What You Need to Know About Our Sample Sale

For savvy brides to be, a designer’s sample sale offers a unique opportunity to purchase luxury gowns and accessories at a significant discount and leave the store with their gown in hand.

Each summer, Anne Barge hosts sample sales at our flagship locations in Atlanta and New York City, and our sales teams are already abuzz with excitement for this summer’s events.

Read this insider’s guide to finding the gown of your dreams during our upcoming sale event.

We’re looking forward to meeting brides at both of our flagship locations for our annual sample sale! Our two stores will feature different gowns and distinct rules during the sample sale, so please be prepared for the unique requirements at your location to ensure the best possible experience.

One important detail to note: we kindly request that you only bring two trusted friends or family members to the sample sales at either of our locations.

If you’re visiting us at our home in Atlanta, you’ll experience a more “traditional” sample sale. We will not hold any appointments, and instead we will assist brides on a first come, first served basis. The doors will open at 9 am, and at past sales, brides have begun lining up an hour prior.

Since we will not be able to accommodate appointments, dressing rooms will be closed during the sale. We recommend that brides wear fitted athletic wear so that you may try on gowns discreetly, even without use of the fitting rooms.

Each sale will be final, and once you make your purchase, our team can provide a list of trusted sewists in the Atlanta area as well as around the country. Please note that any alterations are a separate expense.

Gowns and accessories will be marked down up to 85%. Brides can expect to see gowns ranging from $500 to $1,500, Little White Dresses from $30, and accessories from $25 to $100.

In order to best serve our New York City brides, we’ve created a modified version of the sample sale for our Madison Avenue flagship location. We will be accepting hour-long time slots for our sample sale, during which brides will be able to try on and purchase sample gowns at reduced prices.

While we will have one fitting room available during the sale, we will be hosting up to five brides during each hour. Please wear fitted athletic clothes that allow you to try on gowns quickly in the case that the fitting room is occupied.

Our New York flagship will provide brides with a list of skilled sewists in the tristate area to complete any alterations needed following their purchase. However, brides should be aware that alterations are not included in the sale of your gown.

Gowns will be discounted up to 75%, at price points from $800 to $4,000.

When you book a traditional bridal appointment, the gowns you try on belong to the store as samples, providing the opportunity to view different styles and select the perfect gown. Upon finding the one, your retailer will place an order for the gown to be made just for you.

Our sample gown stock, however, could become yours during a sample sale. Once a designer is ready to replace current samples in order to make room for new inventory, they’ll offer the samples for final sale, often at an exceptional discount. These gowns are like new, so you will experience the same fine craftsmanship and luxury as you would in our made-to-order gowns.

During the Anne Barge sample sale, you will be able to purchase a curated selection of sample gowns from the Anne Barge, Blue Willow, and Little White Dress collections, as well as elegant matching accessories.

Gowns will only be available in sizes we carry on the floor. You can expect to see gowns ranging from bridal sizes 4 to 18 during a sample sale, with a majority ranging from size 8-12.

Brides visit our sample sales for a variety of reasons, and we are happy to make their dreams come true during these events.

Do you and your husband-to-be have an accelerated timeline for your nuptials? If you’ve opted for a short engagement, we can still offer you a luxurious gown in a time frame that works best for you. While traditional wedding gown orders can take up to nine months, sample sales allow brides to walk out of the store with their gown in hand.

Bridal wardrobes continue to expand. We expect to see more brides changing into second and even third looks throughout their wedding day, allowing for both a bold statement and more freedom to move on the dance floor. Naturally, most of your wardrobe budget is allocated to your main ceremony gown, so shopping for secondary pieces at a sample sale allows for more flexibility.

Many women grow up fantasizing about their wedding day, hoping to one day wear their favorite designer down the aisle. For brides who find that the gown of their dreams is outside of their reach, shopping a sample sale could make that dream a reality, without compromising any other aspect of their weddings.

Sample sales are also an opportunity for young women to find a beautiful gown for their debutante balls. Debutantes often take advantage of the incredible discounts to purchase their white gowns at a more moderate price point.

We hope to see you at one of our sample sales this summer, or during your personal bridal appointment. For more details about the upcoming sample sales and sneak peeks of the gowns that will be available, make sure to follow us on social media, @annebarge and @annebargebridalatelier.