Frequently Asked Questions

• General

• Bridal

• Prom

• Pageant

• Alterations

General

What are your store hours?
Click here for our current Store Hours.

Where do I park at Memories?
Free 90 minute street parking is often available in front of the store. Alternatively you may also use the Kalamazoo Mall Parking Ramp (Ramp 3) located at 130 Portage Street (2 minute walk). Let us know when you are in the store if you used the ramp and we will provide a voucher to cover the cost of your parking.  (Unfortunately, we are unable to validate for the Radisson Parking Ramp on Rose Street). Click here for parking map.

Will you ship my gown out of state for me? Out of the country?
We can ship items within the United States, but we cannot ship out of the country.  If you would like to have your items shipped, please call or email for a price quote.

What is a trunk show?
A trunk show is a special in-store event, lasting one to three days, where you can view and buy from a designer’s latest collection months before they hit the stores. Often trunk shows also feature the designer of the collection or one of their representatives. If you find the dress of your dreams at a trunk show, be prepared to make a decision that day, as the gown will not be in the store once the trunk show is over. Memories hosts several trunk shows every year. Visit our special events page or our Facebook for upcoming dates.

What is a rush order?
If your wedding date is sooner than the time we typically need to have a special-order gown made, we’ll need to consult with the designer and place a “rush” order if available. A “rush” order means that the production of your gown will be expedited and will arrive several weeks faster than a normal order. Not all designers offer “rush” orders and during certain times of year “rush” orders may not be available. Additional fees apply.

What is your return policy?
Due to the special nature of the formal wear industry there are no returns, exchanges or credits on special order items. Items purchased from our stock may be returned for exchange only within 14 days of the original purchase date.  Sales are final on all jewelry, headpieces, undergarments, dyed shoes, and Sample Sale purchases.

How do I pay for my gown/what kinds of payments to you accept?
We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover as well as cash and personal checks.

If you are ordering a special-order wedding gown, we require at least a 50% deposit at the time you order your gown. When the gown arrives at Memories and passes our quality control check, we’ll contact you to let you know your gown has arrived and to schedule an appointment to try on your dress. We require payment of the remaining balance within 30 day of the phone call.  All other items must be paid in full at time of order.

If you are buying a sample gown off the rack, we require at least a 30% initial payment and the balance is due within 90 days or by your event date, whichever comes first.

If you’ve requested that we ship your gown to you, your balance must be paid in full before it can be shipped.

Bridal & Special occasion gowns

Do I need an appointment to try on wedding gowns?
Yes. We like to work one on one with our brides and so bridal appointments are required. However, we will do our best to accommodate walk-in customers when possible. [Click here to schedule an appointment].

How long is my appointment?
Bridal appointments typically last up to 90 minutes.

What should I bring to my appointment?
Bring pictures of favorite dresses that you’ve seen on our website or in magazines. This will help your consultant understand what kind of look you’re envisioning. And be sure to bring an open mind – you may surprise yourself at what gowns you end up falling in love with. Please also wear proper undergarments.

Who should I bring to my appointment?
We suggest bringing only 1-2 close friends or family members who know you the best and whose opinions you most value. We have found from experience that bringing too many guests can lead to a frustrating experience for the bride as her thoughts and feelings can get lost. We want the focus to be 100% on you!

How many people can I bring to my appointment?
For the best shopping experience and for the comfort of other customers, we ask that you limit guests to 4 or fewer at your appointment. If you need special accommodations, please reach out to us directly at info@dresslikeyou.com.

What is a boutique style store?
In order to offer our customers the most diverse selection possible, Memories operates as a boutique style store which means we feature a wide variety of gowns but typically only stock one sample of each dress. When you find the perfect gown we will then special order the dress for you in your desired size and color.

I am plus size. Do you have gowns I can try on in my size?
Yes. Our samples typically range from size 6 through 26, and most of our gowns can be special ordered up to size 28+.

May I take pictures at my appointment?
Yes. Once you’ve found the perfect dress we do allow you to take photos to capture the moment if you desire. However, we don’t recommend relying on photos to help make your gown decision. Non-professional photos can make even the best dress look unflattering. It’s best to decide on the dress while you’re trying it on.

Do I need to make an appointment to look at accessories?
No. Appointments are not required to shop for accessories. However, an appointment is required if you would like to try your wedding gown on while choosing your accessories.

How far in advance should I order?
We recommend ordering your bridal gown at least 9-12 months before your wedding date. Since our gowns are made upon request, special orders can take up to 6 months to arrive and you’ll want to leave plenty of time to allow for alterations.

We recommend ordering mother’s gowns at least 6-9 months before the wedding as they can take up to four months to arrive.

