Whether you’re a bride that has planned her wedding day from childhood, or a bride that’s only just jumped into the world of weddings, wedding dress shopping can be extremely stressful. With so many different styles, shapes, fabrics, colours – it can definitely be overwhelming. How does one deal with such stress? Preparation of course!
Here are 13 things no one tells you about wedding dress shopping.
Ditch your preconceived ideas of what your wedding dress should look like. Chances are the dress you imagined wearing won’t be the dress you end up buying. In order to find the perfect dress for your body, you need to be open about trying different shapes and styles and be open-minded about trying on a dress even if it doesn’t look great on the hanger. It might mould to your figure perfectly or accentuate the features that make you feel and look beautiful.
Don’t commit to buying a dress that everyone thinks is perfect (that brings tears to your mother’s eyes), but you just don’t love. Do what works for you. Even if the sales lady is telling you seven months is just not enough time and you need to decide today, don’t be swayed. You will know the dress is right so trust your instincts.
Image via : Brickhouse Bridal
“The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence” If you don’t feel comfortable and confident in the dress it will show. If you don’t feel comfortable in any dress in the shop, try somewhere else or try a different style. Decide what you want to draw attention to and what you want distract attention from before you start shopping.
Have a look at your Pinterest boards, Instagram likes, screenshots and you’ll notice a general trend in styles. Save a few images or print them out and bring them along to your appointment. This will not only help you decide what you like, but will help the consultant pick dresses you actually want to try on.
Image via : Elizabeth Messina
Be choosy about who you take to your appointments. The more people you bring, the more opinions and the more likely you’ll be confused. Our advice is to bring along one or two family members or friends that you trust are going to be honest with you. Some boutiques have a restriction on how many people you can bring, so ask in advance.
Book your appointments on a day when you are not restricted by time and you know that the shop won’t be too crowded. Ask your consultant beforehand what times are quieter than others. You might find that a Tuesday afternoon is much busier than a Saturday morning.
Image via : Forum Kredy Towe
Remember to eat beforehand and in between your appointments. Wedding dresses are heavy and trying one after the other will leave you exhausted. Having enough sustenance to get through the day is extremely important when wedding dress shopping. Plus you don’t want to feel nauseous or have serious hangry issues on such an occasion.
Since most wedding dresses come in white and ivory and every shade in between if you’re not wearing any colour on your face you’ll look washed out. But don’t go overboard and completely caked. Just a little more blusher and some liner will help you visualise what you’ll look like on your big day.
More likely than not the dresses you try on will not be your size and if you’re custom making your dress you’re going to need to visualise the end product. Trust the consultant and ask a lot of questions that will help create a better picture in your head and make the ordeal a little less stressful.
Image via : A Practical Wedding
If you’re not in love with a dress in the space of a minute it’s probably not the right dress for you. You’ll most probably know from the get go and the right dress will have you dreaming until the wedding day…and then you’ll never want to take it off.
It’s never too early to get started wedding dress shopping – don’t leave it too late! If you are buying ready to wear you’ll need some time to get it adjusted to fit you and steamed before the big day. If you’re going custom made you’ll need enough time to discuss the dress, fabric source, have several consultations before it’s complete. Even then you may want to add extra appliqué or hand beading which will take a month on it’s own. We recommend starting at least six to eight months in advance.
Image via : Steven Khalil
Know your budget and how far you can stretch it. Don’t forget to take into account the cost of adjustments and fabric; a more expensive lace will incur a higher price tag. Also, don’t forget to speak to a boutique about pricing before your appointment. Some will only have a few within your budget and you’re better off seeing someone else with more options. Although don’t be afraid to ask the consultant about reducing costs.
Image via : Steven Khalil
It is perfectly all right to be the only one in the room with dry eyes. Even when you’ve found the right dress you might not feel inclined to cry. On the other hand every dress you try on will get you shedding a few tears. Expect a little up and down in your emotions – it’s kind of a big deal.
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