Happy Holidays, brides! The holidays are known as being a season of lots of engagements, which means that our busiest time of year is approaching in the new year!

Since so many will start your wedding planning journeys over the next few weeks and months, we thought it would be a great time to give some tips for the wedding planning and dress shopping processes!

1. Choose a Venue and Date

We always say that the dress and the venue are the two most important elements of planning a wedding! Once you have your location and your attire, everything else will fall into place. Start by researching and visiting venues to find the right place for your celebration, and let the planning begin!

2. Find your Inspiration

Dress shopping should be easy! Pinterest and social media can give you inspiration for what type of gown you want for your big day! Coming in with a Pinterest board or photos of gowns that you like will help you and your consultant know how to best narrow down your selection.

3. Start with 1-2 appointments

Most of our brides end up purchasing one of the first dresses they ever try on! The process should be fun and effortless! Schedule with 1 or 2 boutiques and start there. You might be surprised at how quickly you find your dream dress! This will allow you to try on all of your options and really narrow it down, without throwing too many appointments or gowns into the mix.

4. Eliminate as you go!

When you find a gown you like, compare everything else to it! It can be confusing to get to the end of your search and not know what direction you’d like to go in. If you eliminate gowns as you go, you will end with one clear favorite, which makes the decision so much easier!

Some questions to ask yourself in the gowns are:

• Am I comfortable in this?
• Do I feel my best?
• Do I feel like a bride?
• What, if anything, do I not like about this gown?
• How does it compare to other gowns I have tried?

Considering these questions will help you determine what style is your favorite, and will make choosing a gown simple and easy.

5. Know your Budget

Having a clear budget in mind will help with the process, as well. Research the cost of gowns at the stores you hope to visit, and know what your ceiling price is. We will be mindful of your budget! Also consider that alterations are another expense, and veils and accessories factor in, as well.

6. Trust your Consultant

Going into appointments can be nerve-wracking, and we get that! Once you get a dress on, the nerves will go away! Your consultant is there to help make the process as easy as possible, so be honest with them! We are team bride and want to help you find your dream gown!

Sometimes we’ll pull a wild card gown or accessory. Try it! You never know what something you never thought about will be like. A lot of times, our brides leave with the wild card gown, because it ends up being the favorite!

7. Finding the dress is a feeling

It might sound crazy, but finding the dress is a feeling! Most brides know when they’ve found it. We want you to feel amazing in your dress, and when you have that feeling, you’ve probably found it! Trust that it’s okay to stop shopping when you find something you love.

8. Have fun!

Our best advice for you is to enjoy the process! Finding your gown should be a memorable experience to cherish for life with your closest friends and family. We want you to feel beautiful and have a blast finding your dream dress!

Ready to find the one? Schedule an appointment through our website! We can’t wait to help you find the dress of your dreams!