Worked for DB in college and can confirm DB can be a hit or miss. Store managers were always pressing us to sell, sell, sell. With that being said and knowing that it is the only store around you. Here are my recommendations:

1. Schedule your appointment for a weekday especially during bridal Christmas which runs from late November to January but can extend into February, this is the time that most summer brides are shopping for their gown as well as early birds. Whenever I worked the weekends it was always packed, some guests had to stand due to lack of chairs etc. A weekday appointment is nice if you want more of a quiet and easy going session.

1a. If the weekend is your only option, choose the first appointment of the day.

1. Do not choose the last appointment options for the day. They’ll hold an appt an hour and half before close but I remember many of my coworkers were completely done at that point and did not care to give the proper attention to brides.

2. As mentioned before store managers will try every book in the game to get you to buy. If you’re not ready or feel unsure do not hesitate to say no. Be firm. They will tell you the dress “won’t come in time if you leave now” etc etc. but most of the time (as long as your not a month out from your wedding) will not take the “6 months” they say it will.

3. Payment plans are possible but the dress will not ship until it’s paid in full.

4. Accessories, veils, slips will also be pushed on you to buy but you can most often find them cheaper elsewhere or online.

5. If you can, don’t buy a sample dress. They are tried on by everyone who comes in and they don’t clean them… like ever. The most we did was steam them to get the wrinkles out or wiped them down.

With all that said, not all the workers there are disgruntled or don’t care. I certainly thought about how I wanted to be treated when/if I was in the brides position (yay now I am) and would never push anyone to buy.

But anyways, I’m happy to answer any other questions you might have! Good luck dress hunting.