Everything You Need to Know About Bridal Shopping- The Good, Bad, and Ugly!

Since I’ve been happily engaged for a few months I’m diving deeper and deeper into wedding planning! We’ve got a lot of details firmed up and a few more to go, but the biggest thing I’m tackling right now is THE DRESS! For someone that has spent a fair amount of time fantasizing about her wedding day, I was very much all over the place with my ideas for my wedding dress. I love ballgowns as much as I love mermaids, and all of my obsessing over Pinterest, Instagram and bridal magazines hasn’t exactly helped me narrow down my options.

I’ve had a few bridal appointments over the past few months so I’m going to slowly start sharing more about the bridal salons I’ve visited, what dress shopping was like, and how I eventually ended up saying yes to the dress! Keep reading for everything you need to know about wedding dress shopping and how to make the most out of your experience!

How to Prepare for Your Bridal Appointment

The first thing to know is all bridal shops require an appointment. You can’t walk into a bridal salon and shop the way you would in a normal store. Start by researching salons in your area and thinking about which ones are going to fit your style and budget. Some are known for carrying different designers or styles of gowns, so it is helpful to have some idea of what you are looking for and how much you can spend.

You also need to define your wedding dress budget, and be prepared to stick to it! That will determine not just the dress you end up with, but which bridal salons you should plan to visit. If you have a budget on the lower end, you should avoid salons that will carry styles that are mostly out of your price range. You want to set yourself up for success when it comes to looking for your dream bridal gown! A few of the salons I researched specifically said their dresses start around $3,000, so if that is the top of your budget they are not going to be for you!

Next, think about who you want to bring with you to your appointments! The rules on number of guests will vary based on which salon you choose, but I would keep it to a small group. You don’t want too many people throwing out opinions or taking over your appointment. And regardless of relationship, do not bring anyone that will make you feel uncomfortable or be negative! You deserve to have nothing but positive energy and joy throughout the wedding planning process, so do not let anyone try to take away from that.

What to Expect When Wedding Dress Shopping

Once you’ve got your appointment set and squad in tow it’s time to start preparing for your bridal appointment. Most stores will only give you an hour to an hour and a half to try on wedding dresses, so it helps to have some ideas before you go. Research the designers they carry, have references organized on Pinterest or Instagram, and have your budget set. Having a realistic budget in mind is paramount! And however tempting it might be, avoid trying on dresses that are way out of your budget. Weddings are expensive enough and you don’t want to fall in love with a dress that you know you can’t afford! And remember - the price of the dress does not include alterations or accessories.

Think about silhouettes you like, but keep an open mind! I tried on pretty much every wedding dress silhouette known to man before feeling committed to a certain shape. I also thought about different design elements I liked in each dress I tried on, like the volume of the train or details in the bodice.

Another way to prepare for a bridal appointment is to look the part! You may not know exactly how you want your hair and makeup to be done on your wedding day, but come in with a fresh hair style and classic makeup. Trust me, it will make a difference!

And don’t worry too much about undergarments, just keep them clean and simple. Your bridal stylist will be helping you in and out of dresses during the appointment , so avoid any undergarments that show more than you want her to see! Once you decide on a dress, they can help advise you on which undergarments or shapewear will work best with that design.

What You Should Do After You Find Your Dream Wedding Dress

Cheers! You said yes to the dress and are hopefully absolutely in love with it! The bridal salon can give you a timeline on when your dress should arrive and be ready for alterations. Typically you do a first fitting about 3 months before the wedding and a final one about 2 weeks before. Give yourself plenty of time if you are expecting your body to change more than average , whether that be due to weight gain, weight loss or pregnancy.

You can also start thinking about the bridal accessories you will need to complete your look. Pick your wedding shoes and any other finishing touches, like a veil, headpiece, flower crown, bolero, whatever. It’s also a good time to start brainstorming hairstyles that willl work with the neckline of the dress and what jewelry you’d like to wear.

Hope these tips help ! And most importantly, have fun! Dress shopping is one of the most fun elements of planning a wedding and you deserve to enjoy every second of it!