Your wedding attire (whether it is a floor-length gown, a short dress, or perhaps even a pantsuit) is most likely the most important piece of clothing that you will ever purchase. It’s not surprising that the act of shopping for this important piece of clothing can be exhilarating or frustrating or frightening, or maybe a combination of all three. So, to make the most of your wedding dress shopping experience, here are some guidelines to follow.
5 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Wedding Dress Shopping
1. Bringing along too many people to the salon
We’ve all seen those wedding dress shopping expeditions on TV and in the movies. The ones that bring the whole gang along for the ride. Great for laughs (which is usually the point of including it in the show), but not so great in real life. Keep your sanity by not repeating this experience. Shop with only a few close friends or family members.
Having a large entourage will likely be more stressful for you and certainly not helpful in this important process. Instead, shopping with just your mom, your best friend, and maybe one other person whose opinion you value is more than enough. Adding to that total can only mean confusion, and you’ll get way too many opinions. Also, on a practical level, many bridal salons do not have the room to deal with 8-10 members of an entourage with every bride.
And most importantly, this is your decision – not the will of the crowd.
2. Looking for a wedding dress right after you got engaged
Instead, shop in a timely manner. Yes, you are excited. You got your ring on Christmas Eve and you can’t wait to go buy your wedding gown. But unless you’re planning to be married the following Valentine’s Day, relax. You do have time.
Before you begin your search for the perfect gown, you should have a good handle on your wedding attire budget (dress and accessories), the venues for your ceremony and reception, and the kind of wedding you have in mind. Also have in mind the types of wedding dresses that appeal to you (and those that don’t).
About 9-10 months prior to your wedding date is a good time to start wedding dress shopping. This allows for time to order your dress, have it come in (which typically takes 6-8 months), as well as time for any needed alterations. However, most bridal salons can usually accommodate any time frame. If you have months to plan your wedding, that’s no problem. If you only have a few weeks to plan, don’t panic. The best bridal shops are equipped to handle any situation.
3. Trying on too many dresses
Of course you want to try on a variety of dresses that appeal to you. And, it’s true many brides end up buying the first gown they tried on. Some do it the same day they first saw themselves in it, while other brides feel the need to think it over for a day or so. Then again, others find “the one” after trying on 4 or 5 dresses first.
While you do want to give yourself options and see what’s out there, in reality trying on more than 7-10 gowns tops is a waste of time. After a while you’re going to get lost in a “sea of white” as all those dresses will start to look the same. You can find yourself feeling confused trying to remember how each different dress actually looked, instead of feeling delighted and excited.
The salon’s consultants know the store’s stock very well and can help you make a careful and gorgeous choice so ultimately you end up with a dress that is right for your wedding and exactly right for you.
4. Dismissing or ignoring the suggestions by the salon consultant
Listen to the experienced consultant helping you. They are trained and experienced in choosing and recommending dresses that will flatter your body type, your skin coloring, personal taste, and your wedding style, so be open to trying on something that you otherwise weren’t considering.
They are also helpful in selecting the right accessories – such as jewelry, veils, gloves, and headpieces – that will complete your wedding ensemble. This doesn’t mean that you have to choose what they suggest, just take their suggestions into consideration.
5. Insisting on ordering a smaller size than what is suggested
Don’t get hung up on sizes. If you usually wear a size 10, don’t be put off when they tell you that you need to order a 12 or a 14. Wedding gowns normally run one or two sizes differently than ready-to-wear dresses. This is due to the way the fabric is cut by the manufacturer.
Also, sizes can vary from designer to designer – a dress by one designer can be a size 10 while another from a different designer (yet a similar fit) can be a size 12, while still another can be an 8. So be sure to listen to the consultant who is assisting you. They are using the sizing charts provided by the manufacturers to select the proper dress size based on your measurements.
So that your wedding gown will fit you absolutely perfectly, alterations will be necessary. And needing to order a larger size than you’re used to is not (I repeat, is not) a scam to get you to pay more.
You want your wedding dress shopping experience to be a positive one (as do your friends, family, and the salon consultants). To ensure that you shop for the best with the best, plan to shop at a full service bridal salon where selection and service will make this once in a lifetime event truly memorable.
How did your wedding dress shopping go? Did you experience any “hiccups”? Maybe you have a tip you’d like to add? Let me know in the comments below.
Photo Credit: Casey Hugelfink via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Looking for fun ideas, or need help with your wedding plans? Contact me today at [email protected] or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!
This is such great advice for someone who is looking for a perfect wedding dress! Thanks so much for sharing!
Glad you liked it. Ensuring that Wedding dress shopping is a pleasant experience will make the search for “the one” so much better.
I suppose the more people you bring for buying that dress, the more opinions you get, and that would make the choice harder I think
I should have read this advice years ago when I purchased a wedding dress. Will share this with a few brides-to-be to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes I did!
Some good tips, especially about waiting closer to big day. Especially if your weight changes, expensive alterations or expensive new dress!
such great practical tips for anyone looking to buy a wedding dress (or for that matter, any dress for a special occasion).. i always ask for and listen to the recommendations of the sales people, even when i go looking for new eye-glasses for myself, and their suggestions have always been wonderful.. in fact – the best suited for me too
Your blog post on wedding dress shopping mistakes is an excellent resource for anyone who is preparing to shop for their dream dress. Your tips are informative and easy to follow, and I appreciate the emphasis on the importance of staying true to oneself during the process. Great job!