17 rules of wedding dress shopping

Wedding planning

17 Rules of Wedding Dress Shopping

It’s one of the most important and exciting parts of wedding planning – your search for your dream dress starts right here! Just before you head off to the boutique for the first time, we have the perfect insight and top tips to make the most of this magical once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here are the rules of wedding dress shopping.

1. You must have a date

When you book an appointment at a boutique the first question they will probably ask is the date of your wedding. The date will give them reassurance that you don’t just want to try wedding dresses on (yes, some people do want to do just this, with no wedding date!) and also let them know if there are some dresses with a longer lead time that you can’t try on because your wedding is sooner than that. A bride who is getting married in a shorter time frame will have limited choices, because each dress is made and altered individually.

2. Shop early, whatever your weight

Always shop early. You can get the dress altered according to your body shape during the fitting, within reason, of course. If you’re thinking about trying to lose some weight before you say ‘I do’, wedding dress shopping might not seem worth it if you’re not at your ideal weight… As a guide, we advise soon-to-be brides to try and choose their bridal dress around eight months before the wedding. This gives the boutique plenty of time to find the best dress for you, schedule in the various fittings and have enough time at the end for any alterations. The boutique’s stylists have vast experience in dealing with brides of all shapes and sizes, those on a diet and not! Trust them!

3. Manage expectations

Especially your own! Go with an open mind. Don’t be set on a designer or a style. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t fall in love straight away. Be happy, calm and open to options, and most of all, trust the process and the boutique’s experienced team.

4. Take the right people

Don’t take your entire wedding party – the people you take don’t even need to be ‘IN’ your wedding party – you should choose only those whose opinion you trust and who won’t interfere, make it about themselves (this is ALL about you!) or get over emotional.

5. Don’t dismiss anything until you try

Bridal boutique stylists know brides best. They know body shapes, trends, and personalities, and above all, they know the dresses they have in store – they have been working with these dresses and these designers for some time. The last thing you should do is dismiss a dress on the hanger, because, believe us, dresses will transform when you put them on.

6. Take shoes with your heel height

If you never wear heels and you don’t need the height, don’t make your wedding the first time! Stick with comfortable shoes or flats, and take a pair similar to those you intend to wear on the day because you will walk differently according to heel height. It’s not about the hem length at this stage because that comes later.

7. Know your budget and stick to it

Unless there really is no budget and the skies the limits you need to let the boutique know what your absolute limit is so that you don’t fall in love with a dress that would bankrupt you. Most boutiques have a range of options available, but if you fall in love with one particular gown, the price will be non negotiable, and prices are very similar globally for that dress, so it’s not like you can shop around.

8. Don’t panic

If you don’t find your dress on the first visit, or if you have a short time before your wedding – do not panic! The boutique will work with you and if you have to go back a second time, so be it! This is one of the biggest retail purchases you will ever make. Tae your time and stay calm!

9. Remember the extra costs

Alterations, accessories, potentially storage and boxing for travelling if you are having a destination wedding all come in at an extra cost, which could total £200 or more. Bear this in mind when you are thinking about the cost of the dress and your budget generally.

10. Trust your stylist

They are experienced, they know their stuff and they have seen it all before.

11. You don’t have to cry!

Some brides talk of this overwhelming feeling of knowing that it’s THE ONE. But everyone is different, and you might not ever get that feeling. Don’t expect to cry, but equally don’t be surprised if you do. The boutique won’t mind either way!

12. Style your hair and makeup

Dress up to go dress shopping! By all means make sure you’re comfortable but we think this momentous shopping trip requires something a bit smarter than joggers… If having your hair and makeup done professionally makes you feel one million dollars, then do it! It will help you have an idea of what you will look like on the big day, and it will help you enjoy this major life experience if you feel the part, too.

13. Don’t try on too many dresses

You could get completely bamboozled and end up confused. Find the right shape then explore options within that genre.

14. Don’t feel pressured

A great boutique will make you feel so special – they won’t rush you and they will gentle guide you without giving you the hard sell or any ‘you need to make a decision now’ vibes. Your guests shouldn’t place pressure on you either. Make sure you tell them what input you expect from them at the appointment!

15. Wear good underwear

Prepare yourself for not wearing your bra at all actually – lots of dresses have built in support. The staff member helping you at your appointment will most likely be in the fitting room with you, helping you in and out of those tricky gowns and while they’ve seen it all before and won’t bat an eyelid, you might not feel completely comfortable standing near naked in front of a stranger. You don’t need to wear your Sunday best underwear – something neutral-coloured and supportive is fine and Granny pants are better than a skimpy thong.

16. Handle the dresses with care

While the dresses you try on are not for sale themselves, they need to stay in great condition for the next bride who might want to try them on. Out of respect to the boutique, don’t wear fake tan, which will stain the dresses.

17. Put your phone away

There will be plenty of opportunity to get photos of you on the wedding day, and you don’t want your fiancé catching a glimpse of it to ruin the surprise, do you? Also, you don’t want to be distracted by social media – this is your chance to concentrate on creating the perfect look for your dream day.