Wedding dress shopping can be one of the most special and unique days leading up to your wedding – or it can be an extremely frustrating experience. The right preparation makes all the difference in the world!
1. Invite a limited group – In terms of gown shopping, I believe less is more. Even if you don’t agree and want all ten of your female cousins in the boutiques with you, understand some shops won’t be able to accommodate seats for that many.
2. Choose your stores carefully – Scanning a few yelp reviews or sites of local boutiques will give you an idea of the price range and designs of their gowns. If you live in a big city, options can be endless, so this level of care is key.
3. Make appointments ahead of time and be strategic- If you are trying to fit three or four places in one day, Google maps is your friend. Call ahead a few weeks in advance and give yourself ample time (traffic included) between each place. You never know if your mom will need coffee or a bridesmaid needs to stop for gas. A little more time is better.
4. Make a reservation - If you know you’re going to be starving halfway through shopping, check out the route you plan on taking between stores, if there’s a cute café or lunch spot maybe factor in an hour or so to nosh, and take a breath to review what you’ve seen so far. If you found your dress at store #1 you can celebrate with champagne at lunch!
5. Beauty School- Honestly, it may seem silly, but do your hair and make up. You don’t have to do an updo, but just wait til you see how funny you look if you go sans make up and try on a ball gown. Some beauty prep in the morning can help you get an idea of what you will actually look like on the day of!
6. Go Sans Straps – Yes, they are uncomfortable, but wear your strapless bra, and Spanx if you want. Nothing should prohibit you from seeing what the dress will actually look like. You don’t want to have to go no bra either since many dress consultants will be helping you in the fitting room!
7. Budget – Before going into the appointment understand WHO is paying for the dress and WHAT they want to pay. Make sure to ask clarifying questions, like if you are in the process of adding sleeves to a gown to keep Grandma happy, make sure you ask for a ballpark figure for this addition. Also, you should aim to factor in tailoring, if needed.
8. Know what kind of look you’re going for – If you spend some time on Pinterest or prefer to flip through magazines, keep a few images on your camera roll to share with your stylist. At the same time, keep an open mind! These consultants are professionals and may have some good ideas of what will look great on you.
9. Remember your venue, somewhat- I think every bride should just buy whatever the heck style they want, but sometimes you have to be practical. Do you want long sleeves at your outdoor Summer wedding? Are you sure you want a long train when you are riding in on horseback? (Has anyone ever even done that before? No idea.)
10.Keep it fun – Maybe you will find your dream dress easily, maybe you won’t, but remember to be grateful and happy that you are out shopping for a gorgeous gown with your closest family and friends! Happy Shopping!
