Wedding dress shopping can seem a bit daunting at first. Many brides-to-be don’t even know where to begin! But not to worry, we’ve gathered some of the best tips and tricks, straight from a bridal consultant!
1. Do Your Research
First things first, flip through some bridal magazines and scroll through Pinterest to start getting an idea of the styles that catch your eye. Are you drawn to simple, classic designs? Or maybe you prefer lots of sparkles. Whatever it might be, keep track of the details you’re drawn to and save the pictures to show your bridal consultant at your appointment! Even if the store doesn’t carry the exact dress, showing your stylist some pictures will really help them get a sense of what you’re envisioning!
2. Stay Open-Minded
Your Pinterest board may be filled with mermaid fit gowns, but don’t be afraid to stray from the wedding dress silhouette you’re envisioning when you get to your appointments. You may end up totally hating the style that you love in pictures when you put it on, or simply realize that a-line gowns are what truly make you feel like a princess! Whatever the case may be, we always recommend giving each silhouette a try at least once! You may confirm you do indeed hate that style, or end up falling in love!
3. Think About Comfort Too
Of course, your main priority is looking great, but you also want to feel great! Remember, you’ll be in your wedding dress most of the day. Although not too many wedding dresses are really ‘comfortable’ (although there are some out there!), you still want to take your comfort into consideration. For example, trendy long sleeve and off-the-shoulder gowns are gorgeous to look at, but if you like to raise the roof on the dancefloor, that won’t be so easy in these styles. Definitely something to think about as you’re wedding dress shopping!
4. Who To Bring Along
Your wedding dress shopping crew should be there to support you, end of story. Bring the ladies (and gentlemen) in your life that you know will make this a fun experience, and not bring unnecessary stress! For brides that get overwhelmed with a lot of attention or are easily swayed by outside opinions, the smaller the tribe the better. We know some brides who found it worked best to do the shopping all by themselves and didn’t bring in the crew until they narrowed down their favorites, or even selected the one!
5. Where to Schedule Appointments
There are a few key questions to ask or look up online when looking at a potential bridal shop. First and foremost is your budget. Find out the range of prices for the dresses at a potential shop and make sure it fits what you are wanting to spend. You may also want to ask what sizes their sample dresses are, as well as what designers they carry! If you’ve found you’re drawn to a particular dress designer or brand, you can also go to that company’s website which usually has an option to locate shops that carry their gowns. Its also always helpful to read reviews, or ask friends who’ve gone wedding dress shopping for recommendations. You want to go to shops that will give you the best bridal experience!
6. Schedule Appointments on Weekdays
Many bridal shops can get crazy on the weekends as everyone tries to fit in their wedding dress shopping on Saturdays and Sundays. Especially in larger cities, appointments can book up weeks in advance during peak wedding shopping seasons and appointments run back to back all day long. We always recommend brides try to schedule their shopping during the week if at all possible. You’re much more likely to get a more personal, relaxing experience by shopping on a weekday rather than on a hectic Saturday!
Want more wedding dress advice? Head over to The Dress As The Main Consideration In Wedding Planning.
