style.
• In the event that someone can’t be in your wedding, you may replace her with someone else as long as you keep the number to a minimum of 10 dress contracts. If the order has been placed, you are still responsible for the balance and must pick up the item.
• All payments are non-refundable. All payments are not transferable. In the event the wedding is canceled, all payments are lost.
• All contracts must be paid in full no later than 30 days before the wedding. If the deadline passes, then bride will have to pay the full rental amount for her gown. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• If there are less than 10 rental or purchase dress contracts with shoes under the bride’s name, the bridal contract will be considered void and the bride will have to pay the full rental price of the wedding gown.
• Once a purchased dress has been ordered and that person is no longer in the wedding, the bride will be responsible for the remaining balance regardless if she has the required 10 attendants. However, if the bride is able to have someone to replace/wear the gown, then the bride will not be held responsible for the remaining balance.
• Required down payments for rental or purchasewill be determined by your consultant today.
• All gowns and shoes balances must be paid in full BEFORE using dresses for pre-wedding pictures.

Explain the steps in renting a bridesmaid dress "in store."
When you visit any of our 3 locations, we will show you our very extensive bridesmaid rental collection. (see our rental bridesmaids online) If you see a bridesmaid style that you want, then you or one of your attendents can put a $40 payment on their dress. This will reserve EVERYONE in the wedding party a dress. Dresses are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. Within 30 days, all bridesmaids will need to get fitted and pay $40 on their dress. Any out of town/state attendants can get their measurements taken at a bridal store nearest them.

With any rental, the alterations and cleaning are FREE.
Everyone must pay their balance no later than 30 days prior to the wedding.

Pickup day will take place the week of the event..normally on Thursday or Friday. Each attendant will try on their dress for their "final fitting" If any adjustments need to be made, we have a qualified seamstress on site to handle the situation. The garment will need to be returned the next working day, after the event. Ex: Saturday event, due back on Monday. All garments are due by 2pm and because it's a rental, there is no need for you to clean the garment.

Explain the steps in renting a bridal gown "in store."
When you visit any of our 3 locations, we will show you our very extensive wedding gown rental collection. (white or ivory, size 4-30 in stock) If you see the wedding gown of your dreams, then you can put a $75 payment on your dress. This will reserve your dress. Again dresses are reserved on a first come, first serve basis.

With any rental, the alterations and cleaning are FREE.
Your balance will be due no later than 30 days prior to the wedding.

Pickup day will take place the week of the event..normally on Thursday or Friday. You will try on your dress for the "final fitting" If any adjustments need to be made, we have a qualified seamstress on site to handle the situation. The garment will need to be returned the next working day, after the event. Ex: Saturday event, due back on Monday. All garments are due by 2pm and because it's a rental, there is no need for you to clean the garment.

Explain the steps in renting a Prom, Debutant or other Formal "in store."
When you visit any of our 3 locations, we will show you our very extensive formalwear rental collection. (sz 4-30 in stock) If you see the gown that you want for your event, , then you can put a $40 payment on your dress. This will reserve your dress. Again dresses are reserved on a first come, first serve basis.

With any rental, the alterations and cleaning are FREE.
Your balance will be due no later than 30 days prior to the event.

Pickup day will take place the week of the event..normally on Thursday or Friday. You will try on your dress for the "final fitting" If any adjustments need to be made, we have a qualified seamstress on site to handle the situation. The garment will need to be returned the next working day, after the event. Ex: Saturday event, due back on Monday. All garments are due by 2pm and because it's a rental, there is no need for you to clean the garment.

Explain your general "in store" policies for renting a dress.
>All balances must be paid in full 30 days before the event.
>Fittings must be done and down-payments paid within 30 days of original reservation date.
>Anyone not fitted and paid will lose their gown reservation.
>Bridal gowns may be used for your pre-wedding photos for $35. Alterations are not done for pictures and original balance must be paid.
>All gowns must be picked up by the person wearing the gown on Thursday or Friday.
>No SATURDAY pickups are allowed.
>All garments must be returned by 2:00 pm on the next working day.
>$20 per day per item late fee must be paid if not returned on time.
>THEFT charges will be filed and a negative credit bureau report will be filed if garment is more than 3 days late.
>If someone is no longer in the wedding and she has paid her down payment, then her payment is lost. Down-payments cannot be changed or money applied to any another contract. .
>There can be no changes to style or color within 30 days of the wedding without manager approval in writing.

