Frequently Asked Questions
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yes! we are primarily appointment-only, which allows us to give you + your guests our full attention, with a private suite and dedicated stylist throughout your experience.
while we’re always happy to welcome you into the shop, it’s unlikely we’ll have a stylist or private suite available to accommodate a walk-in. we highly recommend booking an appointment in advance to make sure we can give you the full strike experience.
appointments can book up a few weeks in advance, so plan ahead to snag the date + time that works best for you and your crew.
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our re-orderable gowns (meaning we order a brand-new gown in your size, preferred color, and with any available customizations) range from $1,500 – $8,000, with most of our collection falling between $3,000 – $4,000.
we also offer off-the-rack gowns, which means you’re purchasing one of our sample dresses and can take it home with you the same day. these gowns are discounted from their original price and typically range from $1,000 – $3,000.
not sure which option is right for you? no worries! your stylist can walk you through the options and help you find something you love that also feels good for your budget.
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we recommend starting your wedding dress shopping 12–18 months before your wedding day. this gives you plenty of time to explore your options, say yes without feeling rushed, and leave room for your gown to arrive + alterations to be completed.
our appointment times can book up a few weeks in advance, so we recommend planning ahead to snag the date + time that works best for you and your crew.
getting married sooner? don’t panic! we can often accommodate shorter timelines, too. just let us know your wedding date when booking so we can make sure we’re setting you up for success.
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yes! there is ample surface parking in the lot on the east side of our building. use this link or scan the QR in the shop for a discount on your 2-hour parking.
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we recommend ordering your wedding dress at least 10 months before your wedding day, but the sooner, the better! checking your gown off your list is a big milestone in the planning process and gives you one less thing to worry about as the big day gets closer.
most of our re-orderable gowns take 4–9 months to arrive after they’re ordered, and you’ll want to allow an additional 3 months for alterations once your gown arrives.
already inside that 10-month window? don’t sweat it! we offer rush options on many gowns, plus off-the-rack sample gowns that you can take home the same day. your stylist can help you find the best option for your timeline + budget.
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our bridal styling + bridal styling plus appointments are 90 minutes long: plenty of time to explore our curated collection, try on a variety of styles, find your favorites, and say yes with a celebratory toast + confetti pop!
want a little more time + a little more extra? our strike exclusive appointment gives you and your guests the entire shop to yourselves for a full two hours. perfect for brides who want the ultimate VIP experience.
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saying yes to your dress is a big decision, and we totally understand the urge to bring your entire hype squad. but trust us: less is often more.
a larger group means more opinions, which can quickly become overwhelming and make it harder to focus on what you actually love. we recommend bringing a small group of the people whose opinions matter most to you, ideally 3 guests or fewer.
and if you don’t need anyone else’s opinion? we love that for you. shopping solo can be such a fun, empowering experience and gives you the freedom to focus entirely on how you feel in each gown. your stylist will be right there to hype you up, offer expert guidance, and celebrate with you when you find the one.
want more tips before you arrive? check out our pre-appointment guide for everything you need to know to make the most of your appointment.
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honestly? not much! we’ll take care of the rest.
come with an open mind, a few photos of style inspiration, and nude undergarments you feel comfortable + confident in. if you have special accessories you already know you want to wear (like a veil, jewelry, or shoes) feel free to bring those along, too!
and that’s it. we’ll provide the gowns, accessories, expert guidance, champagne, and the yes moment.
want a little more prep before you arrive? check out our pre-appointment guide for all our tips on making the most of your appointment.
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absolutely. all are welcome here. we’re proud to be an inclusive, judgement-free space for everyone, regardless of who you are or who you love. we’ll always respect your identity, pronouns, and relationship. our team is committed to creating a bridal experience where you feel welcomed, celebrated, and completely yourself.