My wedding is over a year away, what is the advantage of ordering my gown so far in advance?
Aside from bridal designers needing significant time to deliver your gown, ordering your gown well in advance will give you the peace of mind knowing that a major decision is taken care of. Since your bridal gown helps set the tone of your wedding, finalizing your dress choice will also help make the rest of your planning decisions easier. In addition, designers periodically discontinue dresses, often without much notice, meaning your gown may no longer be available if you wait too long to order.

My wedding is in less than 4 months – is it too late to get a gown?
No, it’s not too late, but every second counts! Many of our gowns are available to be purchased off the rack, and for an additional fee, certain gowns may be able to be “rush ordered.” Your consultant will help determine which options best fit your needs.

How do I make a decision on my wedding gown when my mother/sister/best friend cannot be at the appointment?
If you are certain you want your gown, but you just need a second opinion, it is often best to work with an experienced sales consultant who is able to be objective. Our sales consultants are extremely patient and knowledgeable, and never let you walk out of the salon without the perfect gown.  If it is important to you to involve your mother or other trusted friend but they cannot physically attend your appointment, we offer free Wi-Fi so that you can use Zoom, Skype, or Facetime to include them in your appointment .

Why is it a bad idea to buy a dress online?
Shopping online makes sense for some items but your wedding gown is not one of them. We’ve heard from countless girls who thought they were getting a great deal shopping online just to have their weddings ruined when their gowns either did not arrive on time for the wedding or were cheap knock-offs of the designs they thought they were purchasing. When you purchase your wedding gown at a full-service bridal salon, you’re buying much more than a gown – you’re buying peace of mind and expert service. Reputable bridal salons such as Memories, stand behind their products and will do everything in their power to make sure your wedding is just as you dreamed.

When should I start shopping for my Mother’s dress and will I need an appointment?
We suggest ordering your Mother’s dress at least 6 months prior to your wedding date since most orders can take up to 4 months to arrive. All Mother’s dresses can be purchased off of the rack. Appointments are not necessary to browse our special occasion gowns, but if you would like to bring a group in we do suggest making an appointment so we can make sure to have a consultant available for you.

When should I expect to receive my gown?
Your bridal gown will typically arrive at Memories 3-8 months after ordering (select gowns or gowns with custom changes may take longer). Upon receiving the gown from the designer, we steam and inspect the dress and will contact you via phone, text or email as soon as your gown is ready. At this time, you can then schedule an appointment to try on your dress and make arrangements to take care of any balance owed on your gown. If you desire, we can store your bridal gown free of charge until your wedding date.

What is the price range for your gowns?
Our bridal gowns typically range in price from $1,200 - $3,000 with most brides selecting gowns in the $1,400 - $1,900 range.

When I order my wedding gown do I need to pay for it all up front?
No, we do not require full payment at the time of the initial order. If you prefer you can pay 50% down to start the order and the remaining balance is due within 30 days of the gown’s arrival.

How do alterations work?
See the alterations page.

Can I bring my bridal gown to you after the wedding for cleaning and preservation?
Absolutely! We offer dry cleaning and preservation service for bridal gowns at a discounted rate for our customers. See here for more details.

Prom

When should I start shopping for my prom dress?
The earlier the better! We start receiving our new prom stock in November and December and our stock levels typically peak in February.  While we continue to receive new arrivals throughout the season, it’s best to shop early for the biggest selection.

What is the price range of your prom gowns?
The majority of our prom gowns range in price from $299 - $799 with most of our gowns falling in the $400-$650 range.

Do you offer a dress registry service?
No we do not. As of August 2021, we will no longer be offering a dress registration service for prom, homecoming, and similar events. Too many factors were beyond our control (girls borrowing dresses, wearing dresses to events they didn’t tell us about, purchasing dresses that we carry online/in other stores, and designers copying each other’s designs) that we could no longer guarantee the exclusivity of a dress. For this reason we no longer track which dresses are going to which events. If you love a dress, rock it - don’t worry about what anyone else is wearing!

How do alterations work?
See our alterations page.

Pageant

How far in advance should I purchase my pageant gown?
The earlier you shop the better. Most of our pageant customers purchase gowns off the rack, but if a gown needs to be special ordered many pageant dresses can take up to 3 months to arrive.

Will you sell my same dress to anyone else in my pageant?
No. We register all our pageant gowns and won’t sell your same dress to anyone else in your pageant (even in a different color).

What is the price range of your pageant gowns?
Our pageant gowns typically range in price from $399 - $1,400 with most pageant customers selecting gowns in the $399 - $799 range.

How do alterations work?
See our alterations page.