What is the delivery time for orders?
Delivery time is the time that it takes for the garment to get to our location. This date is an estimation from the manufacturer. Manufacturers do not guarantee their delivery dates since their production can vary. Ship dates are tentative and subject to change. Shipping from our location normally take 2 - 10 business days for delivery. This may vary according to your location and the United Postal Service (UPS) delivery schedule.

What is a Rush order?
Most of our designers offer a Rush service for orders that have been placed in a time frame that falls short of their standard production schedule. Rush does not imply that an order will be "rushed" into production ahead of other orders. Rush means, if time and the fabric of a particular style is available, our manufacturer will cut the order.

Delivery for rush orders is approximately 8-10 weeks dependent on the manufacturer's schedule. The fee for the rush service is dependent on the designer and will display on the order form and will be added to your total price. Rush service is not available for all designers.

When should I order?
Depending on the manufacturer, delivery dates can be from 10-14 weeks. Quick or rush delivery is available on some collections. Please check the "DELIVERY" options when making your selections

Please place your order as far as in advance of your wedding date as possible. By doing so, you will allow ample time for production and shipping. It also affords you a comfortable time frame to accommodate any alterations if necessary.

We do not provide alterations for online orders. We suggest contacting a professional seamstress/ tailor in your area experienced in bridal and formal gowns.

What is your return policy?
All sales are final and cannot be cancelled at the point of purchase. Due to the special nature of our merchandise, we cannot accommodate exchanges or refunds under any circumstances. In addition, our vendors are unable to cancel or make any changes or modifications to any order once it has been placed. Please be sure of the style, size, color, and any other specifications before submitting your order. Also, standardized dye lots cannot be guaranteed for orders with multiple gown styles.

How can I try-on or see the gowns before I order?
You will need to locate a retailer in your area that offers the designer and particular style you are interested in. Formals Etc bridal shops are located in Louisiana only. Due to the extensive dress collections on our website, we are unable to carry samples of every style displayed on our website.

We strongly suggest viewing the gown before ordering since all sales are final and cannot be cancelled.

How can I see a swatch of the color I'm interested in before I order?
Designers provide retailers with swatch cards for in-store use only. However, we have access to some swatches from certain vendors. You may check availability by emailing a request to infoformalsetc@bellsouth.net. We will send you a respond email within 24 hours. If a swatch is available, you will be prompted to need to send a self addressed stamped envelope to:
Formals Etc
Attention: Website Department
1331 MacArthur Dr
Alexandria, LA 71301

Please note that colors can appear differently on-site since computer monitors do vary. We strongly suggest contacting a retailer in your area to physically view the designer's swatch card prior to ordering for the best determinant.

How do I order?
We offer three convenient ways to order: online, fax, and U.S. mail. Orders can be placed on our website using our secure online order form which allows you to make your payment online.

To order by fax, you may print a copy of your shopping cart or request a form be faxed to you by contacting a Customer Service representative. Fax the completed form with payment information:
Formals Etc fax #: 318-443-2707

Orders may be placed via U.S. mail by printing and completing the online order form and mailing it along with your payment to the attention of the Website Department.

Formals Etc
Attention Website Department
1331 MacArthur Dr
Alexandria, LA 71301

We do not accept phone orders. We require all orders in writing to avoid errors.

Can I order directly from the designer?
Designers only accept orders from authorized retailers such as Formals Etc and will not accept orders directly from a customer.

Designers also do not communicate directly with customers regarding order statuses. Order information is only given to authorized retailers.

How do I pay?
The payment of your order is due in full at the point of purchase. We do not offer any payment or lay-away programs. (online customers only)

Formals Etc accepts all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. We also accept personal checks, money orders, or cashiers checks for mail-in orders only. Be sure to mail the order and payment together at the same time.

All personal checks, money orders, or cashiers checks should be made payable to: FORMALS ETC

Formals Etc cannot refund any portion of your payment or accommodate any exchanges. Once your order has been submitted, our vendors are unable to make any changes or modifications relative to style, size, color, or specific length, on an order.

Is there a charge for sales tax?
There is no charge for sales tax on all orders shipped outside the state of Louisiana

How do I decide what size to order?
Each manufacturer offers their own size chart, which reflects how they cut their sizes. Please see size Charts on our site. It is important that you follow the individual designer's chart to decide your size. Keep in mind that the measurements are taken to determine the closet size to be ordered and that the garment will not be custom-made to the exact measurements. Almost every gown will need some type of adjustment.

