The short answer is 3 to 4 weeks.
The long answer goes a little something like this: There are two parts (production and shipping) to our process in order for you to receive your garter. Once you place your order, the first step is production, aka your garter needs to be handmade. Wedding garters are made-to-order and take about 2 to 4 weeks to carefully hand craft. (Custom garter designs may take longer and timing will be discussed with you prior to ordering.) Once your garter is made, the next step is shipping. Your garter will be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service with tracking. Shipping is 2 to 3 days for U.S. shipments and approximately 6-10 days for international shipments. (Please keep in mind that international shipments can take up to one month, depending on the country.) Once your order is shipped, you will receive an email shipping confirmation.
If you need your garter sooner than 3 to 4 weeks, please email info@thegartergirl.com to talk about your rush order. Rush orders can absolutely be accommodated. We got you, don’t worry!
So, you forgot about your garter until now?! It happens all the time, no worries! Rush production and expedited shipping can be accommodated. We haven’t missed a wedding yet and we don’t plan on missing yours! Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to ask about rushing your order.
Who doesn’t love a good gift!? Yes, all orders arrive in a branded gift box tied with a bow. Inside the gift box is your garter and an heirloom bag for saving your garter after your wedding. (The perfect bridal shower present, if we do say so ourselves!)
Trying to be sneaky, huh? Good for you! Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com and we would be happy to remove the branding on the outside shipping box. Your secret is safe with us!
Shipping within the United States is free, free and free! International shipping (aka anywhere outside of the United States) is an additional cost of $35.
Yes, yes and yes. The Garter Girl ships all over the world!
If you live in the Washington, DC area and you need your garter at the last minute, you may make arrangements to pick your garter up in person by emailing info@thegartergirl.com. For all other orders that aren’t rushed, shipping is preferable.
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Returns and/or exchanges cannot be accepted. A wedding garter is considered an intimate item, sort of like undergarments or bathing suits. Thus, returning or exchanging your intimate item is not possible. We agree, it is a bummer, so thank you for understanding. That being said, we have no interest in unhappy brides. We want to make sure that you are in love with your heirloom. If you have any questions, concerns or just want to chat before placing your order, we want to talk it out with you. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com.
We hear you. It can be hard to make choices, especially when you are making lots of wedding planning decisions. However, we can't accept returns (see above). We know this is counter culture to the way many e-commerce businesses operate. But, these are the rules. Just know that we only want you to be happy and for you to love your heirloom forever. We are here to answer any questions, make suggestions and walk you through the entire process to ensure that you love your garter heirloom so much that you want to save it for your daughter. Please email us anytime at info@thegartergirl.com and let's chat before you make a purchase.
Yes, as long as production hasn’t already started on your order you may cancel. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to ask about canceling your order.
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The only size that we carry is yours. All wedding garters are made-to-order, so ensuring that your garter fits you properly is what we do. Custom sizing and size adjustments will be handled at no additional charge. The Garter Girl’s “standard wedding garter size” measures 14 to 22 inches around. If you say nothing about your size when you place your order, your heirloom will be made to the standard size. If you have any questions at all about sizing, please do not hesitate to email us at info@thegartergirl.com.
If you have any size concerns or you are just curious, it is always best to measure first. Standing up, use a tape measure and go around the part of your leg where you want to wear your garter. (We recommend that you wear your garter just above your knee at the narrowest part of your leg.) If you don’t have a tape measure, use a piece of string and then lay the string along a ruler. Once you know the number (in inches), please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to discuss. We don’t judge any size. You are amazing just as you are and yours is the only size we carry!
Our "standard size” will stretch to fit 14 to 22 inches around. You can move your garter up or down on your leg, depending on what feels good to you. We recommend that you wear your garter closer to your knee at the thinnest part of your leg. However, all garters are made-to-order just for you, so if you need to adjust the standard size, or if you have any questions, please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to discuss.
Girl, we hear you! We've got our own body issues over here too! It can be scary to feel like you are highlighting or calling attention to a part of your body that might not be your favorite. We certainly don’t want you to be self conscious or uncomfortable in any way on your wedding day. This is why having a proper fit is so important. If your garter fits you - just like your favorite pair of jeans - it won't be uncomfortable. All of our garters are made-to-order and this means that your garter will be made to fit you perfectly, just as you are. Wearing something that is too small or too big is uncomfortable, period. Your garter heirloom will be made to fit you, so it will be just right. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to discuss sizing or to ask any questions.
Having a garter that doesn’t fit is upsetting. Not to worry, we can solve this problem for you! First things first, once you receive your wedding garter, please make sure to try it on. Please do not wait until the morning of your wedding to find out that there are fit issues. If your garter is too tight, take it off carefully. Next, try stretching the elastic a little bit by gently pulling on it to loosen up the elastic. Don’t pull hard, a few gentle tugs might do the trick. Also, try wearing your garter lower down your leg, as close to your knee as possible, at the narrowest part of your leg. If your garter is too loose, try to move it up your leg to the biggest part of your leg. If you have any concerns at all, please email us at info@thegartergirl.com right away.
