Wedding Dress Shopping Tips
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips
Well, well, well...the time is here. Time to shop for my wedding dress! Is this the best part of the whole "wedding planning" experience? It honestly might be. It's been more than two months since Marco and I got engaged, and I am so excited to find my dress. We set our date for next October, so with it being 13 months out, now is the perfect time to start looking. I recently spent some time with ReAnne and Allie at Lovely Bride Charlotte, and wow - what an upscale experience! Prior to trying anything on, ReAnne (the owner) and I sat down to chat about the wedding vibe. It's going to be a destination affair in Mexico, so no poofy ball gowns. Ya feel me? Prior to starting my search for the perfect wedding dress (which I haven't 100% decided on yet! But of course, none of these photos that I'm sharing here are "the one"), I asked my followers on Instagram for their best tips on searching for and trying on dresses. Here were my favorite responses, that I personally found very useful!
1. Mention your budget upfront
How much would it suck if you tried on a dress that was absolutely, positively perfect...but $3,000 over your budget? That would not be ideal. So, be sure to mention your budget upfront, that way you don't run into that letdown!
2. Go in with an open mind
You might think you want A-line and actually be surprised to discover you like the mermaid style. Try on lots of different styles, even if you think you won't like them!
3. Do your hair and makeup
I know that times are weird right now with masks, and some shops ask that you keep the mask on even in the dressing room - but you should still put some makeup on and do a little something with your hair. You want to get the whole look! Want to go one step further? Apply a little bit of self-tanner a few days before your appointment, that way you have some glow!
4. Make sure the dress is comfortable
Remember that you will be walking down the aisle, sitting down to eat, and dancing all night long. Make sure the dress is comfortable enough for you to do all of those things for many hours.
5. Trust your consultant
This goes along with tip number 2, but your wedding dress consultant is a professional. He or she will be able to pull some styles for you to try on that you might have never known about or wanted to try on based on how it looks hanging on the rack. They will also be able to look at your body from an unbiased perspective and suggest styles and fits that complement your best features!
6. Take tons of photos
Dress shopping is so, so much fun - but you can also get overwhelmed and not remember all of the details of the dresses you tried on once you get back home. Take photos of each of them, that way you can look back and evaluate.
7. Go with what you love
Remember that you're shopping for your wedding day - no one else's. Be wary of gathering the opinion of too many friends and family members, as you don't want that to sway your decision. If you have a favorite, go with it! And don't forget to have fun :)