THE PROCESS
Discover the AFTER FIVE process
Finding your wedding dress should feel exciting, considered, and completely your own. At AFTER FIVE, our bridal appointments are designed to feel calm, personal, and beautifully guided from the moment you arrive.
With a private one-on-one styling appointment, our experienced bridal stylists take the time to understand your vision, your wedding plans, and how you want to feel on the day. Whether you know exactly what you are looking for or have no idea where to begin, we are here to guide you through the process with care, honesty, and no pressure.
Book your private bridal styling appointment and discover the designer wedding dresses waiting for you at AFTER FIVE.
CONSULTATION
MEET YOUR BRIDAL STYLIST
Your appointment begins with a personal consultation with your dedicated bridal stylist. We will chat through your wedding details, your venue, your style inspiration, your budget, and any gowns you may already have your eye on.
This helps us understand your vision and curate a selection of dresses that feel true to you, while also introducing you to styles you may not have considered yet.
PRIVATE APPOINTMENT
SETTLE INTO YOUR SPACE
Once we have a feel for your bridal style, you will be guided into your private bridal appointment space. This is where you and your guests can relax, enjoy the moment, and begin the search for your dress in a calm and supportive environment.
Our appointments are designed to feel intimate and considered, giving you space to explore, reflect, and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
The Dresses
TRY A CURATED SELECTION OF GOWNS
Your stylist will guide you through a curated selection of designer wedding dresses chosen around your shape, style, wedding vision, and personal preferences.
From modern minimal gowns to romantic lace, structured silhouettes, soft A-lines, and timeless bridal styles, our team will help you narrow down what feels most like you. Along the way, we will talk through fit, fabric, styling options, and how each gown could work for your wedding day.
THE MOMENT
FIND THE DRESS THAT FEELS LIKE YOU
When you find the gown that feels right, we will help you take the next step with confidence. Your stylist will talk you through sizing, measurements, ordering, timelines, and any details you need to know before saying yes.
Whether it happens at your first appointment or after a little more time, our goal is to make the process feel clear, supportive, and genuinely special.
Ready to begin?
Your wedding dress journey starts with a private bridal styling appointment at AFTER FIVE.
HOW DO WE WORK?
Our approach is unique, so here’s what to expect. During your appointment, our trained stylists will assist in selecting the best size for you. This collaborative process allows you to be actively involved and have greater control over the entire experience. When you're ready to place your order, your chosen size will be recorded. If your measurements don't align with a single standard size, we offer split sizes to ensure the best fit. For online orders, we highly recommend getting professionally measured.
Each bridal dress is made to the most accurate size on our standard size chart, based on the measurements and notes taken by our professional stylists during your appointment. However, since we don't offer couture or made-to-measure dresses, some alterations may be necessary for a perfect fit. We consider your hollow-to-hem and heel height, but the dress length and strap adjustments might still require hemming according to your preference. We recommend local seamstresses for additional alterations, which should be factored into your dress budget.
Unlike other boutiques, we do not offer multiple fittings during dress production. If you anticipate changes in your measurements between ordering and receiving your dress, please discuss this with our team or your stylist beforehand. We can make allowances for resubmitting measurements within standard timelines. The combination of professional stylist notes, experienced team sizing, and expected minor alterations with recommended seamstresses negates the need for multiple fittings, helping us save time and keep prices affordable for our brides.
MADE TO ORDER
We invite our brides to experience a personalized one-on-one appointment with a professional stylist at our After Five boutiques. This is a special opportunity to explore our stunning collections firsthand in a relaxed and supportive environment, accompanied by loved ones. Once a dress is selected, our expert team will take precise measurements to match each bride to our standard size chart before crafting her made-to-order gown. Every order undergoes thorough quality checks before being lovingly delivered into the hands and hearts of our brides. This efficient process eliminates the need for follow-up fittings, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience.
PAYMENT
Full payment is required upfront when placing your order.
TIMING & DELIVERY
We aim for our After Five brides to receive their dresses at least two months before the wedding day, allowing ample time for alterations, styling decisions, and final tweaks. We offer standard and priority order options based on your wedding date. Discussing timelines with your stylist during your appointment ensures you select the appropriate order type. For international brides, contact your local stockist for accurate local timelines and rush options.
For orders through our After Five boutique, we will email your tracking number upon dispatch. We offer Australia-wide delivery for wedding dress, veil, or accessory orders. International dress deliveries incur an AUD $80 shipping fee, and a signature is required upon delivery.
Upon receiving your dress, try it on promptly without make-up, lotions, or fake tan. If you believe there's a mistake in the measurements, contact us at hello@afterfive.com with photos of your concerns, and we'll work with you to find a solution. Issues must be reported within 24 hours of delivery for us to cover any costs.
SHIPPING
We ship worldwide for all our Veils, Accessories, and Ready to Wear Collection dresses. For orders over $220, we offer free shipping. Orders under $220 incur shipping fees: Australia – $10, International – $20. We also provide express shipping options within Australia via Australia Post (Veils and accessories – $15.00AUD, Ready to wear collection dresses – $30.00AUD). Expect up to 3 business days for dispatch from our Australian HQ for express orders.
For international orders, import duties, taxes, and custom charges are not included in the price and are the buyer's responsibility. These charges are determined by the customs agency in the destination country and are due at collection/delivery. Please check with your country’s customs office for additional costs prior to purchase.
RETURNS
Since your dress is made to order specifically for you, we cannot accept returns for a full refund or exchange. Before ordering, we can provide more photos of your dress from our photo shoots to ensure your confidence in your selection.
Sample sale dresses and imperfect Veils and Accessories are final sale only and cannot be returned or exchanged. Ensure your measurements are accurate for a proper fit. Any faults will be described.
We accept returns for accessories if you contact us within 48 hours of receiving your order. Return postage is at the buyer's expense. For hygiene reasons, we cannot accept returns for earrings or headbands.
For Ready to Wear items:
- If you ordered through our After Five boutique teams and the item isn't quite right, we offer an exchange or credit note.
- If you ordered online without boutique assistance, we offer a refund, less shipping.
Contact us at hello@afterfive.com within 48 hours of receiving your item to initiate your Ready to Wear return. Once confirmed, we must receive your item within 14 days if in Australia or 21 days if overseas. Items must be in their original condition, unworn, unaltered, and unwashed.
CHANGE OF MIND
We cannot offer a return or refund for change of mind, changed circumstances, or wedding cancellations. If your dress hasn't been started, you can change your order, but no refund is possible. We cannot refund if the dress doesn't suit you, as it is made specifically for you.
CONTACTING US
Reach us via email at hello@afterfive.com or on social media @afterfivebridalandformal. We respond within 24-48 hours. Note that our office staff do not work on weekends, so messages sent on weekends or after 4 pm AEST on Fridays will be addressed on the following business days.
To cancel a boutique appointment on the weekend, reply to your confirmation text as emails aren't monitored during that time.