FAQ

IN STORE SHOPPING

Universe hours are by appointment.  Appointments allow us to have a fitting room available for you and helps us with our staffing.

Bridal Gowns

Universe Bridal and Prom is one of the largest bridal salons in Ohio and surrounding states, with thousands of bridal gowns (organized by style) in stock in all sizes (including plus sizes up to size 34) and price ranges to fit most budgets.  We also offer layaway and build to order options.  Keep in mind that it can take up to 5 months for a special order bridal gown to arrive.
Our Bridal Gowns price range from approximately $800 to $2,999. 

We are open by appointment. Please call, email or private FB or Instagram message us to schedule an appointment. 
-Appointments are for two hours.
-Appointments allow us to have a fitting room available for you and helps us with our staffing.  
-We schedule our bridesmaids and Bridal appointments on separate days. 
-Brides can bring up to 4 guests to their bridal appointment. 
-Brides can bring all their maids to their bridesmaids appointment.

Shopping at Universe Bridal
Our bides appreciate our friendly, non-pushy store.  We encourage you and your guests to take an active approach to selecting your wedding dress.  We allow you (and your shopping party of up to 4 guests)  to look through our huge selection of dresses to find ones you'd like to try on.  We can also pull some dresses for you if you'd like. 

We respect your privacy and allow your guests to assist you in the fitting room and we will also assist you as much as you'd like ~ helping you zip, clip and fluff the trains while trying on. 

(NOTE: If you are looking for a salon where you sit back and a select number of bridal dresses are bought to you by a consultant who dresses and undresses you ~ that is not who we are.  We wouldn't want you to be disappointed if that is what you are expecting. 🙂)

We are open by appointment.  Please call, email or private FB or Instagram message us to schedule an appointment.
-Appointments allow us to have a fitting room available for you and helps us with our staffing.

Bridesmaid’s Dresses

Find a huge selection of Bridesmaid's Dresses (available in all sizes including plus sizes).  We carry the most popular designers with the trendiest colors and styles.  Keep in mind that it can take up to 8 to 12 weeks for bridesmaids to come in, so get your maids appointment scheduled in plenty of time so you aren't stressed. 🙂

NOTE:  We do our Bridesmaids and Bridal appointments on separate days.  

NOTE:  We do not carry flower girl or Mother of the Bride dresses.
   
We are open by appointment. Please call, email or private FB message us to schedule an appointment. 
-Appointments allow us to have a fitting room available for you and helps us with our staffing.  
-Appointments are for two hours. 
-We schedule our bridesmaids and Bridal appointments on separate days. 
-Brides can bring up to 4 guests to their bridal appointment. 
-Brides can bring all their maids to their bridesmaids appointment.

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Prom Dress Shopping In Store

 Homecoming / Cocktail Dress Shopping In Store

Universe stocks thousands of authentic designer prom dresses in the store in sizes prom/hoco 000 to 40).   Plus, we offer you access to thousands more online. Have an incredible shopping experience in our store with our friendly staff to assist you.  Our store offers seating for your two guests to relax while you try on dresses, and an awesome stage and mirrors to pose in while you check out your dress selections  -  Making for a truly memorable experience. 

We are open by appointment - so please call, email or private FB ir Instagram message us to schedule your appointment.
-Appointments allow us to have a fitting room available for you and helps us with our staffing.

Our shoppers appreciate our laid back, non-pushy store.  We encourage you and your guests to take an active approach to selecting your dress.  We allow you to look through our huge selection of dresses to find ones you'd like to try on.  We can also pull some dresses for you if you'd like. 

We respect your privacy and allow your guests to assist you in the fitting room and we will also assist you as much as you'd like ~ helping you zip, clip, tie, etc. your dresses when trying on.

(NOTE: If you are looking for a salon where you sit back and a select number ofdresses are bought to you by a consultant who dresses and undresses you ~ that is not who we are.  We wouldn't want you to be disappointed if that is what you are expecting. 🙂)
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Suggestions of what to bring to your appointment:

*Shoes - You may want to bring a pair of dress shoes similar to what you plan to wear with your dress.

*Neutral Color Under Garments - Please bring underwear, a good bra and any shapewear you may want to wear under your dress.  Make sure your undergarments are of a neutral color so they do not show through the dresses you are trying on.

*Hair - You may want to style your hair in a way that you can easily pull it up - or in a similarish way that you may wear it for your event.

*Look & Feel Your Best - Trying on formal dresses and Wedding Gowns is an exciting experience and we want you to feel beautiful.  🥰  That usually means being freshly showered/bathed, legs/underarms shaved (if you are so inclined ), and your usual makeup routine.

*An Open Mind - It's helpful to have an open mind when dress shopping.  You may LOVE a dress on you that you might NEVER have considered.  It happens here all the time. 🙂



Shopping Requests, Shopping Party Size, Children, Strollers & Car Seats

To protect our dresses, we appreciate you keeping all food, candies, and beverages outside of the prom and bridal departments.

For everyone's safety, comfort, and enjoyment during this special shopping experience for you and all our other guests, we ask that a maximum of four (4) people accompany the shopper in the bridal department at a time and up to 2 guests with the shopper in the prom/homecoming department.

Children and infants get very impatient during the shopping process which can make everyone stressed, so for your shopping experience to be the most pleasant, we recommend you make other arrangements for children so you can enjoy your day of shopping undistracted.  If that is not possible, we require that all infants, toddlers and children be kept close to you at all times to keep everyone safe. 

