Frequently Asked Questions

We are open by appointment only. Appointments are available Tuesday - Saturday and can be scheduled by either requesting an appointment online or calling us. Once we receive your request, we will provide you with an official link to schedule. We will do our best to accommodate your request, and if we can't, we will have suggestions for alternate times/dates. We also require appointments for pick-ups.

We do not, but we do require a credit card to be kept on file when you book your appointment. While there is no fee for your appointment, there is a $50 No-Show fee if your appointment is cancelled less than 24 hours prior to your appointment time. We require appointments to ensure that each customer is given personal attention by a consultant that can help them.

Right on time! We have each section and consultant assigned to an appointment. If you arrive early, we may not be able to see you until your appointment time. If you are running late, please give us a call and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Parking is located in the Imperial Cleaning Parking Lot. This is a secure parking lot that we have security and camera access to. We are located in the black and brown brick building that is in the parking lot.

We always recommend bringing any undergarments/ shapewear that you plan on wearing the day of. For shoes, you should wear the heel height that you plan on wearing with your wedding dress. This all helps to give you the final vision of what you will look like on your wedding day.

Appointments are scheduled for an hour and a half. You will be paired up with at least one consultant who will listen and help you find the gown of your dreams (whether it's your first time trying on or not). We always recommend looking at the styles that we have listed on our website prior to your appointment to make sure that we have styles that you are interested in.

This really depends on the designer. We always recommend (if you can) to shop at least 8 months - 1 year prior to your wedding. Our ordered gowns usually take around 5 months to arrive, and you want to leave plenty of time for any needed alterations. If you need something sooner, we still have plenty of options for you. Some of our designers offer rushes, have dresses with quicker time frames, and we always have an extensive off the rack collection ready to take home today.

Because of the size of our sections, we recommend no more than 5 people with you at your appointment. For any special arrangements, please give us a call and we will do our best to accommodate you. We recommend bringing your decision makers and the people that you know you best and will support what you want. If you want to come alone, we will always be your entourage.

We do not, but we have some amazing seamstresses in the Birmingham area that our brides have frequently worked with. We feel that every bride has different needs, and we recommend based off of your needs and budget. Alterations are not included in the price of your dress, and since everything is made to the designer's size chart (not your measurements) most dresses require alterations to achieve the perfect fit.

We try to keep a variety of sizes of our samples in-store. Our samples will range from 8-24 (with the majority falling between 12 -16). We keep clips that our experienced stylists will use during your appointment to give you the best idea of how your dress will look when it comes in. If you have any questions about the size of a specific dress, give us a call and we can let you know the information on the dress. We also have a Pinterest board with our samples listed that are sizes 18+.

All sales are final. By submitting any form or payment, you have agreed to terms listed below. There are no refunds on down payments or order. A 60% deposit must be paid on all products to be ordered before the order will be places. Any products requiring customizations may be subject ao a surcharge. Orders may take up to 6 months to fulfill based on the designer. Orders requiring faster shipping may be subject to additional fees. Imperial Formal Wear is not responsible for the arrival date of any product placed after the recommended order date. Exact colors and shades on fabrics and designs cannot be guaranteed. Any sample items purchases are sold as is, in their current condition, and are final sale. We are not responsible for any issues that arise with companies that products are ordered from. Dresses will be made in sizes designated by the company, not your individual measurements. Alterations are not included in the cost of your order, and we are not responsible for any alterations. Customers will be notified once their product has arrived at our store. Imperial Formal Wear is not responsible for any accidental damages that may occur before the product is picked up. The full balance must be paid in full before it can be taken from the store. If orders are not picked up by 1 week after the anticipated wear date on the receipt, the items become the property of Imperial Formal Wear and no refunds will be issued. Once the customer leaves the store, we are not responsible for any damages that may occur with the product.