To some, finding the perfect wedding dress is almost on par with finding the perfect man. So, searching for “the one” can be as daunting as… well, searching for “the one”. We have a few tips to make sure that your search is productive and successful!
Getting Ready
1. Research the bridal salons in your area. See which designers they carry, what their price points are, and what their store hours are. If salons offer appointments, we suggest scheduling one so that you and your party can arrive, confident that you will get some dressing room time.
2. Research dress styles. Choose the styles that you think will suit you, your venue, and your groom the best. There are so many options and now that different colors are in style, this just expands the amount of choices that you have (for better or worse)! Take your time, research carefully so that you can narrow down your choices somewhat before your appointment.
3. Preparing for the appointment. We suggest wearing a strapless bra and putting your best face forward so that you can start to envision the whole look unfolding. Perhaps wear the nail polish that matches the color of your flowers or put your hair in an updo to help you feel more bridal.
At the Appointment
4. Friends and Family. Bring friends and family whose style matches your own. Dissenting opinions from your closest pals may make it tough for you to trust your gut on which dress is the winner.
5. Choose dresses wisely. While exploring your options is great, you will get tired and overwhelmed if you try on over 10 dresses in one appointment. That being said, choose dresses that fit your vision. Bring a picture of the #1 dress you found online and try it (or something similar) on. Don’t discount other styles though! If you are indecisive and your original dress doesn’t work as well in real life, try on some completely different styles. The end result may surprise you!
6. You don’t have to wait for The Moment. That moment when you are about to say yes and then the consultant puts a veil on you for the first time and then you just know? Yeah, that’s not always how it works but don’t be disappointed if you don’t have that moment of clarity. Not everyone cries when they find their dress, especially if the dress is not important to you, if you are indecisive, if you aren’t a fan of clothes shopping, or if you know in your heart that your ideal dress is out of your budget. Your groom will be focusing on you, not the dress so as long as the dress makes you feel like a beautiful bride, that is all that counts.
Wedding dress shopping is an experience, in and of itself. We suggest starting about 9-10 months in advance so you can have plenty of time for salon hopping and decision making. Dresses should be ordered about 8 months in advance so you have a cushion with getting your dress from the manufacturer to doing multiple rounds of alterations. Have fun and happy shopping!
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