8 Things to Consider When Wedding Dress Shopping
8 tips for wedding dress shopping from a UK bridal boutique to ensure you find the perfect dress for your wedding celebrations.
Wedding dress shopping can be a daunting task. So many beautiful dresses, no idea where to start and then to get undressed in front of someone else! But follow these 8 simple steps to make your wedding dress shopping experience seamless and stress-free!
1. Know Your Budget
This is the first thing you should do before you even start looking on Pinterest! The truth is that this figure will determine which dress you get. Don't forget to include alterations and accessories (hello veil!).
When looking at possible bridal boutiques to visit, check what their price points are! I hear far too many stories where brides have tried on and fallen in love with a dress which is WAY outside their budget, and this is because they didn't visit shops within their budget. If you can't find a price point on a website, contact the shop directly and ASK FIRST! This will save you heartache.
2. Know Your Options and Factor Timelines
There are two options for dress shopping: off-the-peg or made-to-order.
Off-the-peg dresses are literally that. You pick them off the rail and walk away that day with your dress. These dresses are usually a little cheaper and the best option for brides on a shorter time frame before their wedding day. The downsides are that these dresses have been tried on multiple times by other brides, and there are limited options as you have to choose a dress which is your size. So you will have a limited choice in a boutique.
A made-to-order dress is one which you've tried in a boutique and then ordered a new one in your size. Made-to-order dresses tend to need 4-6 months for production and are a higher price, but a made-to-order does allow for some adjustments to the design, such as colour change, straps adding, etc.
For a made-to-order dress, we advise you to begin dress shopping about 12 months before your wedding to comfortably allow for production, delivery and collection. Alterations are likely to be needed for either option and we suggest allowing two months for these.
3. Research Styles
Look at different styles, fabrics and current trends to give you some inspiration for your wedding dress and consider what flatters your body type.
If you have a set style in mind for your wedding dress, ensure that any bridal shops you visit have something like that to try. You send photos to boutiques and ask for images of dresses in their collection that are similar. Bear in mind, about 75% of brides who come in with an idea, walk away in something different, so keep your mind open! Social media and shop websites should show dresses in their stock so you can see if their style matches what you're looking for.
REMEMBER: Not all images on social media have price tags, so bear that in mind when you're looking for styles. That dress you love on Pinterest may be £30,000!
4. Appointments and Experiences
Most bridal boutiques work by appointment-only, so that a bride and her guests have exclusive use of the entire shop. Make sure you make your appointment with plenty of time, as you can imagine, weekends are hugely popular and have limited availability so book early to avoid disappointment!
You should also look at Google reviews for a bridal shop, as these can give a clear idea of what kind of experience you should expect when you go. Your stylist should be full of knowledge, ensure that you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout, and make this journey nice and easy!
Less is more with a bride tribe, as really only your opinion matters. Lots of opinions really do cloud your judgement. It's how you feel, not what they think. Their style is different to yours, so they'll always prefer a dress most similar to their style. You can have reveal appointments afterwards where you can involve people to choose shoes, veils, accessories.
5. Your Venue and Theme
Although you should consider your wedding venue when choosing a dress, it shouldn't be the deciding factor when choosing a dress. Ultimately, your dress is the one which you feel incredible in.
There are tricks and hacks to wearing a big princess dress in the summer, and your stylist can help advise. Similarly, you don't need sleeves for a winter wedding - venues have heating!
6. Comfort is Key
That old saying about “beauty is pain” is no longer relevant in bridal. You can be beautiful AND comfortable! Your wedding day is a long day, and you should ensure that you wear a dress you will feel amazing in for the entire day. Ensure the dress allows you to move comfortably, especially for dancing the night away!
Some women also have sensitive skin, especially under their arms. This is definitely something to think about during your appointment and when trying on dresses. It might be that you can't have a beaded bodice as it will make your arms red if it rubs, and no one wants that in their wedding photos.
7. Alterations and Customisations
Fact: 99.9% of wedding dresses will need an alteration of some description. Whether that be a hem shortening, a bustle adding or your waist nipping in, and you need to factor this into your budget and timeline. Your first alterations fitting is usually two months before your wedding day, and for this you will also need to have your shoes and a petticoat if you're having one with your dress. Your stylist can talk about these options during your appointment.
Some brides opt for customisations to their dress, such as creating some sleeves or adding more lace appliques. These may take the seamstress longer. Also note that seamstresses get booked up quickly, especially during the peak summer season and so should be booked in good time.
8. It's Emotional - And it should be!
This is your wedding dress! Something most brides have been dreaming about since they were young girls, and it's all about you. It's also the only decision you are likely to make without asking your partner's opinion, but probably the one you actually really want their opinion on. There's no denying that can be a stressful thought for brides.
Don't forget they've seen you first thing in the morning with knotty hair and mascara down your face. They've seen you in your pjs and make up removed. They've seen you stumble around after a few Proseccos. And they've still chosen you. Trust me when I say, they just want you to feel incredible, as that will radiate out of you as you walk down that aisle.
You don't need to go to 15,392 shops. Trust your instincts. When you find “the one,” you'll likely feel it, and you shouldn't be afraid to say, “I FEEL INCREDIBLE BABE!”
Follow these 8 simple steps and you'll have the best time shopping for your wedding dress - You've got this!
