The all-important wedding dress is one of the most iconic aspects of a wedding. It reflects the bride’s taste in fashion and is an extension of her overall personality.
So, choosing the right wedding dress is a challenging and confusing wedding planning task for most brides.
Fortunately, you can tackle this task without stress and even enjoy a memorable wedding shopping experience with help from industry experts.
Read on to learn all about the wedding dress shopping secrets every bride should know from the team of experienced bridal fashion consultants at Best for Bride.
1. Time is of the essence
Did you know that most wedding dress manufacturers take at least three to six months to deliver an order?
So, timely wedding dress shopping is necessary to find the dress of your dreams.
Don’t wait till the last minute to go shopping. Instead, plan your appointments at least six to nine months before the wedding. You will also need an extra month after receiving your wedding dress for alterations.
Hit the shops with plenty of time to spare and you can explore your options at a relaxed pace. Here is a practical wedding dress shopping timeline to guide you with your plans.
2. Book your appointment on a weekday
Most bridal salons require brides to visit by appointment. We recommend booking your wedding dress appointment on a weekday, instead of the weekend.
Firstly, there will be fewer customers on weekdays. So, you will have the undivided attention of your consultant during this time. Your entourage can also settle in comfortably and enjoy the shopping experience better.
If there are no other brides in queue, the boutique may even allow you to extend your appointment. Hence, it is a better idea to skip the crowds and shop on a weekday to enjoy a productive shopping session.
3. Limit your entourage
Don’t make the mistake of taking a big group with you for your dress shopping appointment. This can lead to too many opinions and result in chaos and confusion.
Invite only those who can positively contribute to your wedding shopping experience. They should ideally share your idea of fashion. More importantly, they should have your best interests in mind.
For best results, limit this group to no more than two or three people.
4. Discuss your budget upfront
Nothing compares to the disappointment of finding the perfect wedding dress and later realizing that you cannot afford it.
Avoid heartbreak by planning your dress budget before you set foot in a bridal shop and then stick to it.
Remember that your total wedding dress cost should also include alteration charges and the price of accessories. Plan your budget accordingly.
Once you know how much you can spend, find boutiques that carry wedding dresses in your chosen price range. For more practical tips and ideas on how to plan your wedding dress budget, visit this post.
5. Bridal consultants are amazing resources of information
Once you go shopping, you will soon realize that there are hundreds of potential choices. This can make it very difficult to narrow down your selection to a single, perfect gown.
However, bridal consultants know everything about bridal dresses and are great resources to help you with your decision. As experts in bridal fashion, they can quickly identify the best silhouettes for different body types. They can also direct you to dresses that lack hanger appeal but drape beautifully.
Go with their suggestions and try on dresses that they recommend. If you are like most of our customers, you may end up falling head over heels in love with a dress you least expected to.
6. You don’t have to decide immediately
Although there are brides who end up buying the very first dress they try on, this isn’t always the case. Some brides go through several dresses before they even realize what their preferences are.
So, don’t be disappointed if you are unable to find your dream dress quickly.
Avoid making a hasty decision that you will later regret. The right dress will be comfortable, fit your wedding theme and make you feel beautiful and confident. Keep looking till you find it.
Place your order only when you are sure that the dress ticks all the boxes. If in doubt, leave and come back after you have properly considered all aspects. You may also like to seek opinions from those you trust, to make your final decision.
Author Bio:
Best for Bride is Canada’s premier bridal shopping destination, specializing in designer bridal collections, bridesmaid dresses and dresses and accessories for the entire wedding party. Operating from four locations in the country, this bridal boutique caters to all bridal shopping needs under one roof. For more details on their collections and services, visit the Best for Bride website.
All opinions and facts are that of a third-party writer, not an official Feenta.com author. It’s an article written by a guest author. If you’d like to submit an article, go to our Write for Us page.