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we’ve created each of our bridal appointment experiences with you in mind, so you can choose the option that feels like the best fit for you + your crew. whether you’re looking for a classic dress-shopping experience or want to go all-out, we’ve got you covered.
bridal styling
our standard 90-minute bridal gown shopping experience, complete with your own private fitting room + viewing area and a personal stylist dedicated to you. bring up to 4 guests and enjoy plenty of time to explore our curated collection, try on different styles, and find the one.bridal styling plus
want to make your appointment a little more extra? upgrade to bridal styling plus for everything included in our standard experience, plus two carafes of our strike signature drink + 12 macarons from c. adams bakery. you + up to 6 guests will enjoy your own private suite for the full 90-minute experience.strike exclusive
for the ultimate VIP experience, make the entire shop yours. you + up to 8 guests will enjoy two uninterrupted hours in our shop after hours, complete with sweet + savory bites and sips for your crew. want to take it even further? customize your experience with professional hair styling, makeup application, or a photographer to capture every moment.and no matter which appointment you choose, a celebratory toast + confetti pop when you find “the one” is always on us.
want to know more about each experience? head to our appointment types tab for all the details.
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our gowns are available in a wide range of sizes, with most designers offering gowns to order in sizes 0 – 30. we believe every bride deserves the same unforgettable dress-shopping experience, with plenty of beautiful options to explore regardless of size.
at strike, our sample gowns range from sizes 4 – 24, with most of our samples falling between sizes 10 – 14. our goal is to make sure you can actually experience a variety of silhouettes, designers, and styles on your body, not just look at them on a hanger.
looking for an even larger selection of plus-size gowns to try on? our sister shop, rare bridal bar, is exclusively dedicated to mid + plus-size brides and offers the largest selection of plus-size wedding gowns to try on in wisconsin.
not sure which shop is the best fit for you? we’re happy to help you find the right place to start.
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we don’t offer alterations in-house, but we’ve built relationships with highly experienced, professionally trained seamstresses in the area who we’re happy to recommend.
every bride will need some level of alterations to achieve the perfect fit. wedding gowns are made using standard sizing and proportions, so even if your gown fits beautifully when it arrives, it will still need to be tailored to your unique body. from adjusting the length to perfecting the bust, waist, and overall fit, alterations are what take your gown from fits to fits perfectly.
your seamstress will also help with finishing touches like adding a bustle, cups, or other customizations to make your gown feel completely yours.
have questions about alterations? ask us! your stylist can talk through what to expect based on your specific gown and help you understand the alterations process before you say yes.
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while both are special events, they’re designed for two very different bridal shopping experiences.
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 only one or two weekends, our brides will be the first to try on and order brand new designer gowns that are not available anywhere else.
a sample sale is a one weekend only event that offers deep discounts for lightly tried on showroom samples. we only host sample sales twice per year (may + november), so make sure you schedule your appointment as soon as our books open! sample sales are ideal for brides who are working within a tight budget, have a short engagement (under 6 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!
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we kindly ask that you leave the little ones at home. we love kids, but bridal appointments can be a little long for them, and a shop full of delicate gowns, jewelry, and accessories isn’t always the easiest environment for little hands.
we want your appointment to feel relaxed, comfortable, and focused on you, so we recommend arranging childcare for your shopping experience.
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dreaming of something a little outside the traditional bridal box? we’re here for it.
want a black gown? cool. a detachable skirt? love it. floral print? let’s make it happen. if you have a specific vision that you haven’t been able to find on the rack, a custom gown might be the perfect option.
here’s how it works: start by emailing us with your wedding date, budget, and vision for your gown. from there, we’ll schedule a consultation with our head designer to talk through your ideas, explore what’s possible, and begin bringing your dream gown to life.
before going custom, we recommend doing a little research + trying on a variety of styles. you might discover that your dream dress already exists, and if it doesn’t, we’ll create it just for you.
because custom gowns require additional time and our head designer only takes on a limited number of custom orders each year, we recommend reaching out as early as possible. for more information or questions on the process, please email us.
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we don’t! strike is dedicated to wedding gowns, bridal accessories, and helping you find the one. we don’t carry bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride, or flower girl dresses.
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strike is a play on our owner abby’s family surname, streicher (pronounced “striker”).
abby likes to think she got her love of sewing + craftsmanship from her grandmother, dottie streicher, who she unfortunately never had the chance to meet. she’s always loved the name and wanted to incorporate it into the business as a way to honor her grandmother and her family.
we also loved the double meaning behind strike and the idea of our striking brides: brides who are confident, individual, and not afraid to stand out.
a family name, a little wordplay, and the name of the shop we’ve built around it.