Can’t wait to try on wedding dresses in front of your family and friends? Having a mini freak out because you have no idea what you’re looking for? No matter how you’re feeling, finding the perfect dress should be one of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences in your wedding planning journey, and the Guides for Brides team have put together 6 top tips to help you get the most out of your wedding dress appointment.
Research
It’s important to make sure you’re visiting a boutique that stocks designers that you love and are also in your price range. Search online and in magazines to find styles you like before choosing which boutique to visit. Dress shopping can be quite an exhausting day so you don’t want a wasted trip!
Bring the right people with you
This could make or break your dress shopping experience. You can take your parents, bridesmaids, friends and even mother-in-law to be, but do note that some boutiques simply don’t have the space for a whole entourage! Bring people with you who are supportive and patient. Think about whether you want honest opinions or people you can have a laugh with. Your consultant will be able to recommend dresses to suit your body and style, your friends and family can offer their opinions, but ultimately the choice is down to you.
Find photographs
Take photographs with you of the styles and details that you like and would like to try on. Take a look on the boutique’s social media pages to see what dresses they’ve posted about recently. This will make sure that you get the most out of your appointment by giving the consultants a direction to go in.
Pack your wedding shoes
If you have them already then make sure you bring them, however if you don’t, bring some that will be as close to the heel height you want to wear on your big day. It’s crazy how much a heel can change a whole outfit and will affect your dress alterations too. If you just don’t know what you’ll be wearing, don’t panic. Most boutiques offer bridal shoes and are happy for you to try them on during your appointment.
Don’t forget accessories
If you want to incorporate accessories into your look then make sure you bring them to the appointment too. Have a family heirloom you’ll be wearing on the day? Bought yourself a stunning necklace that you want to show off? You need to make sure the colour and design suit your dress so don’t miss the opportunity to see your whole look together.
Dress the part
Whilst dress shopping provides a fun day out with your family and friends, it’s important to wear something easy to change in and out of - you’ll thank us later! Try to find a nude bra (those bright pink polka dots will shine right on through) and ideally strapless. Even if you’re not planning on wearing a strapless gown you never know what you’ll be trying on when you get in there. Quite often brides go into their appointment with a vision but end up trying on something completely different. Undergarments can also change the whole look of a dress (don’t we know it ladies!) so if you plan on wearing shapewear then bring this along too.