They asked and you said ‘yes’, and now you are not just someone’s significant other, you are a fiancée. You are elated and giddy – you are marrying the person you can’t wait to spend the rest of your life with.
Your first step is likely going to be shopping for a dress. But not just any dress, the dress. The one you will wear while walking down the aisle, the one that will make your dad shed a tear when he sees you for the first time, and the one that will make you future spouse hold their breath.
Wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting parts of planning your dream wedding. But it can also be one of the most stressful, if you are not prepared.
So today we have put together a compilation of tips we find to be the most useful when searching for your dream dress.
1. Do your research
Before you even set foot in a bridal store or begin shopping online, make sure to gather ideas of what wedding dresses you are most excited to try on.
Think of details such as neckline (sweetheart or boatneck), material (silk or taffeta), lace or no lace, how much intricacy, if any, you want in your gown (beads, crystals, both or neither), train length, veil or no veil, etc. The more detailed you can get about what you want, the easier it will be to say no to the gowns that are not right for you.
Browse Pinterest for ideas and looks, it will help you rule out what you don’t like and find what you do.
2. Choose your entourage carefully
Most brides bring people with them for wedding dress shopping. And while having people around is important and can be a great help when choosing a gown, make sure you limit your group to a few very close family members and friends to avoid having too many opinions that can cloud your own decision-making.
Make sure your people are supportive and kind, and are looking out for your desires first and foremost. Remember, this is your day and your dress, so choose based on what your heart wants, not someone else’s.
3. Wear the right undergarments
What many people don’t tell you is how important wearing the right undergarments can be to the look of the dress. Leave the lacy black underwear at home and opt for a well-supported, nude strapless bra or brassiere instead. Your gown will be instantly transformed in how it sits on your body with the proper undergarments there for support.
Don’t forget to bring a pair of shoes with the heel height similar to what you would wear on your wedding day – this will help you figure out whether the dress might need hemming or not.
4. Shop for your current, not future measurements
Many brides set a goal of losing weight before their wedding day, and if you are one of them – we applaud your efforts and dedication. But make sure you are not ‘incentive’ shopping, hoping to lose 20 lbs before the big day and ordering a gown for your future measurements rather than the current ones.
Honor your body where it is now – it will put less pressure on you before the big day, allowing you to focus on other aspects of wedding day planning instead of getting anxious about not achieving your goal weight.
5. Have an idea of budget
Before beginning wedding dress shopping, have a conversation with your future spouse to decide on a budget and how much can be realistically allocated for the wedding dress. Having an idea of a budget will help you when trying on gowns or shopping online, as you can easily limit your pool based on what fits.
It’s okay to get close to the budget if you have absolutely found the dress you want, but make sure you don’t get discouraged after finding a dress that is thousands of dollars more than what you budgeted for.
6. Start shopping in advance
Begin your hunt for the perfect dress anywhere from 9-12 months before you wedding date. A gown takes time to produce, so the sooner you know which one is the one, the sooner it can be made to fit your specifications.
Here at Dream Dresses our custom gown design process varies in length, and we do have rush ordering available. But leaving yourself enough time to add or take away elements you want will ensure minimal stress and maximum excitement over your dream dress making process.
We would love to chat with you about making a dream dress for your wedding. Get started here and let’s design a dress that is made just for you.