For most girls, dreaming of a wedding dress isn’t something that starts the minute your fiancé presents you with an engagement ring. Those wedding dress fantasies begin as a young girl, looking at your mother’s wedding photos, talking with friends about what your wedding will be like, and thinking about the perfect wedding dress as you’re trying on royal blue and hot pink evening gowns for prom.
Even with all that mental preparation, once it’s time to actually start shopping and make a decision, the process can be daunting. Wedding dresses are a big investment, and of course, you want something that you’ll be proud of for years to come as you look back at your special day in pictures. Here are a few tips from our experts at Legacy Stables and Events to help ensure you get the dress of your dreams.
Do research before you go out in person shopping. Wedding dresses are unlike any other type of clothes you’ve shopped for before. Staff at the boutiques will use terms like Basque waist, Watteau train, and princess seams to describe styles, and having looked through magazines and read a few blogs will help you be familiar with the vocabulary used in the wedding dress world. It will also help you get an idea of what styles you like, and what the range of prices are for dresses.
Set a budget. You know that the wedding dress will be one of the bigger expenses at your wedding, but it helps to have a range you’re willing to pay before shopping. That way you can tell the people helping you at a boutique what your budget is and they can show you dresses within that range. It keeps from wasting their time and yours.
Set a date for the wedding. While it might be tempting to go out dress shopping as soon as you get engaged, it’s our experience that you should find a venue and pick your date first. The type of material you choose for your dress could vary depending on the time of year you hold your wedding. For example, summer lends itself to loose-fitting, flowing dresses, especially for an outdoor wedding. In the winter you might be more interested in a form-fitting silk dress or even a tailored jacket.
Decide who you would like to go shopping with you. Making the decision on a wedding dress is a big one, and a lot of times we find brides appreciate other people’s opinions when choosing a dress. Maybe you always envisioned shopping with your mother for the perfect wedding dress. Or it could be your best friend who is also your maid of honor is top on the list. Can’t decide? Take them both! We advise, however, limiting it to 3-5 people. Any more and it can become a chaotic experience.
Be open-minded when it comes to style. You might have your heart set on an empire waist dress, but does it really flatter your figure the way you imagine? Staff at wedding dress boutiques have lots of experience and knowledge of how dresses fit different body types and could come out with a style you might never have thought to try and you’ll find it makes you look like a princess. Also, keep in mind comfort while you’re trying on dresses. You want to be able to breathe comfortably, dance, eat, and go to the bathroom!
Tips for the day of shopping:
- Make sure to wear make-up. You’ll get the best idea of how the dress will look if you have make-up somewhat like what you’re planning for the big day.
- Wear neutral underwear, but don’t worry so much about the bra. Boutiques will be prepared with the proper bra for the dresses you’re trying on.
- Wear shoes with a heel the height of what you will wear on your wedding day.
- Make sure to eat before you go. You don’t want to be stressed out and hungry while making this big decision!
Our biggest advice to every bride-to-be is to have fun with the process. Wedding dress shopping is a once in a lifetime experience, and you want to enjoy it!
Photo Credit: Russell Killen Photography @russellkillenphotography
