Finding Your Wedding Dress
You’ve seen them on TV, you’ve been window shopping online for it, and you have probably been dreaming, or maybe even designing, your own since you were a little girl. If you’re about 9 months away from your wedding date then it’s time for you to say to your dress! But before you dive into dress shopping head first, check out these helpful tips on how to find your perfect wedding dress.
Do Your Research
You only wear it once, so make sure you know what you are looking for! Make a private Pinterest board, window shop online, make a collage with pictures from magazines, and even check out what other brides you know have worn. This will help you figure out which dresses will best fit the theme of your wedding and which bridal shops and boutiques are the right choices for you.
Be Realistic
Make sure you are looking in the right price range for your budget! The worst thing a bride can do is find a dress she absolutely loves and then realizes it is out of her budget. You also need to make sure you’re including any extra fees that may be wrapped up in your dress, like shipping, taxes, and alterations. Beautiful dresses come in all shapes, sizes, and prices, so make sure you’re looking in the right range before you get your heart broken.
Book an Appointment
Once you have an idea of what you are looking for and have reminded yourself of your budget, it is time to get ready to shop. Make sure to book an appointment at the bridal shop of your choice. The best time to book your appointment for is early in the morning in the middle of the week. Your consultant will give you their full attention and only have you and your concerns in mind.
Shopping Entourage
When you’re shopping you always want someone else’s opinion on what they think looks good on you, but how many opinions are you looking for? Too many people can cause friction and frustration, but too few of people can cause doubt and disbelief. The best way to handle this is to bring your closest loved ones to your initial shopping trip. Moms, grandmothers, sisters, and even aunts are the best ones to bring with you when choosing your wedding dress. They will give the best and most honest opinions of them all and constantly remind you that your opinion is the one that matters most. Save the entire bridal party for the last fitting or the day of the wedding. You may even decide that you would just prefer to go on your own, and that is fine too! Do whatever makes you the most comfortable and keeps your stress to a minimum.
Prepare to Model A LOT
Shopping for a wedding dress is a bit different from regular shopping. You are going to want to try on more than one or two styles. Be ready to try on a lot of dresses, but make sure to limit the number you try. Too many dresses will create a sensory overload and you will be too frustrated to choose one.
Be Open Minded
Most brides enter a bridal shop believing they know EXACTLY what they want and what they are looking for, and sometimes what they believe they want turns into a disaster and they can’t recover from it and have to leave. Avoid this by going in open-minded and ready to try anything. Make sure not to judge the dresses by the way they look on the rack. They look best when being worn. If you see one and you’re unsure, go ahead and try it anyway. It may actually be the one you’re looking for.
Size Doesn’t Matter
Yes, you read that right. When it comes to wedding dresses size does not matter. What does matter is how it fits you! Even though you are only wearing it one day you are more than likely wearing it all day so it needs to be comfortable. So ignore the numbers you see when trying on the dress! Work with your tailor, give accurate measurements, and be honest at the fittings.
Quick Tip: If you are planning on trying to lose weight before your wedding, still order for the size you are now. It is a lot easier for a tailor to make a dress smaller and almost impossible to make it larger.
Flatter Your Body and Your Tastes
Every bride’s body is unique, so dresses fit and look different on everyone. Because of this designers have created multiple dress silhouettes and necklines to try to flatter each body type. Each style will fit you differently. Talk to your consultant and entourage to see what they think looks the best on you and compare what they say to your own thoughts. Try on different ones and see what you think fits you and your tastes bests. You want to make sure the dress fits you, your expectations, and your wedding. And don't be worried about how you will know if it is the right dress or not. You will know the moment you put it on.
Accessorize
Your dress is stunning by itself, but it is always nice to have those smaller pieces that further enhance that beauty. Your accessories could be a veil, earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, and of course your shoes. You could have a few of these or all of them. It is up to you and what you believe looks good. Just remember, when purchasing accessories from bridal shops the sale is usually final, so make sure they are the ones for you before leaving with them.
Schedule Fittings
The reason why it is suggested to order your dress as early as 9 months is so there is time to make sure it fits you perfectly. Whether you are working with a tailor through your bridal shop or working with a private tailor, you need to schedule multiple fittings. The best practice is to have 4 fittings total. One fitting when your dress comes in, the second 3-5 months prior to your wedding, the third 2-4 weeks before your wedding, and the last fitting one week of your wedding. The will ensure that everything about your dress and the way it fits is perfect.
We hope these tips will help you on your dress shopping journey. Each bride is unique and special in her own way, so each experience will be different. Stay focused, keep your eye on the prize, and make sure your dress enhances your own beauty and does not outshine you. Happy shopping!