January 13, 2022
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Shopping for your wedding gown has to be the best part of wedding planning... right? Okay, maybe we are biased, but we do think it's up there! For a lot of brides though, shopping for your dress can also seem overwhelming and frankly, intimidating.
We’re here to help make the process smoother, by filling you in on 3 of the biggest wedding dress shopping mistakes we’ve seen over the years and how to avoid them. If you keep these three things in mind, you'll be off to a great start! Keep in mind though... we work with all types of brides, on all types of timelines. If you're worried or confused about anything... just call us and we will happily talk you through it.
This is one of the main things that can really make your dress shopping experience much smoother! It may sound crazy.. but we recommend you shop for your gown 10-12 months prior to your wedding day. We have found this is the sweet spot and can virtually guarantee you won't have anything to worry about as far as timing goes.
Our designers make your gown to order and typically take 4-6 months to arrive. If you decide to make any custom changes, like adding a sleeve or changing a neckline, your gown could take closer to 6-7 months to arrive. Then, once your gown comes in, you'll be taking it for alterations to perfect the fit. You'll want to allow at least 2 months for your alterations.
Worried about your timing or getting married on a tight timeline? There's always the option to add a rush order to your gown! You want to avoid this if you can, as rush orders will add to the price of your gown.
Shopping for a wedding dress can be an emotional and sensitive time for a lot of brides. Of course, we encourage you to bring along whomever you want to be there for your Yes moment! But keep in mind, the more people you bring, the more variety of opinions you'll likely be hearing.
We have found the magic number of guests is somewhere between 2-4. Some brides have even come by themselves, and kept their gown a surprise for everyone! The most important aspect is that your guests know you well, support you and are really just looking for a smile on your face.
There have definitely been brides who bring more guests, and have had a great experience, but they all had one thing in common. Their guests all were on the same page, that they were there to support the bride and share in her happiness when she found the gown she loved! Not when they pulled a dress that was their style for her to try on. Or, talk her out of a gown that was clearly the one she loved.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many stores do have a guest limit, especially during weekend appointments. This is to ensure you have a great experience and that your appointment still feels intimate and personalized.
After you get engaged, its nearly impossible to start looking through Pinterest and Instagram at all the dress options! We LOVE when brides bring in inspiration photos and show us ideas of gowns that they'd want to see on. Even seeing bouquets, hairstyles, and table decor you're drawn to can help your consultant understand your style.
What you want to avoid is being too specific about what you want before you try it on! For example, lets say you come in and you'll only try on long-sleeves. If you slip into a long-sleeve dress and don't love it.. you'll want to be open to other options.
Trust your consultant to lead you to the right dress. We love to pull a few wild cards for you that we know will flatter your figure and give you the style you are after! More often than not, our brides end up saying Yes to a dress that is nearly the opposite of what they originally wanted.
