You’re ready for the most fun part- finding the perfect dress! Now I’m going to share with you some dress shopping tips so your bases are totally covered!
Before you go:
Shop well in advance
I thought I was super proactive wedding dress shopping 8 months before my wedding, but some designers take longer than that. The earlier the better!
Do your research on places you’d like to shop
When on their site: Make sure they have items within your budget, that they have dresses they can ship by your wedding date & you like the styles on their site or ig.
Read reviews on the knot or ask your friends where they had the best experience
Find your crew
Most gals invite 2-4 friends to be with them while finding their perfect dress. You don’t want too many cooks in the kitchen, so a small intimate crew is perfect!
Next poll the girls to see what the best date would be for everyone to get together.
Once you’ve settled on a date, have your MOH or bestie book the appointments.
Start pinning dresses you love
Lots of bridal salons now have their own Pinterest or system to shop online before you go.
Write down the styles you love & email the salon before with your favorites
The morning of:
Get dressed in a cute outfit & do your hair and makeup so you feel good
Opt out of getting a spray tan (you’re wearing white)
Wear something comfy & easy to slide on and off. I wore a dress & sandals
Take a moment to thank everyone for being there & set some expectations. I personally asked all the girls to keep me honest of a few things 1. I wanted a dress I felt comfortable in (at this weight) & I didn’t want to feel like I need to be “sweating for the wedding” 2. I wanted to be able to raise my hands 3. I didn’t want too much cleavage 4. I wanted to be able to sit and move around. This time is also a good time to tell people what you expect of them. Do you want them to say you look amazing in everything? Do you want their brutal honest opinion? Do you want a no photos rule, so not everyone has your dress on their phone? You get to set that expectation before you go.
Bring a pair of heels & a strapless bra.
Lastly, bring champagne and a cooler (if your friends want to drink while you try on), most places offer you champagne only if you “say yes”
While shopping
Try on different styles & silhouettes, you’d be surprised what you end up loving
One salon made me “knock-out” dresses & I thought it was so smart. If I didn’t like a dress more than the previous one it was a “no”. This helped me not get overwhelmed by liking all the dresses, because they truly are all amazing in different ways.
Take pics in the dresses from different angles and have a top 5 or so, so you can reflect on your favorites throughout the day. I also recommend taking a video in your top dresses from each salon, you might be surprised by how they move.
Don’t let them “jack you up” & put a veil on until you know it’s a top contender dress
Be mindful of your friends & family’s opinion or reaction (it’s hard to not). They might have strong opinions, favorites & at the end of the day they should want you in your favorite dress not necessarily their favorite dress.
Don’t feel rushed to make a decision if you aren’t ready. After trying everything on, you can go home & look at all the videos and photos and then make a decision.
Enjoy the day, it’s truly magical and so so special. (PS don’t forget to send thank yous to your friends)