It can be an unusual feeling to put your garter on for the first time, since we are guessing a wedding heirloom isn't a part of your day-to-day! Your garter should be snug and feel like it will stay up and on throughout the entire wedding day from walking down the aisle to the last dance at the end of the reception. But, it should not be tight or uncomfortable. If might leave a mark or two on your legs, similar to socks, but it shouldn't cut off the circulation in your leg. If you have any concerns at all, email us info@thegartergirl.com right away to discuss.
The only size that we carry is yours. So, technically, yes, The Garter Girl has plus and petite garter sizes. All garters (even the pre-designed styles in our shop) are made-to-order, which means that adjusting the size to ensure that it fits you perfectly on your wedding day is no problem at all. We welcome size adjustments and do not charge extra. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to discuss sizing.
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If you found a garter on our website or blog that you can’t purchase, as in there is no “buy” button, it is most likely a custom wedding garter. Custom designs aren’t available for purchase outright through the website, because, they were, well, custom! Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to find out about the availability of the design that you love. We have lots of materials and can usually re-create custom designs and would love to make something special for you.
Custom wedding garters typically take about 3 to 4 weeks, from that first email until your garter is delivered to your door. This includes going back and forth via email to discuss your design, hand making your heirloom for you and shipping. If you need your garter sooner, that’s no problem at all, just email us at info@thegartergirl.com to check on availability.
First things first, email us at info@thegartergirl.com to get started. Let us know what you are interested in and what your personal style is, send links or photos, anything you love or don’t love. Be sure to let us know your wedding date. We will listen to your design ideas and your interests, and then give you some suggestions for what would work and be possible. We’ll go back and forth and collaborate on your design until it is just right and you love it. After you approve of your custom garter design details, we’ll handle the payment. (Full payment is required before production.) Then we’ll get to work hand making your custom garter! The production usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. We will fully discuss timing with you prior to payment.
Once your heirloom is complete, we will send you a few pictures of your wedding garter to fall in love with! After you dry your happy tears and approve, we will pack your heirloom up and ship it out to you. Shipping usually takes 2 to 3 days (or up to one month for international shipments). We will not ship your garter until you approve.
If you have no idea what kind of garter heirloom you want, you just know you haven’t found it yet, that’s OK! We are decision ninjas and will help you hone in and make a choice. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to let us help you. We pinky promise to make your garter the easiest part of your wedding planning process.
Yes, yes and yes! Did we mention yes?! We love using your family heirloom materials such as your grandmother’s veil or your mom’s wedding dress to make garters. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to get started.
I have the name tape from a military uniform, can you use it to make garter?
Oh yes, we looooove making garter heirlooms from military uniforms. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to get started.
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We wanna hear from you too! Email at info@thegartergirl.com is the best way to get in touch. Did we mention that email is also the fastest way to get a response?!
So sorry, we do not have a storefront. The Garter Girl is online e-commerce business. We like to touch and feel things too, and we want you to feel totally comfortable and confident in your purchase. Email us at info@thegartergirl.com to talk about your order or to ask any questions.
Unfortunately, no. We have little kiddos and therefore tend to work odd hours. Keeping routine office hours might be what sets us over the edge! But, we are totally available via email as much as you want. All questions and custom design requests are handled via email at info@thegartergirl.com, please get in touch with us anytime. If you would like to set up a phone call or video chat to discuss your order, we would love to connect with you. Please email info@thegartergirl.com to set up a time to talk.
When we are not sewing and running after kids, we can be found playing around on social media, mostly on Instagram. Come join the party with @gartergirl on Instagram and say “hi!” We post a lot of behind the scenes in Stories (click the circle around our profile photo), so come on over to @gartergirl on Instagram and check it out, maybe we are making your garter!
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Oh, girl! We have lots of A’s for alllllllll of your Q’s! First off, you can email us anytime at info@thegartergirl.com to get your questions answered personally. Beyond email, The Garter Girl’s blog is where it is at! You’ll find anything and everything about a wedding garter on our blog, and probably some A’s to your Q’s you didn’t even know you had!
Oh, girl, we love you so much! This is our favorite question. Yes, yes and yes. Your wedding garter is something special to celebrate you, your style, your love and your wedding. Most (not all!) of our brides do not do the garter toss at their reception. They get a garter to be a wedding heirloom that they will save and pass onto their daughter.
Short answer: No.
Long answer: It’s your wedding day, you do you! Only get a tossing garter if you are doing the garter toss at your wedding reception.
If you have a tossing garter, you’ll wear two garters on your wedding day: a main heirloom garter and a tossing garter. The tossing garter is for your partner to toss so that you don’t have to toss your main heirloom garter during the garter toss. Your partner should take the toss garter off of you and leave the heirloom garter right where it is.