It can get very crowded at Universe, so when we do get busy in the store, we may ask you to place your strollers and car seats in our designated areas to keep our walkways and aisles clear for all of our guests.   Weekdays are usually less busy and provide a more relaxed shopping experience. Thank you so much for understanding.

Alterations: Most Dresses need some type of alterations. Most local seamstress should be able to do it for you. All gowns (even beaded gowns) can be taken in at the side seams or the seam at the back or hemmed. Short waisted girls might need to have the straps shortened to fit properly.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CORRECT SHOES FOR ALTERATIONS- It is very important to wear the shoes to your seamstress apppintment that you plan to wear with your dress at your event.  This affects what length the seamstress will make the dress.  For Example:  If you wear flats with your dress to your seamstress appointment and the seamstress makes the length to go with those flats - and then you change your mind and wear 2-inch high-heeled shoes - then the dress will be too short.  So please keep that in mind. 🙂

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FOR ONLINE ORDERING

What is 'Your Wear Date'? 

(The date of your event). Some Dresses may have to be ordered from the Manufacturer. If this is the case, and the Manufacturer can fill your order to arrive by ten days before the Wear Date- We place the order and bill your credit card. If the delivery date is closer than ten days to your Wear Date, we contact you with faster shipping options and estimated delivery dates so you can choose to proceed or cancel.

How to Measure? (Best to have a friend measure you)

Bust- Measure around the fullest part of your bust. (Without wearing a padded bra)

Waist - Measure around your natural waistline about 2 inches above your belly button.   

Hips-Measure around the fullest part of your hips. Approximately 8" below your waistline.   

How to select the correct size dress:

To determine your size for a particular dress we recommend that you have your bust,waist and hips measurements taken and compare them to the measurements found on the size chart for that dress. To pull up the size chart click on, "What's My Size," next to the size selector on the page of the dress you are interested in. Sizing varies by designer and style, so be sure to consult the chart for the dress you are interested in. We recommend choosing the size that comfortably fits all of your measurements. If you are between sizes we recommend choosing the larger size so you can have the dress altered by a tailor or seamstress for a perfect fit.

Remember that formal Dresses tend to run one size or more larger than casual dresses.  If you wear a size 4 casual dress you probably wear a size 6 formal Dress.

Please follow the Manufacturer's size chart to determine your size.  Base your size on the widest part of your body.  For example, if your hips are wider than the measurement on the size chart, even if your bust or waist is not, choose the size for the hip measurement.

Always choose the size that will accommodate the largest measurement on your body. Whether it is your hips, waist or bust.

If in doubt- order the larger size- since Dresses can be altered smaller but they can't be altered larger.

Alterations: Most Dresses need some type of alterations. Most local seamstress should be able to do it for you. All gowns (even beaded gowns) can be taken in at the side seams or the seam at the back or hemmed. Short waisted girls might need to have the straps shortened to fit properly.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CORRECT SHOES FOR ALTERATIONS- It is very important to wear the shoes to your seamstress apppintment that you plan to wear with your dress at your event.  This affects what length the seamstress will make the dress.  For Example:  If you wear flats with your dress to your seamstress appointment and the seamstress makes the length to go with those flats - and then you change your mind and wear 2-inch high-heeled shoes - then the dress will be too short.  So please keep that in mind. 🙂

Returns:Most every Special Occasion retail dress store (including ours) have a No cancellation/refund/return or exchange policy. We special order your dress in the size and color you choose. Since you are measuring and choosing your own size- we have no control over whether you are choosing the correct size. PLEASE MEASURE CAREFULLY- no refunds/returns/exchanges will be accepted for ordering the incorrect size.

Since your Dress is specially ordered - we cannot return it to the manufacturer.

Billing Address Shipping Only: Orders will be shipped only to the verified billing address of the credit card to protect the cardholder. If you need an order shipped to another address, please call the store and speak with an associate - 740-545-5005.

We can only ship within the Continental  United States.

AUTHENTICITY: Are your dresses original designer dresses?

Yes, all of our dresses are 100% authentic designer dresses.  Universe Bridal and Prom is an authorized retailer for all of the brands that we carry and will only sell authentic dresses.  

AVAILABILITY: How do I know if what I want is available?

Once an order is placed we will check availability and let you know within 72 hours if your style is available in your desired color and size and in time for your special occasion. If for any reason your dress is not available in stock, or available for special order, we will notify you prior to confirming your order.  

Some of the more popular dresses may have to be be backordered from the Manufacturer. If this is the case, and the Manufacturer can fill your order to arrive by ten days before the Wear Date,  we place the order and bill your credit card. If the delivery date is closer than ten days to your Wear Date, we contact you with faster shipping options and estimated delivery dates so you can choose to proceed or cancel.

If your package is damaged during shipment: Check the Dress and if it's damaged- immediately contact us so we are able to rectify the problem with the carrier and issue you an exchange. Be sure to save the damaged shipping box.

Defective Dresses: We inspect your dress when we receive it from the manufacturer, to be sure it is exactly as ordered and free from defects. If defects are found, we contact the manufacturer for a replacement.

In the unlikely event that a manufacturer's defect makes it past our inspection process, it can be returned for replacement only. You must contact us within 24 hours of the dress being delivered to your address. Defective gowns will only be replaced in the same size.  The returned merchandise should show no sign of being worn, torn, and soiled or contamination and has all tags and labels in place and packaging intact.