Whether you’ve got your heart set on a princess gown or a strapless mermaid skirt, choosing your wedding dress is an exciting time. However, before you start your wedding dress shopping, take a moment to read these ten must-know things first.
10 Things to Know Before Going Wedding Dress Shopping
Your wedding dress is more than just a piece of clothing. It holds the hopes and dreams of a young girl and her grown-up self. It transforms you into a bride, and you’ll remember what you wore on that special day forever.
Before you step foot into the bridal boutique though, here are ten things you need to know first:
- Know your budget – in the ideal world; you could simply purchase your dream wedding dress regardless of the price. Realistically though, we’ve all got a dollar amount that we can afford to spend on a dress. Work out your budget before you start wedding dress shopping, and you’ll find it much easier to avoid a budget blow-out.
- It’s okay to love the first dress – you don’t need to try on a million different options. If you fall in love with the first gown you try on, that is perfectly fine!
- Know your silhouette – do some research and learn about what the most common dress silhouettes are, and what your body shape would suit. This will save you plenty of time in the fitting room.
- Be open to alterations – there are not many brides who can fit their gown off the rack. Be prepared to have alterations to your gown for both fitting and style if required.
- Be open to different styles – keep your mind open and be willing to try on suggestions from the bridal boutique staff as to dress styles.
- Keep the wedding location in mind – if you’re getting married at the beach, a long flowing gown may not be the best idea. Remember the location and choose accordingly.
- Say yes and stop shopping – as wonderful as it is to go wedding dress shopping, you eventually need to decide on one gown.
- Trust your instincts – if you love it, ignore what others say and go with your gut feeling.
- Leave room in the budget for extras – altering the hem and seams may cost you extra. Likewise, with the veil, shoes and gloves. Keep some aside just in case.
- Share your vision with your maids – tell your bridesmaids what you envision your dress and bridal party to look like. They can keep an eye out for dresses for you and help keep you on track if you choose the wrong dress style.
For more great advice on wedding dress shopping, read our articles in our Bridal Dresses category.