Congrats on your engagement! Finding your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning! It is also a big portion of your budget and can seem a little overwhelming. Let us help you with 10 tips and tricks to joyfully find your wedding dress in time and on budget.
1. Schedule your bridal appointment and set a budget as soon as you set your wedding date.
Most upscale bridal boutiques require an appointment to try on dresses. This is required so your bridal consultant can give you 100% of their focus to make sure your experience is unbelievable. Also, let your consultant know your budget so they are sure to be respectful of it while selecting dresses.
2. Look at bridal photos but keep an open mind.
Many brides fall in love with a dress or decide they hate a certain style based on the photo of a model in the dress. We are all for creating Pinterest boards and doing your research, but try to keep an open mind. You never know how a dress will look until it’s on your perfectly unique shape.
3. Limit your shopping posse.
Yes, we see the huge groups of friends and family having a blast on reality shows, too. However, when so many opinions get involved, it can be overwhelming. Remember, you should love your dress first and foremost! We suggest 1-4 close family members or friends for the best experience. Believe it or not, we have many brides that happily shop alone as well!
4. Start shopping early.
Many dresses are special ordered for you after you make your selection. Special order gowns can take up to 6-9 months to be made and delivered. Keep this in mind while planning.
5. Consider buying off the rack.
So you didn’t schedule in time or you are looking to get married as soon as possible? That’s ok! We always have a selection of dresses that we can sell directly off the rack. You can take home your "off the rack" gown the same day and sometimes score a discount, too!
6. Your dress will require alterations.
Almost every dress will require some alterations for a perfect fit. Many brides also choose to personalize their dress with different necklines, straps, jewels and hemlines. Make sure to start this process as soon as you have receive your gown.
7. Consider you color options.
Yes, white is the traditional color but ivory, blush and gold can look amazing on many skin tones. Click on the dresses below to see hues that will make you think outside the white:
8. Don't buy over the Internet.
As the old adage says, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It breaks our hearts every time we hear stories of brides receiving disastrous knock-off versions of the dress they saw in a picture. Often times it’s too late to order another dress before the wedding or they’ve used up their entire budget on the scam. If in doubt, don’t. Let these ladies from Buzzfeed's article be a lesson you don't have to learn yourself!
9. You may not have a tear shedding "moment."
Back to those reality shows....TV shows make brides think "the gates will open and choir will sing" when you find the right dress. That isn't always the case! Your experience will be just as unique as you are. Most our brides say they knew it was the right dress when they felt beautiful and confident. Don't second guess your choice if you didn't cry through your decision. Trust your instincts. You got this!
10. Relax, have fun and celebrate!
This is a once in a lifetime event! Choose a boutique that is dedicated to giving you the best experience and only involve close friends and family that have your best interest at heart. This should be a fun experience! Celebrate your decision with friends
...and your next step extra tip:
11. After the wedding, consider reselling your dress.
There are many options available to resell your dress after your wedding. Many brides choose this route to recoup some of their money. Just be sure to pay close attention to the terms and conditions of the resale contract.
Wishing you all the best! Congrats!
Ashley | Lola Grace Bridal
