Your Bridal Market Checklist: What to Prep, What to Bring & What to Buy

Kylie Punke

Stop ‘Winging It’ at National Bridal Market

Let’s be real: National Bridal Market is a marathon of glitter, gowns, and pressure to buy. By the time it’s over, your feet are in desperate need of another pedicure, and you’re contemplating booking a week-long solo vacay on a remote island. Market can either fill your cup or empty your cup. 

Whether you’re dreading the physical and social strain or you’re slammed with running your store, dedicating time to plan for bridal market feels like a luxury—hence why many boutique owners end up winging it. But that’s exactly how you end up overspending, double-ordering, or coming home with dresses that don’t move.

We’re here to help you make better buys, build better relationships, and reduce that looming stress. Bridal market should be about strategic buys that actually energize your business—believe it or not, this is possible with the right prep!          

What to Prep

Step #1: Set Your Goals

Let’s start with the obvious: you need to know what departments you’re interested in viewing and buying—bridal, mothers’, prom, quinceañera, formalwear, etc. After you’ve narrowed down your departments, go a step further and ask yourself if you’re wanting to open new lines or reorder your best-sellers—consider whether your boutique is in need of trend pieces or staple pieces. If you’re a Poppy user, reserve your brain power and let Poppy do the brainstorming for you. 

Your go-to Poppy reports: Department Sales Trend, Non Performing Inventory, Item Performance – Curated Styles Tags, Sales by Vendor Trend, and Top Selling Special Order by Vendor. 

Step #2: Know Your Budget

You’re going to see A LOT of stunning dresses that would perform well in your store. You know what you need to add to your inventory, but you also need to put a financial cap on your shopping fun. Create a buying budget in advance and stick to it. Be sure to account for shipping/freight, designer minimums, designer purchase incentives, and upcoming events. If you’re a Poppy user, leave the number crunching to us, we’ve got you.

Your go-to Poppy reports: Budget vs. Spend, Budget Trend, Ticket Trend, and Off the Rack Sales. Use the download and export feature for spreadsheet creation, organization, and formatting! 

Step #3: Do Your Research

This is your bridal market game-plan, your playbook. Rally your market team together to get everyone on the same page and develop a strategy to divide and conquer. Make a list of brand lineups and show schedules for each day. Some designers require appointments so be sure to reach out to your reps well in advance to organize your agenda. Don’t forget to jot down vendor booth numbers—your future self and attending staff will thank you. 

Once you have your vendor visits lined up, take a peek at the Events & Amenities calendar. Who doesn’t love a little pick me up? P.S. be sure to keep a close eye on social media for sneak peeks and updates! 

Step #4: Analyze Your Sales Data

Now you may be saying, “Haven’t I already done this?”. Sorry friend but not quite, you’ve set your goals, now it’s time to make sure those goals are attainable within your budget and make data driven decisions. Look at performance by size, silhouette, and price point, then ask yourself what gaps you’re trying to fill. If you’re a Poppy user, once again, we’ve got you!

Your go-to Poppy reports: Sizes Sold by Period of Time, Colors Sold by Period of Time, Top Selling Special Order by Item, Non Performing Inventory, Item Performance – Curated Styles Tags, and Budget vs. Spend.

Prep Checklist:

For additional tips on market prep, check out our BRIDAL MARKET SERIES: Top 10 Things to Know Before You Go blog!

What to Bring

It’s time to pack your bags! If you’re like me, there’s always an irrational fear of forgetting something highly important—lists help with that. Let’s break it down in three main categories: the essentials, the comfort kit, and the business necessities. 

Tech + Tools

• iPad or tablet with Poppy app or software open
• Portable charger + charging cables
• Business cards
• Stylus or pen (if using a paper binder)
• Reusable tote or backpack (for all those freebies)

Comfort + Self-Care

• Refillable water bottle
• Protein bar/snacks
• Caffeine (in case you don’t have time for a coffee run)
• Mints/Gum
• Lip balm and hand sanitizer
• Comfy shoes
• Bandaids
• Medications
• Toiletries 
• Umbrella 
• Light sweater or blazer
• 3 trendy outfits
• Don’t forget PJs and a couple casual outfits!

Buying Binder (Digital or Print)

• Budget breakdown by department or vendor
• Line sheet or buying tracker
• Map of the mart layout
• Booth locations of must-see vendors
• Rep contact list
• Notes from past seasons
• Pictures of dresses that brides bought elsewhere (aka your inventory gaps)  
• Market wishlist (brands or must-haves)

What to Buy

#1: Balance Trend and Classic

As a bridal boutique owner, you know all too well that trends are called trends for a reason—they ebb and flow. Of course, some stick around longer than others, and some come back every few years. National Bridal Market is a designer’s chance to showcase their latest collection in a grand way—they want to make a statement. Use your expertise and experience to discern whether a gown will be a passing fad or lasting seller. Look for some “wow” pieces to introduce to your boutique, but don’t forget your bread-and-butter dresses.   

#2: Diversify Price Points

If you’ve been following along, congrats you’ve already identified which price points are performing at your boutique and where your brides’ budgets lie. Seek to offer good, better, and best options for every bride or budget. You want to make sure you have a range of different sizes, styles, and colors within each price bracket. Think ahead to potential resale value when seeing dresses on the runway. Your flow should go something like this: 

1. Okay, I love this gown!
2. Does it fit my bride dynamic? Would it perform well?
3. How much would it cost me?
4. What would be the markup for this gown?
5. After calculating markup: Could I sell this gown for $____?

If you make it through this flow and can honestly answer “yes”, then it’s a contender!

#3: Don’t Forget Accessories

Market is a great place to discover new accessory brands. You can see and feel the product quality as well as fire away with any questions you have. Veils, headpieces, belts, sleeves, and jewelry are all high-margin add-ons. The ‘balancing trend with classic’ and ‘diversifying price points’ rules apply for accessories too. Your goal is to grow your store’s revenue with these add-ons.    

#4: Place Smart Orders

Although there are benefits to placing your orders at market, you can also sit with them for a little while if you need processing time. You’ll need to ask about and think about delivery times for your new arrivals. Once your orders are placed, stay on top of your order tracking by delivery month to avoid overload. It’s also a good idea to leave a little budget margin for any last-minute must-haves—there’s always one!

Buying Strategy Checklist:

Core Inventory

• Staple styles that consistently sell
• Inclusive size range options
• A mix of necklines, silhouettes, and strap/sleeve types
• A mix of colors and fabrics (don’t forget about lined vs. unlined bodice variety!)
• Key reorder pieces that ran low

Trends + Statement Styles

• 2–3 bold, fresh styles for social media buzz
• New textures, fabrics, or colors
• Trend pieces that align with your brand’s vibe

Accessories + Upsells

• Veils and headpieces
• Belts or sleeves to upsell with gowns
• Jewelry or bridal robes for retail add-ons

Smart Ordering

• Stagger delivery dates (avoid overlap)
• Track orders placed by delivery month 
• Leave 10–15% of budget for market discoveries

Still hungry for more buying knowledge and tips? Check out our BRIDAL MARKET SERIES: 4 Things to Know About What to Buy at Market blog and our BRIDAL MARKET SERIES: Using the 45% Rule to Buy blog!

You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through market with a dead phone and zero plan. Pack this checklist, trust your gut, and walk out with dresses your brides (and your budget) will actually love. 

Prepping for market just got way easier. From tracking what’s selling to planning what to buy next, Poppy keeps your inventory organized and your decisions data-backed. Book a demo or start here with our Get Started form.