By Lauren Alexander.Wedding Dress Shopping: 10 Top Tips
Shopping for your dream dress is such a unique and special experience; it will be a poignant moment in your wedding planning journey.
Some brides have longed for the day that they can take their closest to a bridal boutique, pop the prosecco and try on pretty dresses. Whilst for many, it can be such a daunting feeling to have all the attention, trying to find a dress whilst having budget considerations and on top of all, sizing concerns.
Preparation is key for helping you find your prefect dress. Therefore, I have compiled a selection of tips you may wish to consider before embarking on your Wedding Dress journey.
Set a Budget
Consider a pricing point that you are happy to spend on your dress. Don’t feel pressured and make sure you choose a pricing range which is comfortable and manageable for you. You may wish to factor in the cost of additional extras to complete your look, such as a veil, accessories, shoes and also alterations.
Schedule Appointments at Bridal Shops
Whilst there are some bridal shops that offer a walk-in service, most will require booking in advance. By pre-booking a wedding dress appointment, this will allow you to have a dedicated time slot and full attention from a Wedding Dress Consultant. Don’t be afraid to ask your Wedding Dress Consultant for advice, they will know how their dresses look on all body types.
Research styles
There are so many differing styles to Wedding Dresses, from Princess, to A-Line, from Column to Mermaid, there are Drop Waist styles, Empire, Fit and Flare to name a few! If you are struggling to explore what dress style may suit you, look for inspiration online, in bridal magazines, or on social media. If you have chosen your Wedding Venue, consider the location, theme, time of year and most importantly consider your body type, you may be pleasantly surprised with the style dress you end up choosing!
Image reference – WVSA Suppliers – Lily Francis Bridal
Have an Open Mind
Not just relating to the dress styles, but to the sizes! Wedding dress sizing is not based on high street sizing charts. They are typically designer sizing and are of no correlation to your favourite jeans. Your Wedding Dress Consultant may take bust, waist and hip measurements, but this will be around the biggest part of your bust, waist and hips. You can expect to go up 2-3 dress sizes in wedding dress sizing – the size is just number and means nothing!
Choose Guests Wisely
Bring anyone who gives you valuable opinions and support but most importantly, listens to you. Choose a trusted friend or family member rather than a crowd of your nearest and dearest. The last thing you want is for too many voices or clashing opinions.
Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! You may wish to explore whether the bridal shop does in-house alterations or have a preferred external seamstress, do they offer storage for after your dress arrives? What is the latest date that you can be sized before the dress needs to be ordered? Does the shop do a ‘dressing on the day’ service? Will the Bridal Shop steam your dress for you before collection?
Appointment Preparation
You may be thinking you will need to buy a new strapless bra and body shapewear. My recommendation would be to consider wearing no bra and seamless pants! Most dresses include bust cups, which tend to be unaccommodating for fitting in a bra too. If you are concerned the bust cups won’t be your size, discuss with your wedding dress consultant about swapping them for more appropriate sizing or removing them altogether so you can wear a bra. If you are concerned about needing support, dresses are more supportive than they look, especially ones with built in corsets!
Image reference – WVSA Suppliers – Sammie Lou Bridal
Photography
Before papping away at dresses, consider whether the Bridal Boutique has any restrictions on photography. Some Wedding Dress Designers do not allow photos for copyright purposes whereas some designers/shops have no restrictions so you can snap away. Do consider that whilst having lots of photos keeps the styles fresh in your mind, photos may not do the dresses any justice in artificial lighting, and you may drive yourself crazy looking back at them all the time!
Don’t Limit Yourself
Try different styles, different sizes, different accent colours – why not allow your Bridal Consultant to pick you out a wildcard! You can share your concerns, preferences and be honest with your consultant about your thoughts. You should try as many dresses as you feel comfortable to. However, I have a suspicion that a high percentage of brides usually go back to choosing the dress they tried on first!
Stay True to Yourself
Finally, choose a dress reflecting your personality. Don’t compare yourself, your dress or experience to anyone else. Focus on your unique style and chose all your favourite things. Ultimately, your dress is a reflection of you, and you must feel completely comfortable and at ease wearing it. Have so much fun and enjoy your special moment!
Happy Shopping, Lauren x