Wedding Dress Shopping Tips
This is it – get excited because the moment has arrived. It’s the day you’re going WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING! Whether you’re into ball gowns or fishtails, you are going to feel absolutely beautiful during this experience. I promise.
To be completely honest and upfront with yall, I was never the girl that daydreamed about her wedding. My best friend in middle school LOVED weddings, and I never understood it. Going wedding dress shopping felt like just part of the wedding planning process. That is, until I remembered this one enormous detail that really put everything into perspective. This is the dress I get to marry my forever person in. That one little reminder changed everything.
I now wish I could wear my wedding dress every day – I love it that much! Click here to read all about my experience picking out my dress at Stanley Korshak in Dallas (and if you end up going there, make sure to ask for Christina and tell her I sent you).
In today’s article, we’re going to be talking about:
- FAQs to make sure you are ready to go when this day arrives
- Tips to make your experience the best it can be
Wedding Dress Shopping Frequently Asked Questions
I’m not going to lie, a lot of the wedding planning process can be stressful. (For me, the most stressful part was the guest list.) What I LOVED about the dress finding process was how low key and FUN it was once I knew what I was doing. Here are some of the questions I have gotten the most about the shopping process.
1 - How many months before the wedding do I need to start looking?
As soon as you get engaged, you should start looking for *inspo*. Even if you consider yourself a low key person who isn’t going to make a big fuss about the dress, you should at least start with some ideas. According to Brides magazine online, you need to physically order your dress 6 – 9 months ahead of the big day. Personally, I would aim for the 8 – 9 month range if you can, just in case for any reason there are delays. Nothing would be more stressful than your dress not arriving on time.
2 - What if I find my dream dress but it isn't in my budget?
Please don’t – I repeat, do NOT – try on any dresses that aren’t within your affordability / price range. Doing that is essentially asking to be disappointed. When scheduling your appointments at the different shops / boutiques, mention your budget on the phone and ask if they have a decent selection within that range in stock. Most of the time, they’ll be super honest with you! Many sales associates work on commission, so having you come and only have a couple dresses in your budget isn’t worth their time. The Knot has a great list of bridal salons by city, so if you are starting from scratch, this may be a great resource to use!
3 - How many bridal shops should I visit in one day?
Though the dress shopping process is fun, it is also tiring. People don’t realize how much energy it takes to pull all of those dresses on and off. Plus, since it’s such an adrenaline rush, you are more than likely to be exhausted once the day is set and done. I would schedule appointments at no more than 2 locations for one day. Be intentional with the places you go to – make sure you like the style of the gowns they sell before booking an appointment for the optimal experience. And PLEASE book an appointment for everywhere you go. Unless you get lucky or go on a random week day, most larger salons won’t have an associate available to assist you without one. A lot of the smaller salons may not even be open unless an appointment was booked for that time!
4 - What should I wear to go dress shopping?
Wear something casual and easy to take on and off. I would highly recommend a sundress with sandals if you can. If it’s cold out, opt for leggings and a sweater with shoes you don’t have to lace up.
No matter what season, nude underwear is a must!
5 - What should I do to prepare for the experience?
Ahead of time:
- Do your research on dress styles you like and dislike
- Book appointments at the salons
- Make sure your squad is available to come with you
The day before:
- Make sure you have a pair of nude underwear (preferably a thong) clean and ready
- Avoid salty foods
- Drink plenty of water
- Get a good night’s sleep!
The day of:
- Do your hair so you feel your absolute best (I wouldn’t recommend makeup other than mascara because it can rub off on the dresses)
- Eat something with protein
- Be on time to your appointments
- Have FUN!
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips to Make your Experience Even Better
The 5 wedding dress shopping tips below are based on personal experience, and absolutely make all the difference in the world. Try to keep them in mind when planning out your shopping experience!
1 - Invite a support system
I’ve heard of people going wedding dress shopping alone, but I wouldn’t personally recommend it. There is nothing better than *the* dress, walking out, and seeing the look on your favorite people’s faces. Because of COVID, lots of salons have been limiting the number of people you can bring. That said, I was able to bring 3 to my appointments and I wouldn’t change that for anything.
2 - Take pictures in all of the dresses you try on and like
I’m the world’s most indecisive person, so I knew this method would help me. Because the process is so overwhelming, it helps for you to go home at the end of the day and look through all of the photos before committing to one dress, particularly if you have multiple you really liked.
3 - Consider styles even if they aren’t “you”
Even if you have a pretty good idea what style you are going for, go ahead and try on a few that are a little out of your comfort zone. This will give you peace of mind that you are making the right decision in terms of what you want, and, who knows – you may end up loving something you never thought you would!
Other articles you should check out:
4 - Keep your season and venue in mind
This doesn’t have to make or break your decision, but it makes sense to have your dress be appropriate for the environment in which you will be wearing it. If you are having a summer wedding in a state that is warm, sleeves may not be the best idea. Similarly, if you are getting married on a beach, a ball gown style may cause you to have lots of sand thrown into your shoes all night long. Keep these small, but important, details in mind when trying dresses on.
5 - You'll know when you know
I had to go back to the studio to confirm, but the moment I tried on my wedding dress, I knew it was the one. It was actually the first one I tried on! Though I went back and forth with a few others, ultimately that dress was the one I was most attached to. Trust the process – and have the absolute best time. Your gut will tell you what to do.
