Retailers have warned that brides should order their wedding dresses at least one year in advanced to avoid disruptions in supply chains which could result in late deliveries from overseas.
Delays at UK ports means gowns, veils and headpieces purchased from manufacturers overseas could take longer to come, with industry experts suggesting brides could be waiting as long as a year.
Bernadette Chapman of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners stated that brides should start looking for their dresses as soon after they get engaged.
‘I advise not leaving it too late to order your wedding dress – give yourself enough time for a buffer in case of delays in your dress arriving’, she told the Telegraph.
Delays at UK ports could mean that gowns, headpieces and veils purchased from overseas manufacturers may take longer to arrive. Stock image
This comes as the UK’s economy continues to be hampered by a shortage of HGV drivers, congestions at global trading ports, and new post Brexit trading and immigration rules.
Today’s industry leaders stated that they were concerned that the current issues, which include stock shortages and staff shortages, could continue for the next six- to nine months.
A second-hand or rented wedding gown is an alternative to buying a new dress. This trend has grown since Carrie Johnson married the prime Minister wearing a Christos Costarellos rented dress.
Renting a dress isn’t a new concept, but the fact that more brides are opting to rent a dress is a shift.
It comes as a severe lack of HGV drivers, congestion at global trading ports (pictured, shipping containers at the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk) and new post-Brexit trading and immigration rules are continuing to hamper the UK’s economic recovery as it exits the Covid pandemic
The cost of a gown can be reduced by hiring a designer who is more expensive than the average bride.
You can also rent or buy a second-hand gown. This is a more sustainable option than buying one.
HURR launched HURR bridal last year. It saw a surge of more than 268 percent of brides-to – some booking as far in advance as Autumn 2022.
Victoria Prew, cofounder, said that while there was a steady and growing interest in bridal, the web traffic and bookings spiked notably over the Bank Holiday weekend.
“As an ideal time to plan, the long weekend allowed brides to choose a more sustainable option for their wedding dress.
Sacha predicts rental will end up worth 20 per cent of the UK bridal market if it goes the way it’s heading across the pond in the US – nearly £60million a year based on 2018 figures.