With the Royal Wedding taking place this Saturday, I’m going down memory lane to share some wedding dress shopping tips of my own. For me, the most stressful wedding activity was the dress shopping. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE shopping, but knowing this was the most important piece of clothing I would ever purchase gave me anxiety. So, I decided to buckle down, do my research and get it done early so that I didn’t have to think about it. And you know what? I actually had fun 😁! Hopefully these tips help ease your nerves and allow you to enjoy your special moment too.
Ask around: Since there are SO many bridal shops, make sure you ask your friends, family and co-workers about their experiences and recommendations on where to go. Word of mouth is sometimes the best way to stumble upon a store that you wouldn’t have otherwise considered.
Call ahead: Once you have a good list, do your research and schedule appointments with shops that you like (all the ones I went to didn’t take walk-in’s). We spent about 1.5-2 hours at each store (not including travel) so keep that in mind when scheduling back-to-backs! Also, make sure you build in time for lunch. It’s a long day and building in a little break to replenish is a must. Plus, it’ll give you some time to reflect on the styles and designers you tried on!
Set a budget: Here’s the thing, falling in love with a dress that you can’t afford is probably more cringe-worthy than just setting a price point – trust me on this one. There are millions of dresses out there and you will find “the one” within your budget, don’t worry! Remember, the dress cost is one thing, but you’ll also need to account for shoes, jewelry, garters, head pieces (if you choose), veils, undergarments and alterations, to complete your final look (more on that below). I downloaded The Knot App (also available in a desktop version) and used their wedding budget calculator to make sure I wasn’t forgetting any expenses.
Have an idea of what you like: Although researching dresses can be overwhelming, the type of style you like will be the first question you get asked by your store clerk. I found it helpful to bring pictures of the three styles and designers I liked most so the store clerks had a starting point – David Tutera, Sophia Tolli and Martin Thornburg, no strapless, ball gown or mermaid style, for me. If you have no clue what you like, it’s okay to try on a few styles to see what you like. Also, be open-minded! Some dresses will look great on the hanger, but you may not like them on. Don’t be discouraged. As you continue the shopping process, you’ll start to be drawn to certain styles so make sure you jot those down in your phone along the way.
Manage the audience: Bringing too many people will result in too many opinions, and in the end, you’ll only end up wanting to hear from a select few. I brought my mom, mother-in-law, sister and best friend and it was the perfect mix.
Shop around: I recommend going to at least three to four places so you can really get a feel for the different styles and designers available. Remember, not all salons will carry the designer’s entire collection so you might have to visit several shops until you can try on the one you’ve had your eye on. I went to four bridal shops and only the last one had the designer that I fell in love with during my research. Make sure to take photos in every dress so you can go back and see what you liked or didn’t like about it.
Mix & match: As you shop around for the one, keep an eye out for any wedding dress accessories that catch your eye – whether it be belts, head pieces or jewelry. I fell in love with a head piece from the first shop we visited even though it wasn’t where I ended up purchasing my dress. Take pictures and jot down brand names and pricing so you can revisit your options after you find your dress.
When you know, you know: Everyone says this and you honestly won’t get it until you find “the one”. You’ll feel euphoric, your friends and family will be crying and once its on, you’ll be ready to strut down the aisle right then and there. Once you find the one, the next most important thing you can do is to stop looking!!
Little white lie: This is an important one because I got a little screwed with my bridesmaid dress order (bridesmaid dress shopping tips coming soon!). When placing your order for the gown, I recommend fibbing a little on the date. My wedding was in September but my sales associate wrote down February to guarantee it arrived on time. And oh man, am I glad she did that! In January, I received a call saying it was at the store and then worked with the alterations department to get the dress fitted three months out. Speaking of alterations, order your current size – you can always get it pulled in.
Keeping it a secret: When you finally find the one, everyone will be dying to hear about your look and see pictures of it. Make sure you decide early on if you want to share your look or keep it a secret until the big day. Since I didn’t do a first look with Ryan (the first time he saw me was when I walked down the aisle), I decided to do one with my bridal party and my dad, and as hard as it was, no one outside of the people that went with me (and my hair stylist) got a glimpse before the big day. It made the reveal that much more special 😁.
Remember its your day so don’t feel pressured to get anything that you don’t feel comfortable with and 100% beautiful in. And don’t forget, this is supposed to be FUN so enjoy every second! Happy shopping!
Share your own wedding dress shopping tips below, and be sure to check out my other fashion inspiration!
Xoxo,
Jo
