Frequently Asked Questions

  • The ideal time to begin shopping for your dress is 12 months in advance of your wedding date. The sweet spot to make your dress official is 8-10 months in advance of the big day. This ensures you have plenty of time try different options and won’t feel rushed to make this very special decision.

    Made-to-order gowns take 4-6 months to be created and we would ideally have your dress delivered 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding date. This allows plenty of time for any minor alterations that may be required e.g. having your hem taken up.

    If you’re in a pinch most of our designers offer “rush orders” for a small additional fee. This means they will make and deliver your gown quicker (sometimes as little as eight weeks). For very tight deadlines we recommend you consider the Luxe collection by Karen Willis Holmes. These are often in stock and ready to be delivered straight away.

  • Whilst we always welcome walk-ins, we strongly advise booking an appointment for the full Mrs Fray experience - a 90 minute personalised, one-on-one fitting session.

    If you’d like a preview of what we offer before visiting us, our online store features our full range of bridal brands, accessories and homewares.

  • No, but we do kindly ask that if you're unable to make your scheduled appointment you give us at least 24 hours notice so your time slot can be reallocated to our wait list.

  • Personalised appointments run for a generous 90 minutes. During this time we’ll guide you through our entire offering of gowns, separates and accessories and invite you to try on as few or as many gowns as you like. This is your time to explore, relax and enjoy the journey.

  • We invite you to bring up to three of your favourite people who know you best and will help and support you on your search for the perfect outfit.

  • We invite you to bring any preferred undergarments (ideally nude coloured). A few days prior to your scheduled appointment we’ll also send you an email with tips on how to prepare for your appointment with regards to make-up, fake tan, undergarments etc so you feel comfortable trying on your selected gowns whilst keeping them clean for our other customers.

  • A trunk show is a special event where we host a designer’s latest collection for a limited time (typically three days). Trunk show appointments are extremely limited in number so we encourage you to keep an eye on our Trunk Show page to ensure you don’t miss out on your favourite designer.

    During a trunk show appointment you can also try on any styles from our permanent collection.

  • Our made-to-order gowns and separates range from $800 - $8,000 with the majority of our gowns in the $3,000-$5,000 bracket.

    Please refer to our online store to best understand the price ranges of each designer.

  • Our samples range from an AU / UK sizes 8-16. We can order gowns from sizes 4-24 depending on the designer, and some of our designers also offer half sizes and split sizing to achieve an even closer fit.

    If your sizing is outside the range mentioned we have creative ways of making sure you can experience the look of your desired dress.

  • Made-to-order means that there is no existing stock of your gown and the creation of your gown begins once you place your order. Made-to-order also means that the gown is not made to exact measurements (i.e. it is not made-to-measure or custom) so it’s important to understand that made-to-order gowns are ordered to your closest dress size (offered by your chosen designer) based on the measurements we take during your fitting session. Once you receive your gown you may require further alterations In order to achieve the perfect fit and we can help you with that.

  • Sorry, we do not currently offer the option for custom gowns. However, depending on the style and designer, slight changes or pattern alterations can be made, such as adding length to a gown, adjusting the rise, closing or opening a split and changing a neckline. These usually incur a small additional fee.

  • Absolutely! Our aim is to help you create a complete outfit. Sometimes a statement earring is all that’s needed to elevate your gown but if veils are more your jam our hand picked selection ranges from polka dot tulle and pearl embellished veils to simple, elegant plain tulle options. We’re a little accessory obsessed so we have an array of Australian and internationally designed and made pieces.

  • When you’re ready to make your gown official we'll order a size based on the measurements we’ve taken and your chosen designer’s size chart. A 50% deposit of the total amount of your gown plus shipping is required to secure your order, with the balance due once your gown is ready and prior to it being shipped (either to Mrs Fray or directly to you).

    If you opt to have the gown delivered to us simply book a Dress Collection appointment. During this time we can assess whether any alterations are necessary and you can then consult with your preferred dressmaker or alterations service (we also have recommendations) to make any final tweaks, for example taking up the hem and making sure the gown fits to perfection.

  • Each designer has slightly different lead times but in general there is a 4-6 month lead time for all made-to-order gowns. As mentioned above most of our designers offer a “‘rush order” service whereby they can create your gown in much less time (sometimes as little as eight weeks) for a small additional fee. For tight timelines the Luxe collection of gowns by Karen Willis Holmes are often in stock and can be delivered within 2 weeks (full payment is required in advance for this range).

  • No we don’t, so any alterations you require will incur an additional fee. All of the gowns and separates we offer are easily altered so a rough price guide is $300-$1,000 depending on the level of work required.

    We have a preferred alterations partner here in Canberra and we can also recommend services in most capital cities in Australia.

    We suggest having your alterations completed at least six weeks prior to your wedding day.

  • We recommend the following steps to care for your gown:

    Store your gown somewhere cool (between 15-25 degrees Celsius), dry (not humid) and dark, out of direct sunlight and daylight (AND away from your future spouse AND pets!).

    Your gown and / or pieces is best hung from the ribbon hanging loops (found at the armpits) to avoid any stretching of sleeves or fine straps.

    For long term storage please use your Mrs Fray garment bag which is 100% cotton and allows your outfit to breathe. Synthetic bags are suitable for short term storage and travel but not for long term storage.

    If you do not have hanging space your gown can lie flat in a fabric bag and hung up closer to your wedding day although it may need a steam. Running a hot steamy shower and hanging your dress on the back door of the bathroom works wonders on light creases, otherwise most dry cleaners offer a steaming service.

  • Refunds or exchanges are not permitted under any circumstances on wedding gowns, dresses or separates as they are made-to-order items. Once a made-to-order gown or sample gown is paid for you are in a contractual agreement to follow through with the gown you have chosen. Other items purchased at Mrs Fray, such as accessories, may be granted a refund or exchange if returned unused within 14 days of purchase.

    Please contact us for any enquiries with regards to returns.

  • Merci is our re-sale service for pre-loved and sample wedding gowns, separates and veils. We sell garments on behalf of previous Mrs Fray brides on a consignment basis. Some garments have been worn, some will be brand new and others are from our in store sample collection.

  • Submit the details of your dress over here. From there we’ll assess the condition of your dress and recommend a price to sell your dress for. It will then be listed on our Merci by Mrs Fray shop page. If a sample is not available we’ll either keep your dress in store or call on it for brides to try it on in store. Our initial consignment period is 3 months, during this time if your dress sells you’ll receive 80% of the sale price minus the cost of shipping if it needs to be shipped to the purchaser.

  • At this stage we only accept garments that were originally purchased at Mrs Fray as we’re familiar with the design of each style and the fabrics used by our designers.

    For in store appointments with brides wishing to explore your dress in store in most cases we can offer them a sample garment to try on if adding to the preservation of your own dress.

    We also accept veils as part of our Merci offering.

  • All pre-loved garments are typically sold at 20%-70% off the original RRP dependent on the condition of dress.

  • You can shop the Merci collection via our shop page or explore all the styles in store by booking a Merci appointment.

    If you purchase your dress online through Merci and are located within Australia, insured shipping with DHL will be automatically added to your purchase at checkout.

    If you are located outside of Australia we will quote you on shipping based on your location once your purchase is complete.

    Please note that all Merci sales are final - no refunds, exchanges or returns will be granted due to the pre-loved nature of the garments.

  • Yes you can, all styles are available to try on by appointment.

Merci by Mrs Fray FAQ’s