This time, I wanted to give you all my top tips for navigating the exciting experience that is wedding dress shopping! While each appointment and bride I work with at Ellynne Bridal is unique, there are many universal pieces of advice I would give to each and every bride-to-be.
Come with inspiration, but keep an open mind. Having a clear vision for your gown is always helpful, but this doesn’t have to mean finding the exact Pinterest-perfect photo before shopping. Knowing your venue, colors and theme of the wedding can help you decide if you want a traditional, romantic, bohemian, fashion-forward or vintage style. Once you have decided on a general style, keep an open mind in terms of the shape of the gown. Many silhouettes can have similar details that fall into each style category, but may be more flattering on one body type over another.
Dress yourself up. Wearing a little more makeup than usual and doing your hair similar to how you want to wear it on your wedding day can help you envision your bridal look in its entirety. Does your envisioned hairstyle work well with a hair accessory? Does wearing your hair down cover up the intricate back you have always wanted? Not only can it help you decide on a coordinating dress, but it can also help you determine the type of accessories you may need, as well. Making yourself up a bit can really add to feeling like the most beautiful you during your dress shopping moment.
Be ready to say, “Yes!” One of the most consistent things that happen when girls know they found the right dress is that they don't want to put anything else on. Over-shopping “just to make sure” is the quickest way to overwhelm a bride-to-be and start questioning any decision. If you are trying on wedding gowns, do it with intent and be prepared to say “Yes!” It is not uncommon for one of the first dresses to be “the one.” If you have any hesitation, certainly keep looking, but booking too many appointments runs the danger of forgetting what you originally set out to find and may leave you questioning your overall experience.
Know your budget. Decide on what you are willing to spend prior to the appointment. This ensures that your consultant does not pull any gowns over your budget, risking you falling in love with a dress you cannot have. There are many beautiful gowns available at every price point; you don’t always need to stretch your budget for a gorgeous gown. It is more important to truly be realistic about what you are comfortable spending so when you find “the one,” you can say yes without sticker shock. Don’t forget to leave room in your budget for alterations, accessories and sales tax.
Make an appointment. “By appointment only” is not meant to exclude anyone shopping for a wedding gown. Having an appointment ensures that you will have the time and attention you need to properly try on sample gowns. Wedding dresses are not like regular retail garments and typically require the assistance of a bridal consultant to clamp, pin and simply get into it. Having one-on-one reserved time allows you the opportunity to see the full potential of each dress you try on. If you have time off during the week, I HIGHLY recommend making your appointment then. Weekend days are by far the busiest for bridal salons. Typically an appointment scheduled during the week will have less action going on around the showroom/gallery, and you may even find you will have the entire shop to yourself!
Shop with a supportive entourage. Many will tell you to shop with a small group of essential people only, but this number of “essentials” is truly unique to each bride-to-be. What is most important is to bring friends and family that have a clear understanding about the vision you have for your gown and budget. Often, keeping the number in your entourage small helps to keep opinions that are not focused on your goal at bay, avoiding an overwhelming experience. That said, if you know there are individuals that you cannot say “Yes!” to a dress without, make sure to bring them with you! Think quality over sheer quantity for this tip, but know that doesn’t mean everyone’s ideal “bride squad” size is the same.
Have fun! Yes, this is an important decision. Yes, this is likely the most expensive garment you will purchase. These reasons are exactly why you should always remind yourself to enjoy the experience! At the end of the day you may not cry, you may bawl, but you should always feel absolutely beautiful. Putting too much pressure on the dress and the experience can often end with a distressed bride. When you find the one, do an extra twirl and soak in all the fun of trying on gorgeous gowns!
Once you’ve said “Yes,” relax and stop looking. Remember how you felt when you said yes, and trust your instincts. There will always be more dresses and more inspiration pictures. Do your best to focus on styling YOUR bridal gown, and you will LOVE it and how it makes you feel on the big day!
images via Pinterest
