6 Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping
Here are our top 6 tips to help make your dress shopping experience absolutely amazing!
KNOW YOUR BUDGET
Before your bridal appointment, make sure you know what your budget is for your bridal look including your gown, veil, jewelry, shoes, alterations and any other accessories you might want — like a garter! You’ll want to make sure you know what your limits so you feel comfortable while you are shopping and once you do say yes to your dream wedding dress and your accessories. Be sure to communicate your budget with your bridal stylist at the beginning of your appointment so they are aware and only selecting gowns in your budget.
TRUST YOUR STYLIST
Speaking of communicating with your bridal stylist, make sure you tell them everything you want them to know — your budget, style, venue, wedding details, etc. But once you have shared all those lovely details, sit back, relax and enjoy the shopping experience. Your bridal stylist knows the gowns in and out and they will be able to select the most amazing gowns for you to try. This will help optimize your time during your appointment and allow you to focus on what you love and the people you love that are there with you. You never know, you might end up falling in love with a dress you never even would have thought to try!
BRING YOUR MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE
Another important element to having an amazing wedding dress shopping experience is to make sure you bring all of your most important people with you! No matter who they are, make sure they are there to support you and celebrate you. Dress shopping can, at times, feel overwhelming and it is important to make sure the people who are with you at your appointment are there to lift you up. This is absolutely key to a fantastic dress shopping experience.
SHOP EARLY
Most wedding dresses are made to order which means it will take time to create your gown once you place your order. Most designers take 6 to 8 months for your wedding dress to be made. In addition, you will also need to add in another 2 to 3 months for alterations to be completed (even minor alterations like raising the hem line of the gown). This means you should order your wedding dress roughly one year before your wedding date. In some cases designers will offer rush options for an additional fee, but not all designers will. This is something you will want to keep in mind while you are wedding planning. If your are shopping with less than a year before your wedding, communicate with your bridal stylist so they can curate a selection of gowns that are within your budget and can be made in time for your wedding day! There is always a solution and your bridal stylist is there to help you every step of the way!
DESIGNATE A PHOTOGRAPHER WHILE DRESS SHOPPING
This one is important, ask one person from your group to take pictures during your appointment, we recommend a friend or one of your bridesmaids. This will take the pressure off of you to remember to take photos so you can enjoy your time trying on wedding gowns! We recommend to get a photo of the front of the dress, the back and a close up of the details (if there is lace, beading, etc.) and a video of you in the gown as well. These photos and videos will be a great resource for you to go back and look at after your order your gown and they will give you an idea of how the dress will photograph on your wedding day!
ONCE YOU SAY YES, STOP LOOKING
This one may seem simple, but once you say yes to your dream wedding dress, stop looking at wedding dresses. The nature of fashion is that there will always be something new every season and you may start doubting your decision. You said yes to your dress because it is your dress and it is perfect for you. Don’t let anything make you second guess your decision, you have enough to worry about planning your wedding!
