fbpx

5 Wedding Dress Shopping Tips

May 4, 2017

Brides-to-be,

You’ve found the person you’re going to marry, and now it’s time to find your dream dress for your big day! A lot of you may be wondering…”What do I need to know before I go dress shopping!?” We’ve got your covered! Here are 5 of the most important dress shopping tips to keep in mind when you book an appointment with us to find your frock!

#1: Trust your consultant & have an open mind

This is probably the most important tip for bridal gown shopping. Making a board of wedding dresses on Pinterest is most likely one of the first things you will do after getting engaged. Be careful! Do not get stuck on a particular dress on Pinterest and decide it’s your dress before you’ve even stepped foot into a bridal salon. As bridal consultants, we have knowledge of our gowns and which dresses will look best on different body types. A large majority of the time, brides will end up purchasing a gown totally different from what they originally envisioned they would even like! So it’s best to have an open mind to trying on different styles of gowns, and trusting your consultant to pick a few gowns for you to try on as well. Gowns can look extremely different on the hanger than they do on your body, so it’s key to have an open mind.

#2: Start early

Gowns in our made-to-order collection typically take around 4-6 months to arrive in store. Then, you want to allow around 2-3 months for alterations to take place. We recommend shopping for your wedding dress at least 8-10 months before your big day. The earlier the better! It will make the experience stress-free and fun!

#3: Set a budget

It’s really important to set your budget before you arrive for your appointment. You don’t want to end up trying on a dress and falling in love with it if it’s way out of your price range. Let your consultant know your budget at the beginning of your appointment, and we will make sure you aren’t trying anything on above budget. You can then spend more time focusing on the amazing options available for your price point. Don’t forget to include the following in your dress budget as well: the cost of alterations, taxes and shipping fees—plus your veil, shoes, lingerie and jewelry. All of this can add up quickly, so set your budget accordingly.

#4: Bring a small entourage

When it comes time to deciding who you want to bring with you to your bridal appointment, your original list probably includes everyone– your mom, fiance’s mom, all of your bridesmaids, sisters, etc.. The more people you bring with you to your appointment, the more opinions you’re going to have. You’re loving a ballgown with a layered horsehair trim? Maybe only half of your entourage likes that dress because it isn’t their own personal style. They may want you to wear a fit-to-flare gown, but it’s not a style you are comfortable wearing. We recommend bringing no more than 2-3 of your closest family and friends. You are the only one who is going to be wearing your dress for your big day, so you really only want the opinions of those who matter most to you.

#5: Trust your instincts

A lot of girls feel like the expectation is to burst into tears as soon as they put their wedding dress on, and they will immediately know it is the one, based on what they see on “Say Yes to the Dress.” It is not uncommon for brides to simply get a gut feeling that the dress they have on is “the one.” If you like everything about the dress and wouldn’t change a thing about it, then it’s most likely your dress. If you’re staring at yourself in the mirror with a huge smile on your face for 10+ minutes, it’s once again most likely your dress. If you can envision yourself walking down the aisle on your wedding day in it, then it is definitely your dress!

It’s important to know it’s okay to say yes to the dress if you fall in love with it and it’s only the first or second dress you’ve tried on. Once you know, you know! It’s very common for one of the first dresses you try on to be the one, and we see it happen all the time. Sometimes, brides will feel like they have to keep shopping around at multiple boutiques, because it shouldn’t have been that easy to find their dress. It can be that easy! If your instinct is telling you that it’s your dress, you will just end up shopping around at other boutiques for the dress you already love!

Finding your wedding dress is an extremely important decision– it’s the dress you will say your vows in to your future spouse! Once you know you have found the one, trust your instincts, and say yes! Everyone is going to think you are the most beautiful bride on your wedding day!

We hope these tips are helpful as your prepare to make your first dress shopping appointment. What are you waiting for? Give us a call at 615.224.3472 to schedule your private appointment with us today! You can also click here to schedule an appointment. We can’t wait to help you find your frock!

our locations

 kansas city

nashville

shreveport

missouri

tennessee

louisiana