Many women spend there whole lives dreaming of wedding dress shopping, and finding the perfect dress for their fairy-tale wedding. Before you go, check out these wedding dress shopping tips to ensure the perfect shopping experience.
11 Wedding Dress Shopping Tips
- Have an open mind. I cant stress this enough, try on everything, even if you hate it on the hanger. While I was trying on all the styles I had in mind my mom begged me to try on a dress that she found. I hated it on the hanger, but tried it on just to please her, and then I got married in it. (My dress is a style 2072 Casablanca Dress)
- Walk away. Once I realized that I had found my dress, I walked away. I wanted to make sure it truly was “the one,” besides my husband. I went to different shops and continued to try on dresses, I searched for dresses online, and I still kept coming back to the dress I had picked out.
- Take pictures. Take pictures in the dress so you can see it from another perspective.
What’s Underneath Counts
- Wear decent underwear. My first time wedding dress shopping was on a whim, so I had on a thong that was probably hanging on to the last fibers of its being. I didn’t realize that a lot of dress shops come into the dressing room with you, I mean they practically have to because some dresses are very hard to get in and out of. If I would’ve know better, I would’ve had my whole butt covered up by underwear that wasn’t older than my dog.
- Suck it in. Speaking of underwear, if you’re planning to wear some shape-wear under your dress go shopping in it as well so you can see how it will look under different dresses. This amazon shop has everything you could possibly need to get pulled in and pushed out in all the right places.
On Shopping Day, Be Sure to Do These Two Things
- Chill out on the squad goals. In theory it might sound like a super fun day to go dress shopping with your closest friends and family, but the more people you bring the more opinions you get. It’s your dress and you need to be the one that decides if you want to wear it or not.
- Get dolled up. Before you go, put some decent effort into your hair and makeup. If you look like you just woke up or left the gym, dresses are not going to have the same effect when you look at yourself in the mirror.
Think About the Close and Distant Future
- Think about your venue. Don’t slut it up if your getting married in a church, and maybe don’t go ball gown style if you’re having a rustic outdoor mud and boots wedding. This website lets you customize your search based entirely on what your looking for.
- Think timeless. You know when you see those 80’s wedding dresses where the shoulders are even puffier than the brides hair. Steer clear of trendy or over the top styles, you might be cringing later. I’d like to think that my dress was very simple and not something I’ll hate in twenty years.
A Numbers Game
- Know your budget and be firm. Don’t try on a dress that’s over your budget because I promise you will love it. Let the sales woman know your budget up front and make sure she doesn’t push over budget dresses on you.
- Don’t worry about the number. I’m not talking about price this time. A lot of women get hung up on size numbers. I’ll purposely not buy something that fits if the size “number” is not my normal number. But wedding dresses come is cray-cray sizes, if it fits, and you love it, just go with it.
- Obsessed with all things wedding? Read 18 reasons I’m done being a bridesmaid!
- Plan your wedding with an Erin Condren planner Wedding Planners Starting at $48
Alice Carroll says
Thanks for the reminder that I will also have to think about the venue when it comes to choosing the right wedding dress to wear. I’m thinking about trying out some wedding dresses soon because I have less than a year left to prepare for my wedding. Trying out dresses can be a nice stress reliever from all the other things I have to plan for.