I’ve watched more episodes of “Say Yes to the Dress” than I can count. As a planner, it’s always a wonderful feeling to see a bride choose the dress; watching her face light up as she slips on the dress of her dreams. If she’s like most brides, for a long time she’s already envisioned herself walking down the aisle.
Image Courtesy of: Elizabeth Messina via Styled Unveiled
When the bride and her entourage goes dress shopping together, the opinions of her family and friends can often cloud her thoughts and make her forget the type of dress she truly wants. It’s a good thing to have the opinions of your family and friends but too many opinions can spoil the entire experience. If her family and friends don’t like a dress that she’s fallen in love with, she may be disappointed and end up saying no to the dress of her dreams. When you’re shopping for your dream dress with your entourage, here are five important tips that you might want to consider.
Image Courtesy of: Woman’s Insite
- Shop early. It takes approximately 6-8 months for a wedding dress to be ordered and made, including any alterations that may have to be done. Shopping any later may result in having to pay for a rush order or purchase a sample dress from off the rack.
- Minimize the number of people you take with you to choose your wedding dress. Like you, they have specific ideas on what looks good on you and the dress you should wear. So, it’s better to take those few that know your taste and style.
- Remember the type of wedding you’re having. Not every wedding dress is suitable for every type of wedding. You may not want to wear a ball gown if you’re having a beach wedding even though you may have always dreamed of wearing one.
- You may go into the appointment with one style in mind. If you’re not finding the perfect gown in your desired style, the bridal consultant may suggest a different style for you to try on. Wedding gowns look better on than they do on the racks, so keep an open mind.
- It’s important to know your budget! There are many dresses to choose from in a wide range of budgets and you should inform the bridal consultant at the beginning of your appointment. Trying on a dress that exceeds your budget can be disappointing if you’re not able to afford it and it’s possible that any other dress you try on may not top it.
About the Author
Lissahn DeVance
Lissahn is a Certified Wedding & Event planner, has planned weddings for nearly 10 years, and is currently completing courses to become a Certified Designer. She loves everything about weddings and the creative process. She feels no two people are alike so no two weddings…
The part that is most true is that you start with a vision in your head and when you try on other dresses it clouds the idea of your “dream dress” then panic sets in. In my case I picked the dream dress in a catalogue, went shopping with 2 ppl every appointment and almost settled on another dress. Happy to report I bought my dream dress as a sample (I’m a size 2) and saved $2500. Moral is to never lose your dream dress but always be open to other options.