Back in July, I started shopping for wedding dresses and went into it not knowing much lol. While I’ve seen plenty of episodes of Say Yes To The Dress (and now totally understand why some brides were getting stressed out) – there was so much that I didn’t know about! Here are my best tips if you’re headed to your first wedding dress appointment and you want to be prepared!
1.) Decide If You Want To Order Or Buy Off The Rack
Depending on when you’re planning on getting married, it’s SUPER IMPORTANT to know that ordering a brand new wedding dress can take 6-12 months and getting it altered can take 4-6 weeks (or more!)
No one told me this before getting engaged and I feel like it’s not common knowledge! If you have a short engagement period like me – then it’s best to purchase your dress off the rack (so you can take it home that day) and get it altered immediately. Keep in mind, most off the rack dresses are sample sizes so make sure when calling to make an appointment to ask if they carry your size. Chances are, you’ll have to get it altered.
Also, there are pro’s and con’s to buying an off the rack dress. While a majority of them that I tried on were brand new and had no signs of damage (they wouldn’t have them on displayed in the store if it was in bad condition), sometimes they require dry cleaning or small repairs. What’s the pro? They will be significantly cheaper than ordering a brand new dress!
If you’re in Dallas, some amazing off the rack bridal shops are Winnie Couture (where I purchased myn!), Terry Costa (a huge selection of designer dresses for great prices) and Lasting Bridal Couture.
2. Hair & Makeup
Before going to your appointment, remember to do your hair and makeup so you look your best! This gives you a better idea of what you’ll look like on your wedding day. If you’re planning on having your hair up, try to do a similar updo or similar makeup to what you’re imagining for the big day. It makes a huge difference!
3. Undergarments, Shoes and Accessories
It’s super important to bring the right undergarments (especially if you’re going to be wearing spanx) and to stick to nude seamless underwear that doesn’t show lines. If you already know what shoes you are going to be wearing on the big day, bring those too. If you’re not sure what shoes but have an idea of how high the heels are going to be – bring something similar. Lastly, bring accessories such as jewelry or hair accessories.
4. Inspiration Photos Or Pinterest Board
Before your appointment, gather a few photos of your favorite wedding dress styles or have a Pinterest board ready to show your bridal consultant. Not sure what style you’re going for? Try to gather a few images of the patterns or fabrics that you like or even the aesthetic and look of your wedding (boho, classic, vintage, etc.)
5. Try On A Variety Of Styles
Since this is your very first appointment, I highly recommend trying on a variety of styles and keeping an open mind. Sometimes a dress doesn’t look good on a hanger but it might look amazing once you put it on! Also don’t rush the decision. As cliche as this sounds, you’ll KNOW when you found the dress. I know that’s vague, but trust that feeling! I didn’t get that feeling at the first two bridal shops that I went to and was losing hope until I went to my third shop. The reason why I wasn’t finding my dream dress at the first two shops? I kept choosing complicated, beaded, super detailed dresses and not trying on a bigger variety until the end.
Hope these tips helped! What are your best tips for wedding dress shopping?