One of the most exciting things about planning a wedding is the wedding dress shopping. Perhaps you’ve spent a lifetime dreaming of walking down the aisle in the perfect bridal gown or, maybe, the first time you considered making a wedding dress purchase coincided with your engagement. Either way, you are at the point in the planning process where you will need to choose your gown.
Whether you are an expert shopper with some precise ideas of what style you are looking for, a fledgling fashionista hoping for a couture look, or, feeling lost and unsure of where to begin, visiting a wedding dress boutique is no ordinary trip to the mall.
Arming yourself with as much information as possible will help make your wedding dress shopping experience much more enjoyable.
At Viero Bridal, we want you to savor every moment of your gown shopping experience. Whether you visit one of our wedding dress boutiques in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, or Los Angels or gather some inspiration from a different bridal shop, we want you to feel comfortable and confident. So, to that end, we have compiled this list of wedding dress shopping dos and don’ts!
1. Don’t schedule your appointment when the boutique is busy
Depending on the location of the boutique you choose, you may encounter extremely busy crowds.
Typically speaking, Saturday is an extremely busy day. It occurs at the end of the workweek and is the day most likely to accommodate the bride and her whole entourage. If Saturday is the only day that will work for your crew, try to book the first appointment of the day. This timing may give you more time and space to try on multiple gowns without fighting through impatient crowds or dealing with consultants that are spread way too thin.
If you are planning to visit multiple bridal shops, try to leave a little bit of time between appointments. If possible, book an early appointment, break for a nice brunch, and then head on to your other appointments. This space can give you all time to catch your breath and prevent feeling rushed.
2.Do have a budget
Before you start to fantasize about a wedding dress you saw at the latest celebrity wedding, set your wedding gown budget. When calculating your budget remember to include gown alterations, accessories, undergarments, and your shoes.
Once you have set your budget, it will be easier to research styles and types of dresses. Establishing a price range you can work within will help you to narrow down your wedding gown choices and prevent massive disappointment.
Your bridal consultant will be choosing dresses based on the information you have given them, and if you do not indicate a budget, they may inadvertently choose a dress that is way outside of what you can afford. And, as luck often has it, that is the dress that makes your heart soar.
To avoid this awkward situation and the accompanying heartbreak, it is important to be clear about the budget upfront.
Even if your wedding has an unlimited dress budget, giving your bridal consult a price point to start at will help streamline the process and put you in gowns that are right for you.
3. Do eat something
“Hanger” is real and showing up for your wedding dress appointment on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster. Even if you are short on time, grabbing a piece of fruit, a muffin, or an energy bar will give you the little bit of food energy that is required to power through your appointment.
It is entirely possible that you will be too excited or nervous to eat but set yourself a reminder or prepare a snack that you can have before your appointment. This will keep your spirits high and help you think clearly about the dresses you are trying and may even reduce tensions with your entourage.
4. Don’t bring too many people
You may want to bring everyone you know, and friends and family may be asking to come along, but too many people and voices in the room can complicate the process.
If saying no to some people is likely to cause tension, tell them that you would like to keep your gown a secret until the big day.
It will benefit you to focus on bringing the people that will tell you the truth. These trusted individuals can give you useful feedback and help you narrow down your choices. Too many people can cause confusion and conflict and leave you feeling frustrated.
Only you can decide on the right people to bring to your dress appointment but try to remember that the day is about you and if the person isn’t going to be helpful and supportive, you don’t need them there.
5. Do keep an open mind
It is common to spend hours looking at dress styles and pictures in bridal magazines or on platforms like Pinterest but sometimes, what you have your heart set on may not suit or flatter your body the way you had hoped.
Wedding consultants are educated and experienced in recognizing what is likely to work best for you. Certainly, they will pull styles that you suggest but they may also have recommendations that you had not even considered or imagined.
You may begin your day in the styles you’ve picked and then end up buying something else entirely.
It is important that you make sure your voice is being heard. You should never end up with a wedding dress you hate because your friends or the consultant liked it. But, do keep an open mind and try on a range of looks if you aren’t quite finding the right fit.
6. Do wear comfortable and practical undergarments
You will be trying on many styles of wedding dresses, so it makes sense to bring or wear a strapless bra so you can have a real sense of what things will look like on the big day.
If you have already chosen the undergarments you will be wearing when you get married, you may choose to bring those, otherwise, a strapless bra will suffice.
Your underwear choice, if you have not already made it, should be comfortable and not leave any obvious wrinkles, lumps, or lines. Your dress is the star, not your undergarments.
Bud don’t go without underwear on the day of your appointment. Your wedding dress consultant may need to come into your changing room to help you in or out of a dress, and wearing undergarments will help you maintain your modesty.
7. Don’t forget your accessories
Accessories can make or break a wedding gown, so it is important to bring any accessories you may have already purchased or been given to your appointment.
Wearing your intended jewelry and any head adornments or a veil will make style and color matching a snap while also providing you with an idea of what exactly you will look like on your wedding day. If you already have a plan for your makeup in place, try to wear similar shades and tones so you can get a sense of what it will looking like against the color of your dress fabric.
If you have yet to purchase accessories, do not be afraid to ask your consultant for a little bit of guidance.
8. Do your research
Come prepared for your wedding dress appointment with knowledge of gown styles and the various necklines that are available to you.
Learning the names and terms means that when your consultant mentions a particular style or asks for your preferences, you will be able to communicate with clarity.
The most common wedding dress necklines are:
- Strapless
- Halter
- Asymmetrical
- V-Neck
- Sweetheart
The most common wedding dress styles are:
- A-Line
- Sheath
- Ballgown
- Trumpet
- Mermaid
Book now for your wedding gown shopping experience
With bridal boutiques located all over the country, Viero Bridal is the best choice for your wedding gown. We offer a unique shopping experience, you may choose a custom dress or choose from our designer lines that range from couture to more casual.
Our wedding dress boutiques in Las Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York offer shockingly affordable luxurious wedding dress styles.
The first fitting will connect you with a skilled tailor who will spend some time pinning your dress and determining where it needs to be taken in, let out, and hemmed. No matter what you spent on your dress, this step will make it look like the gown was designed for you and only you.
This will allow the tailor to make any alterations or adjustments to your gown. You probably have not seen your dress since you ordered it or had it designed for you, so you may also want to purchase accessories that suit the dress style.
If you have had any plans to change your body type for your wedding, at this point, you should be on a maintenance plan. You may have many opportunities to alter your wedding gown, and things can be let out or taken in many times. If you require taking large panels out of your dress however, the integrity of the style and design may be compromised.
When you were preparing your wedding budget, you should have taken alterations into consideration. Alterations can be costly, depending on what you need taken in or let down, and the intricate details of your wedding gown.
Remember that multiple fittings are not a reason to panic. Having your dress altered to fit your body will turn your gown into one that is perfectly made for you, and help you have a wedding day to remember.