things to know before you go wedding dress shopping
I got the call and my wedding dress is ready for pickup!
Now.. at this point who knows what I’ll be doing in said gown but it’s here and I’m excited! I had never tried on wedding gowns before (like duh considering I’ve never had to plan a wedding before) so I think I made a few rookie mistakes. Since y’all are my people, and I like when my people are prepared, I got you! Keep on reading to check out a few things you should know before the hunt begins.
Before we get into the nitty gritty, I want to start with the most important piece of information: lead time. This is the amount of time between ordering your dress and picking it up from the bridal shop. Some dresses can take up to 10 months to produce! On average you want to give yourself 4-6 months for the dress to be ready. Lead time will vary by designer so be sure to have the conversation with your stylist. Another thing to keep in mind is alterations. Tailoring is not factored into lead time and could add on another 6 weeks, depending on alterations needed. Dresses can sometimes be rushed for an additional fee and bridal shops may have dresses available to take home right away but the selection is usually limited so be sure to factor your dress into the timeline of your big day.
Next up, know your budget. I’m sure this is an easy one but in case it gets overlooked, remember to have one in mind. It is literally one of the first questions you will be asked during your appointment. This will give your stylist guidance on what to select for you. It also helps to know the price range of the gowns at the boutique you’ve chosen to visit before you commit to an appointment. You wouldn’t want to waste your time trying on gowns you can’t afford, having a limited selection of gowns within your price range, or being tempted to spend more money than your original budget. If you are in search of a discount, be sure to ask about upcoming sample sales and/or trunk shows (which is when a specific designer is showcasing their designs and will usually offer a discount if purchased that same day).
When making your appointment, get familiar with the cancellation policy. Of the 5 bridal shops that I went to, 4 of them required a monetary deposit to hold the appointment. If I needed to cancel or reschedule, I had to be sure to follow certain guidelines in order to get my money back or it would’ve been forfeited. You also want to pay attention to how many extra guests are allowed to come with you. Some places will accommodate large parties while others will only allow two additional guests. In the event that you aren’t able to bring everyone along with you, you can utilize video chat or you can bring different people with you to each bridal shop so that everyone gets the experience.
I know we’ve all watched Say Yes to the Dress or some other fabulous movie where the bride to be and her guests are sipping champagne during their appointment and I’m here to tell you that not every experience is like that. Quite a few places will not allow you to bring any food or beverages into the shop (for good reason) and may only serve champagne as a celebration if you’ve selected a gown from their establishment. So if you want to get a little tipsy, perhaps you and your crew can schedule lunch after your shopping trip to sip and chat about all the fun you’ve just had.
I know you’re probably thinking that you want to look your absolute best while you try on wedding gowns. After all, you need the full effect to help imagine what you’ll look like on the big day. We’ve all had moments of trying on clothes and it just doesn’t feel right because our hair isn’t done or our makeup isn’t on and I totally get what that feels like. However, don’t show up with a full face of makeup on to try on wedding gowns. Think White. Ivory. Cream. Do I need to go on? You will be trying on expensive dresses that can get dirty very easily. You may also have to maneuver into a dress that could ruin your makeup application, such as a dress that has to go over your head as opposed to you being able to simply step into it.
When it comes to your hair, try to wear a style that will allow the placement of a veil or hair accessory. Remember when we talked about that full effect that you want? Well this is it. If you think you’ve found THE dress or the stylist can sense that you really like the dress you’re wearing, he/she may add additional accessories to sell the look which is usually the veil. It really is the icing on top of a gorgeous cake and helps to bring the vision together. I made the mistake of wearing braids to my first set of appointments and it was quite challenging to stick anything in between those cornrows. Definitely learned my lesson for the second time around.
It helps to know a few details about your big day as well as what style of gown you’d like to try on. Here are a few questions you may be asked at the start of your appointment:
When is the big day?
What time is the ceremony?
Is it indoor or outdoor?
Do you have a venue? Can you describe it?
What are your wedding colors?
What style accentuates your body?
All of the answers that you provide will help the stylist pick the best options for you to try on. The date lets them know what season of the year it will be so they can dress you according to the weather. The time of the ceremony could give way to something light for the daytime or a dramatic evening ball gown. The stylist wants to have as much information as possible so that you look perfect on your big day. The more you know the better! On the flip side, be flexible and have an open mind. Sometimes you don’t know what the perfect dress looks like until you’ve put it on. The stylist may see something for you that you never thought to give a second glance. Its also fun to play dress up! If something doesn’t work you can easily move on to the next dress. I tried on so many different silhouettes just to figure out exactly what I liked and didn’t like about the details of a dress.
If you think you’ve found the dress of your dreams, try to see yourself in the dress in natural lighting. It makes a world of a difference and gives you that final seal of approval. It’s also okay if you don’t cry. I never imagined that I would cry and I was right. I knew it was the one because I could picture myself walking down the aisle in the dress but no waterworks for me. Every bride has a different experience so don’t doubt your gut because you don’t feel emotional about it. When it’s the time, you’ll know, trust me!
