Two weeks ago, I did something MAJOR…I said yes to the dress! I can report back that this was hands down one of the most exciting shopping trips of my entire life, and I absolutely cannot wait to show off this beautiful piece on my wedding day. That being said, we’ve all seen the sh*t storms on reality shows like Say Yes to the Dress, where a fun and happy moment quickly turns to crazy fights and a flow of emotion. That’s why today I want to share a few of my best tips and advice for the bride on finding the perfect dress that I think are incredibly important to know before you go shopping.
Believe it or not, there are tons of things you can do to prepare ahead of time to make sure your experience is a positive one…so take notes!
Advice for the Bride: 4 Things You Need to Know Before You Go Wedding Dress Shopping
1. You are in Control of the Guest List
Shopping for the perfect dress is fun. You get to look at and try on dozens of beautiful gowns and feel like a princess for a few hours. It’s no wonder everybody and their mother wants to tag along and be a part of it.
Something that I think is incredibly important to remember while booking appointments though is that YOU alone are in control of the guest list. Lots of shops nowadays can only accommodate a certain number of guests during consultations anyways, so don’t be afraid to limit your list and invite only the people you actually want to be there with.
So, think hard about who you really want to share this experience with. Whose opinions matter the most? Or more importantly, who do you think will be the most enjoyable to shop with? In the end, you’re the one who has to wear the dress. Surround yourself with an uplifting group of people who will be honest with you, but also respect your personal style and wishes for your wedding day.
2. Each Shop Works a Little Differently
We only had to visit two different shops before I found the perfect dress for my wedding day. That being said, I could tell just from those two appointments that each dress shop you visit operates a bit differently. The first shop we visited for example, had a designated consultant working with you to help you choose dresses to try on. It was a very structured and guided experience.
The second shop we visited (the one where I found my dress) allowed me to have free reign of the entire store. I tagged all the different styles I wanted to try on, without any limitations or real guidance from the consultants.
To be honest with you, the second experience was much better than the first. There are plenty of people who may appreciate the attention and guidance of a consultant during their appointment, but I’m unfortunately not one of them. I know my personal style and how to dress for my body type fairly well. I may be in the minority here, but I don’t need or want someone that I just met controlling the dresses I try on, even if they mean well and are just trying to be helpful.
No matter what style appointment and consultants you prefer, know ahead of time that each dress shop will have a bit different rules and general operations. Sometimes you’ll love it, and sometimes you won’t. Just focus on finding the perfect dress, and let the rest melt away!
3. Don’t Let Anybody Tell You What You Want
During my first dress appointment, I remember the consultant telling me that I didn’t need a lot of sparkle on my dress. She steered me towards a lot of lace options and some cuts that I just wasn’t loving. Don’t get me wrong, she was a good consultant. She was friendly and trying to show me dresses that she thought I’d like based on what I’d told her and what they had in stock.
That being said, if you have a vision in your head of what your dress looks like…don’t give it up. You don’t have to say yes to the dress if you’re not ready. It’s hard to believe until it actually happens to you, but I promise you’ll know when you’ve found the one!
4. Be Confident in Your Budget
If you do anything before you go dress shopping, make sure you set a budget ahead of time. This will help you decide which dress shops and wedding dress lines to look at, and it will help prevent you from falling in love with a dress that you simply can’t afford (or that would put you in debt…because you should NOT be going into debt for a wedding dress!).
Let your consultant know your budget early on in your appointment, and don’t get tricked into thinking you need to raise your budget to find something you’ll feel beautiful in. Set a price limit that’s comfortable for your lifestyle, and stick with it. It’s okay if you don’t find the right dress right away. The perfect dress is out there.
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Well, those are my four best tips and pieces of advice for the bride when it comes to wedding dress shopping. My experience was overwhelmingly positive, but I can definitely see how things can go awry for some women.
Wishing you the best of luck in your wedding dress shopping, and looking forward to sharing more wedding related tips & tricks with you guys in the future leading up to our wedding in September!
Have you ever been wedding dress shopping? What advice for brides do you have?
