One of the most important tasks on your wedding planning to-do list is wedding dress shopping. It can certainly be very overwhelming, but try not to panic! We are here to help you learn everything you need to know before buying a wedding dress.
While you’re doing research, you’re going to hear a lot of advice from so many different outlets. However, this advice can make you think that finding a wedding dress is more complicated than it actually is.
Don’t worry, we’re going to guide you through the entire process of buying a wedding dress!
10 Essential Tips for Buying a Wedding Dress
Here are our 10 tips for buying a wedding dress and making the process as simple as it can possibly be!
#1: Every bride is different.
Every bride is going to have a different experience while buying a wedding dress. This will be true even if you go to the same bridal shop! Your wedding dress shopping experience will be different from your best friend’s, your mom’s, and your sister’s.
Some brides may have to shop at multiple bridal shops before finding their perfect dress, while others will find their dream dress at their first appointment. If you fall into the latter category, don’t let anyone make you feel like you need to keep shopping! You should stop looking once you find “the one.” Your journey is your own — don’t forget that!
#2: Don’t spend too much time on Pinterest.
Pinterest is great for finding wedding dress inspiration before you start to shop. But, it’s really only good to get a general idea of things that you like and do not like. If you start to get too specific, you may end up overwhelmed and confused.
Don’t let Pinterest get a specific dress in your head. That dress could be discontinued, not available near you, or out of your budget. Use Pinterest as more of a general guide for what you like and do not like. Your bridal stylist can use the inspiration to help you find the perfect dress!
#3: Keep your budget in mind.
Before buying a wedding dress — or even booking your first appointment — you should have some sort of budget in mind.
Plus, keep in mind that there will be other costs after you say yes to the dress. There will be alterations, accessories, shoes, and maybe more! Factor those into your overall outfit budget so that you don’t end up shocked at the final price tag.
Do you have a tight budget? You might want to consider trunk shows or sample sales. These events are a good way to find your dream dress at an affordable price!
#4: Do some research.
While you don’t want to overdo the research, it’s important to at least do some before you start shopping. Otherwise, you risk going into your bridal appointment having no idea what you want. This includes taking your venue and theme of your wedding into account. This can include Pinterest, Facebook groups, and more. This can help you figure out what silhouette you like and what dress details you’re drawn to!
#5: Start shopping in plenty of time.
You don’t want to wait too long to start wedding dress shopping. The entire process can take up to nine months! That includes four to six months for your dress to come in after ordering it, and about three months for alterations.
You don’t want to stress yourself out by waiting too long to start the process. Otherwise, you’ll risk having to buy your dress off the rack or you’ll incur rush shipping fees.
Choose a day where the most important people can all attend!
#6: Don’t put off saying yes to the dress.
Remember: the goal of wedding dress shopping is to find your wedding dress. A lot of brides get nervous to say yes to the dress, even when they absolutely love the dress. We get it — it’s an important decision!
However, this might end up with you leaving without a dress and feeling disappointed. You might regret not saying yes to the dress! If you truly feel like you’ve found your perfect dress, and nothing else that you put on is comparing, say yes. It’s okay to say yes to the dress during your first appointment!
#7: Don’t bring too many people with you.
Do your best to only bring the people who are most important to you as you go wedding dress shopping. It can be tempting to bring all of your friends and family, but having too many opinions can be overwhelming and can keep you from buying the dress that you love.
Keep the entourage minimal — stick to people like your mom, best friend, or sister. We really suggest sticking to no more than three people!
Besides, it’s so much fun to surprise everyone with the dress that you chose on your wedding day!
#8: Keep an open mind.
There is nothing wrong with not knowing what you want your wedding dress to look like when you go into the process of buying a wedding dress.
Try to keep an open mind — even if you do have an idea of what you’re looking for! We have seen it time and time again — a bride comes in with one idea of the dress that she wants, and ends up buying a dress that is the complete opposite. You just don’t know what you’ll like on yourself until you start trying them on!
Your stylist may even pull some dresses for you — try them on! It can’t hurt to try on a dress. You’ll either fall in love with it and end up buying it, or you’ll find out that it’s not for you. Either way, you won’t have to regret not trying it on and end up wondering if it would have been “the one” later on!
#9: Bring the right undergarments.
This one can be different for each bride. Bring the undergarments that you feel most comfortable in!
We suggest nude undergarments, including your favorite strapless bra or shapewear, if you prefer. Many brides end up taking off their bra to try on dresses — but if you’re not comfortable doing that, you can certainly keep your bra on! It’s totally up to you.
The right undergarments will give you a better idea of how the dress will look on your wedding day. They can really make the difference between liking the dress and loving it!
#10: Remember to HAVE FUN!
Finally, don’t forget to HAVE FUN! Think about it this way — how many times in your life do you get to try on wedding dresses?!
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and you’re shopping for a dress for that day! It should be a fun and enjoyable experience — and we strive to make appointments as fun as possible here at K&B!
Are you ready to find your perfect dress? Book your appointment today! Curious about what style fits your personality? Take our style quiz to find out!