We recommend that you wear your tossing garter under (or lower down your leg) your main heirloom garter, as close to your knee as is comfortable for you. You want the tossing garter to be the first thing that your partner finds during the garter toss ceremony, hence its lower placement on your leg.
Such a great question and believe it or not, one of our most popular questions! Bottom line: It doesn’t matter which leg you wear your wedding garter on. You can wear it on the right or the left leg. Your wedding garter will be beautiful and special (just like you!) no matter what leg you choose to wear it on.
You can wear your wedding garter wherever is comfortable for you. We generally recommend wearing your garter just above your knee at the narrowest part of your leg. You can move your garter up or down your leg depending on what feels good to you. The lower down your leg that your garter is worn, the less of a chance of it rubbing against your other leg. If you are wearing a tossing garter in addition to your main garter, the tossing garter goes below (or lower down the leg) the main garter so that it is easier to take off.
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We run a simple wholesale program for brick and mortar stores only. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to find out more about our wholesale program.
Yes, the Garter Girl does offer wholesale pricing for select bridal dress shops, wedding dress boutiques and other retail locations interested in selling our products. Please email info@thegartergirl.com for more information on our wholesale policies.
The Garter Girl does not allow re-sell, wholesale or drop shipping for online shops and e-commerce retailers. Wholesale pricing is on available to shops with a physical presence.
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Why, yes, we do! The Garter Girl loves bloggers and influencers. Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to get started as an affiliate for The Garter Girl.
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Yes! Gift certificates are an awesome present for the bride-to-be. Please email info@thegartergirl.com to place a gift certificate order.
Please email us at info@thegartergirl.com to use a gift certificate. Be sure to include the amount of your gift certificate and where you got it.
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Are you wondering what to do with the cotton bag that was included in your garter order? We are so glad that you asked! Our garters are meant to be saved as a wedding heirloom. The bag is for you to save your garter in after your wedding. By placing your garter inside the bag after your wedding, you’ll protect it so that you can pass it onto your daughter or someone else to be an special heirloom for them too.
Thank you for asking. Quality is so very important to us. Our garter heirlooms are intended to be loved on the wedding day and passed on through generations. Every wedding garter sold by The Garter Girl is carefully handcrafted to order. Special care is taken to ensure that your garter will last through the wedding day and beyond. All wedding garters are hand made in the United States by Julianne, owner of The Garter Girl, using the finest quality materials that are made in the United States whenever possible.
Please know that handmade items are delicate and special care should be taken when handling and saving your wedding garter. Certain materials, such as elastic and feathers, have a limited lifespan and might change or need to be replaced after long periods of time.
Congrats on your marriage BTW! This part of the process is so important to us, because our wedding garters are intended to be heirlooms and shared through generations. All wedding garters are handmade and thus delicate. Proper care is an important part of the heirloom process. Please take great care when handling your garter, especially putting it on and taking it off. All garter orders include a keepsake, cotton bag to save and protect the garter after your wedding.
If your wedding garter is stained or discolored after the wedding, gentle spot cleaning with cold water is recommended before packing it away. Wedding garters made with satin, lace and grosgrain ribbon can also be soaked in cold water and laid flat to dry. Feathers, sparkles and beads should not be fully soaked. If your wedding garter is extremely soiled or has a stubborn stain, a small amount of delicate laundry detergent, such as Woolite, can be mixed into a cold water bath or dabbed on as a spot treatment.
Before putting your garter away in the keepsake bag for the long-term, please be sure to carefully clean and fully air-dry your garter. The cotton bag will help to protect the garter and absorb any oils or dirt that may be on the your garter.
Yup, just wedding garters! The Garter Girl is focused on designing and hand making beautiful wedding garters; that’s it. We know it sounds strange to be so focused on one thing, but this focus allows us to hand create the best possible wedding heirlooms for you. We want you to love your garter forever and pass it onto your daughter, that’s a tall order and we are committed to it!
Ummm, yes! Our wedding garter heirlooms are so vain, they love to have their picture taken! On the model peeking out, the bride opening up the box on her wedding morning or adding to wedding invitation flat lay (We loooove a good flat lay!), there are so many lovely ways to style a wedding garter. Most publications love details, details and more details. And, a garter is another detail that will help to make your photo shoot amazing. If you are doing a styled photo shoot, please get in touch with us at info@thegartergirl.com to discuss your design concept.
Too long! Just kidding! The Garter Girl was started in 2003, after Julianne couldn’t find a stylish wedding garter for her friend, Brooke. The rest is garter history, as they say.
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Wow, thank you for asking! You are more than welcome to use The Garter Girl’s products photos for your blog, social media website and/or inspiration boards. However, you must credit The Garter Girl with a link to our website (or social media account), and the photographer who owns the photo, if applicable.
Well, thanks! You may take quotes or short snippets from The Garter Girl’s blog posts, but you may not copy and paste entire pages or posts verbatim. If you take a quote or a snippet, you must credit The Garter Girl with a link to the website (or social media account).
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