Whether you just got engaged or you already have bridal appointments scheduled, here are 10 tips to help with your wedding dress shopping experience!

1. Set a budget

Nothing is worse than falling in love with a dress to discover you can’t afford it. We always ask for a budget from our brides to make sure we don’t show them anything above it.

2. Start the process 12-14 months from the wedding

If you have the timeline start early! Made to order dresses take 5-6 months to come in, plus alterations are about 8-10 weeks and don’t forget if you’re doing bridals this all has to be done by that date. Most of the designers we carry do offer rushes at an additional charge.

Of course not everybody has a timeframe to do this and we totally understand, which is why we have a selection of ‘Ready To Wed’ gowns here at the boutique that you can leave with same day!

3. Research local boutiques in your area

Do your research to find bridal boutiques in your area that match your style and offer dresses in your price point.

4. Use social media to find & save dresses you love

Spend some time on Instagram or Pinterest to go through and save the dresses you love. Here at the boutique we actually pre-pull gowns prior to a brides appointment so we ask for inspiration pics. By providing a boutique with those pictures it will allow the appointment to go much smoother and give you the opportunity to try more on because you have already narrowed down what you like.

5. Only make 1 appointment per day

We know most people want to make a full day of trying on dresses with all their friends and family but trust us, focus on one appointment at a time. Trying on so many dresses in one day can lead to confusion and when you look back at pictures they can all start to look the same. By booking one appointment a day you can go into each one fully focused and ready to find the one, not to mention you won’t have to worry about getting charged a cancelation fee or bringing your group of friends and family to 4 or 5 different places in one day.

We are several brides first and only shopping experience. Just because you get dream dress checked off doesn’t mean the fun ends there, then you get to focus on the fun details of how you want to complete your wedding day look!

6. Choose your bride tribe

A lot of brides feel the pressure to invite everyone to their appointments but trust us when we say less is better. That many opinions can over power your voice and can leave you feeling confused and defeated cause you want to please everyone. We suggest narrowing it down to 2-4 people that you MUST have with you. Whether its mom, grandma, sisters, etc. make sure its the people that you want their opinions. Remember this is your moment!

We also offer ‘gown reveal’ appointments, so if you say YES but want your friends and family to come in and see the one you picked in person this allows them to feel included without actually being at your initial appointment.

7. Wear Proper Undergarments

You definitely don’t want any bright colored undergarments to distract you from the dresses you’re trying on. We tell brides that bra’s aren’t necessary as majority of these dresses have built in cups. As for panties, nude colored ones are perfect. If you choose to wear spandex on your wedding day you can wear these during the appointment as well.

8. Have an open mind

You have done your research and most likely have an idea of what you want and what you don’t want. We always encourage brides to come into the appointment with an open mind. The amount of times we have had brides tell us they are sure they don’t want something and then we get them in it and guess what, they love it!

9. Don’t worry about sizing

Bridal sizing is known to run very small and sizes can also vary by designer and silhouette. Wedding dresses also require alterations to make sure it fits you perfectly so keep in mind nothing is going to fit you like a glove at the appointment. Whether a dress is too big or too small, sometimes a little imagination is necessary to see the potential a dress could have once fitted properly for you.

10. HAVE FUN!!

Lastly (and most importantly) remember to have fun!! We always tell brides this experience shouldn’t be hard and stressful, when you love a dress and it makes you feel beautiful then you know its THE one!

We hope you enjoyed hearing our top tips and if you are ready to find your dream dress make sure to give us a call!

318.216.5558