Boutique Polater

Boutique Polater is a wedding boutique at Routete de la Savonnerie 3A in Renens that describes itself as serving "Lausanne/Renens" and dresses the whole wedding: bridal gowns, suits for the groom, ceremony and evening dresses for guests, children's outfits, shoes, accessories, jewelry and wedding rings. The home page carries the figure "25 ans", 25 years, and names four bridal brands, Pronovias, Demetrios, Oreasposa and Cosombella. Alterations are done in the shop, and the site answers many practical questions in a French FAQ, which makes it easier to plan around from a distance.

Dressing everyone in the party

The home page headline is "Tenues de mariage pour les mariés et les invités", wedding outfits for the couple and the guests. The menu is split into four groups:

• Femme: wedding dresses by style (Bohème, Classique, Moderne, Romantique, Minimaliste), ceremony and evening dresses, shoes and accessories
• Hommes: suits, waistcoats, shoes and accessories
• Enfants: girls' outfits, boys' outfits, children's shoes and accessories
• Services: dress advice ("Conseils Robes"), jewelry advice ("Conseils Bijoux") and wedding rings ("Alliances")

The shop's own summary lists a selection of wedding dresses, grooms' suits, "alliances étincelantes" (sparkling wedding rings), jewelry and children's outfits, "soigneusement choisis", carefully chosen. A later section, "Tout pour l'outfit de cérémonie", everything for the ceremony outfit, makes the point that dresses, shoes and accessories are all chosen to go together, so the look can be put together in one shop.

The brands

A booking form at the bottom of the home page lists individual models a bride can ask to try, each tagged with its brand. They come from four labels:

• Pronovias, with models including Devany, Drisela, Elise, Maggie, Malena, Minsk and Primadona
• Demetrios, with numbered designs such as 724, 739 and 871
• Oreasposa, designs L896, L901 and L910
• Cosombella, designs 7895 and 7906

Being able to name a model before the appointment is useful for a bride with little time: she can shortlist online and ask for those dresses to be ready.

Alterations in the shop

A section headed "Jusqu'à ce qu'elle soit parfaite", until it is perfect, says the shop adjusts wedding dresses to measure "dans des délais accessibles et à prix abordable", within reasonable timeframes and at an affordable price. It offers alterations directly in the boutique, whether taking in the size of a dress, adding straps or adding hand-sewn beads. The FAQ adds that "nous réalisons des ajustements personnalisés", personal adjustments so the dress or suit fits the customer's measurements, and that "ce service est inclus dans le processus d'achat", this service is part of the purchase process. The home page speaks of an affordable price for alterations while the FAQ calls them part of the purchase, and the site does not say whether they are charged separately, so ask.

On timing, the FAQ says adjustments generally take about 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how complex they are.

What the FAQ settles

The FAQ answers the questions a couple usually has to phone about:

• Online sales. None. The site shows the products, and customers book an appointment to see and try them in the shop.
• Booking. By the online form or by phone.
• Lead time. The shop recommends booking "au moins deux semaines à l'avance", at least two weeks ahead, to guarantee availability and leave time for alterations.
• Prices. "Nos prix varient en fonction du design et de la qualité du matériau", prices depend on design and material, with a wide range of options for different budgets; details are given at the appointment.
• Children. A collection of dresses and suits for children is available.
• Accessories. "Des voiles, des coiffes, des bijoux, et plus encore", veils, headpieces, jewelry and more, with staff advice.
• Companions. Customers are encouraged to bring family and friends, but because of limited space the shop asks that the group be kept to a reasonable size.

How an appointment is set up

The closing section of the home page, "Besoin de conseils pour le grand jour?", need advice for the big day, invites customers who want personal advice on a wedding dress, the groom's suits or the children's outfits to fill in the form. The shop then arranges an appointment to give advice and prepare a selection of clothes for the wedding. The form includes the model list above, so a bride can name the dresses she wants waiting for her.

For a bride who cannot decide on a style, the site also sorts its wedding dresses into five style pages, Bohème, Classique, Moderne, Romantique and Minimaliste, and the Services menu offers dress advice as a service in its own right. For guests and family, the ceremony and evening dresses and the men's suits and waistcoats mean parents can be dressed at the same appointment or a separate one.

Hours and contact

Opening hours, as listed on the home page:

• Monday, 13:30 to 18:30
• Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 18:30
• Saturday, 9:00 to 17:00

The phone numbers are +41(0)21 635 11 36 and +41(0)21 635 11 34, and the address is Routete de la Savonnerie 3A, 1020 Renens/Vaud (CH). The booking form asks for a model and a date.

What the site leaves open

The site is in French and does not say whether consultations are available in English or German, so a couple should ask when booking. It publishes no prices at all, for gowns, suits, children's wear, rings or alterations. It does not say how long an ordered dress takes to arrive if the right size is not in stock, which matters more than the 1 to 2 weeks for alterations. It gives no information on parking or public transport to the Renens address. And the "25 ans" appears on its own, without saying what the 25 years refer to.

For a bride from abroad, the two-week booking advice is a minimum, not a plan. A dress that has to be ordered, altered and fitted needs more time than that, and the lead time for ordering should be the first question.

Who it suits

Boutique Polater suits couples who want to dress the bride, the groom, the children and possibly guests in one shop, and brides who like to shortlist named Pronovias or Demetrios models before they visit. It suits couples who can come to Renens at least twice, for choosing and for fitting. The caveats are the absence of prices, a French-only site, and no stated delivery time for ordered dresses.