Prior to selecting your size to order, we suggest reviewing the information provided in How to Measure. The designer will be unable to accommodate any changes to the size once the order has been placed.

The customer is responsible for the size ordered and or whether or not to order extra length. Formals Etc cannot assume any responsibility for measurements that are taken outside of our shops. We are unable to assist in measurements or the selection of a size.

Can I order fabric?
We do accept fabric orders in additional to a dress order. Most designers offer their fabric at an additional fee per yard. The minimum amount to order is 1 yard after which you may order full yards. To place a fabric order, please contact a Customer Service representative for pricing and order instructions.

Please be aware that fabric orders are not cut at the same time as the dress order and may be cut from a different bolt of material, which can result in dye lot variation.

How will I be notified of my order status?
We contact our customers by email at various points of the order process. It is imperative the customer includes an email address on their order.

The first email is sent immediately after an order is submitted to confirm your order is in our system. A second email will follow within 24 hours as notification if your payment has processed successfully. A third email will be sent within 3 business days thereafter to confirm your order has been placed with the designer and will include the estimated shipping of your order to our location. A fourth email will be sent when your order is shipped from our location and will include the tracking number.

What if my payment is declined?
We will send an email within 24 hours of the order being placed to verify if the payment processed successfully or if it has been declined. Orders are not processed if the payment is declined. It is the customer's responsibility to contact the Customer Service Department if their payment is declined. We will then verify the payment status and instruct our customer to resubmit the order.

How can I check the status of my order?
On our website, you can check the status of your order at any time. Simply log in and click on the icon that says "ORDER STATUS"

Why can't I get an exact shipping date instead of an estimated shipping date?
Manufacturers do not guarantee their ship dates since their production can vary. Ship dates are tentative and subject to change. Manufacturers provide retailers with an estimated shipping date, which we in turn, provide to our customers.

Formals Etc implements a state of the art computer generated expediting system for all the orders we place. This program allows us to follow up and update the progress and tentative ship dates of every order on a routine basis. We have on staff expeditors assigned to affect this process on a full-time schedule.

Do you ship outside the U.S. ?
We ship Worldwide! Orders shipped outside the continental U.S. are sent via the United States Post Office Global Express Mail. Shipping charges are dependent on the postal code and will display during the online ordering process. Please note our shipping rates cover our cost to ship a large box to other counties. It does not cover any customs or duty charges a country may impose on the receiver of the package.

How long is shipping from your location to me?
A shipping confirmation will be emailed verifying an order has been shipped to the customer. Please allow 2-10 business days for delivery from our location to you. This may vary according to your location and the United Postal Service (UPS) delivery schedule.

Can I request upgraded shipping?
You may select upgraded shipping on our online order form. Please note expedited delivery refers to the shipping from our location to your specified shipping address. It does not effect the time frame for the designer to deliver your order to our location.
Orders with expedited delivery are shipped UPS Next Day Air Saver only. The charge is dependent on your zip/ postal code and will display at Checkout.

Can I pick up my order at one of your salons?
No. Formals Etc bridal shops can only accomadate their own customers. All online orders are shipped to our Distribution Center then sent directly to the customer.

Do you offer further discounts?
Periodically, we will offer discounts to our customers who sign up for our monthly newsletters and coupons.
We may at times offer special savings. Please see Special Offers for current and upcoming events.

What if I don't see the designer I'm interested in?

We offer only the designers we feature on our website. If a designer is not posted, it most likely means we do not offer the collection online at this time. We do periodically add new designers to our website.

Can I receive a swatch?

Designers provide retailers with swatch cards for in-store use only. However, we have access to swatches from certain vendors. You may check availability by emailing a request to infoformalsetc@bellsouth.net. We will send you a respond within 24 hours.

Can I have a picture of the gown?
The available pictures are as posted on our website. You may request a picture via email: infoformalsetc@bellsouth.net If available, we will email it to you.

Are these used dresses?
Only the specified gowns are "previously worn" gown. All other gowns and products we offer are new and direct from the designer. We do not accept or offer resale items.

Do you have locations outside Louisiana?
Formals Etc bridal shops are located in Louisiana only. We are not affiliated with any other salons.

Still have questions? We suggest viewing Terms & Conditions for additional information or contacting a Customer Service representative.

Our Customer Service Department is available 6 days a week!

Office Number: 318-443-2707

Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time
Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.