Your wedding dress is one of the biggest parts of your wedding. Choosing the right one is a big decision, and it can be overwhelming. How do you know if a dress is the one? With this handy guide, you can choose your perfect wedding dress.
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Do your research before you shop
The perfect dress will take some research. Look at wedding blogs, magazines, Pinterest and wedding websites. You’re not looking for an exact dress, but you should look for some details that you like.
Look for women who seem to have a similar body shop to you. What dress style did they choose? Do you think it looks nice on them? What details do you like? Do you find yourself pinning dresses with full skirts, short sleeves, and a little sparkle? Make a note of the shapes and details that catch your eye.
Start early
Most bridalwear stores suggest looking for your dress between nine and twelve months before your wedding, to give you enough time to shop, try on and have alterations completed.
If you’re dieting for the wedding, make sure you tell the bridal store so they can advise on the best times for fittings to make sure your alterations are right.
Choose the right boutique
Where you shop can make a big difference, especially if you need something a bit more specialist.
For example, if you’re plus-size, you will have a more pleasant experience if you visit a boutique that specialises in plus-size bridalwear. Most high street bridal stores and boutiques only carry a narrow range of sizes, and you might struggle to find many dresses to try on.
Keep your entourage small
Don’t take your whole family with you. Instead, choose one or two people who you trust to give you honest feedback. This could be your Mum, your sister or one of your bridesmaids.
If you have a lot of people with you, you’re likely to get conflicting opinions, which can be confusing when you’re trying to make a decision. It’s also easier for the staff if they don’t have to find space for you and ten friends, while they’re also trying to help other brides.
Stay on budget
Do not be tempted to try on a dress you can’t afford. Be clear with the shop assistant about what your budget is, and stick to it. Trying on a more expensive dress sounds fun, but could mean you fall for a dress you cannot afford.
Nobody will know what you paid for your dress, so don’t worry about the price tag. You can also save some money on your bridal look by doing learning some wedding day makeup tips and doing it yourself.
If you have fallen in love with a designer that is outside of your budget, it can be worth looking at bridal outlet stores for ex-display dresses to see if you can find the same one or something similar. You might also get lucky looking for dresses on eBay and other second-hand websites.
