What is the price range of your dresses?

Our reorder-able gown collection ranges from $1500 - $7000 with our average price around $2500. We also offer off the rack options, which means you are purchasing the sample gown to take home with you that same day. These dresses are discounted from the original ordering price and will range from $3000 - $1000.

When should I book my appointment?

Our appointments can book up a few weeks in advance, so plan ahead in order to get the date and time that works best for you and your group! Weekends and weekday evenings are our most desired appointment times, so if that’s when you are looking to shop, make sure you grab your appointment early!

How far in advance should I order my wedding dress?

We recommend shopping and ordering your wedding dress 12 - 18 months prior to your wedding day to avoid more limited options, rush fees, and added stress! Checking your gown off your list is a big step in your planning process and helps set the tone for a lot of other details. Most of our gowns take 5-9 months to arrive after they are ordered, plus you’ll want to plan an additional 3 month lead time for alterations. Are you already under 10 months? Don’t sweat it! Many of our designers offer rush options (for an additional fee) + we have sample gowns available to purchase off the rack at a discounted price!

How long is my appointment?

Our Bridal Styling and Bridal Styling Plus Appointments are 90 minutes long. This allows more than enough time to shop our curated collection, try on a variety of styles, and say yes with a celebratory toast and confetti pop! Still need more time before making a decision? At the end of your first appointment, you can always book a 60 minute Return Bridal Styling Appointment to revisit your favorite gowns and say “yes”!

What is the difference between the “Bridal Styling” and “Bridal Styling Plus” Appointments?

Each of our bridal appointment types have been specially crafted with you in mind! When first booking with us, we offer two appointment options that allow you to choose the best fit for you and cater to your specific needs. Our “Bridal Styling Appointment” is our standard 90 minute bridal gown shopping experience with a personal stylist and your own private fitting room and viewing area for up to 4 guests. Looking for a little upgrade? Select our “Bridal Styling Plus Appointment” to also include two carafes of our famous Rare Signature Drink and a dozen macaroons from Greige Patisserie. We will also reserve our largest bridal suite that accommodates up to 6 guests!

Click the book your appointment tab to learn more about each personalized experience. A celebratory toast and confetti pop after you find “the one” is included complimentary with all of our bridal appointments!

Who should I bring to my appointment?

Saying yes to your dress is a big decision and we understand the urge to bring your whole hype squad with you. However, a large group means more opinions and can easily become very overwhelming and confusing for you! We recommend keeping your group to four or less and bringing only the people whose opinions matter most to you. Don’t need anyone else’s opinion? That’s great too! Shopping alone makes it easy for you to focus on what you truly want and don’t worry, your stylist will be there to celebrate with you after finding “the one”!

Are kids allowed in the shop?

We love kids, but ask that you keep the littles at home while dress shopping. While we think Rare is the most fun place in the world, bridal shops can be boring for kids and with lots of white dresses and delicate jewelry laying around, they are not exactly the most child-friendly places either.

What should I bring to my appointment?

An open mind, photos of any style inspiration, and nude underwear you feel confident in. We will provide the rest! You can also check out our Pre-Appointment Guide for more details on how to prepare for your appointment and make it a success.

What sizes do your dresses come in?

As Wisconsin’s ONLY exclusively curvy and plus size bridal shop, every single gown on our racks is sampled in a size 18 - 34. Keep in mind, bridal sizing does run smaller than your every day clothing so the tag inside your gown will likely be 2 - 4 sizes larger than what you are used to wearing + that is completely normal! Most of our gowns can be ordered in sizes smaller than an 18 and larger than a 34 as well. Your stylist will guide you through our collection and only show you options that are available in your size and budget.

If you are looking to try on smaller sample sizes, you can always visit our sister shop, Strike Bridal Bar. Strike offers gowns sampled in sizes 4 - 28 and can be ordered in any size. Feel free to call either shop to talk sizing and decide which shop will best fit your needs.

Do you offer alterations?

We do not offer in house alterations, but provide all of our Rare brides a list of local seamstresses they can (but are not required to) use. When it comes to altering your gown, we recommend reading lots of reviews, finding personal recommendations, and meeting for consultations before choosing a seamstress. Working with a professionally trained seamstress is extremely important to tailor your gown to your body and create that perfect fit. Our stylists will be able to answer all of your alterations questions based on your specific gown to put your mind at ease.

What is the difference between a “Designer Spotlight” and a “Sample Sale”?

A designer spotlight is an exclusive event that allows you to get a sneak peek of a designer’s newest collection! For a limited time, typically one or two weekends only, our brides will be the first to try on and order brand new designer gowns that are not available in stores yet. Any #RareBride who finds their dress from the featured collection will receive special incentives!

A sample sale is a one day only event that offers deep discounts for lightly tried on showroom samples. This event is ideal for brides who are working within a tight budget, have a short engagement (under 10 months), or just love the satisfaction of snagging a designer gown for a steal. It’s as easy as find the gown, try it on, love it, and take it home THAT DAY!

Is there parking available?

Yes! There is FREE two hour street parking available in front of our building on Florida Street as well as the intersecting numbered streets. Additional parking is available in the Brix Parking Garage one block west from our building.

Where did the name Rare Bridal Bar come from anyways?

We loved the unique “bridal bar” name of our sister shop, Strike Bridal Bar, and wanted Rare to have a similar vibe. She is a sister shop after all! Standing out and being different has always been our jam, so calling ourselves a bar versus a boutique or salon makes our “you do you” hearts happy.

As far as the name Rare goes, it was to emphasize the idea that a shop like us, offering * gasp * only curvy and plus size wedding dresses is truly a rare find! It also was fun to play off the fact that our brides are unique, one of a kind, and rare in their own way.