Haggling in a Dress Shop??? How??

I didnt end up having to haggle as they had a designer sale day the weekend after i tried my dress on so i got 15% off anyway... but this should give you a good guide as to their mark-up! If they can drop 15% on all orders on new dresses on one day, then i would say it is fine to ask what they can do to lower the price - see what they say. No harm in asking! I'd see if you can 10 to 15% off - which should be easy for them to do. And if it sways things, you could offer to pay in cash - that normally tips the balance! OR you could ask if they'll throw in a veil/tiara/shoes for free.... Good luck!

The key to haggling is that you have to be prepared to walk away if they don't come down to the price you're willing to pay. The fact that you're referring to it as "my dress" gives the impression that you might not be in that position which makes it a bit more difficult. Sorry that I'm being negative but I've got quite a bit of experience at this and it's very hard to negotiate a discount on something you've already set your heart on!

The best advice would be to have a look online at the same/similar dresses (in terms of quality as well as design) and what price they're going for. You need to have a clear idea of what you can realistically expect to negotiate it down to in order to be taken seriously by the staff in the shop (as a rough guide, take 10% off the cheapest one you find). With that in mind, consider how flexible you can be with your budget and set a "hard" upper limit that you won't go past in any circumstances. If the two figures are still apart then you might need to go back to the drawing board.

Does the dress need to be ordered or could you buy the ex-sample one at a discount? Can you negotiate free/reduced alterations into the price? Even if they can't come down to the price you're after then you might be able to offset it against other things in your budget. Do they do suit hire and/or bridesmaid dresses as well? Store loyalty can go a long way.

I hope at least some of this advice is helpful!

Mmmmm, tricky one! Because most wedding suppliers have not increased their prices due to the VAT change and kept their prices as low as possible to be competitive, you may find it difficult at best or rub the shop owner up the wrong way at worst! As the others have said, it's whether you are prepared to walk away if you get a No response. A lot of bridal shops are struggling due to increased costs from suppliers and overheads in general so, unless they have way overpriced their goods in the first place, there generally isn't much room for manoevre. You can always try otherwise you'll never know!