How to Shop for The Right Wedding Dress

Shopping for “the dress” is no doubt one of the most exciting aspects of planning for your wedding, but to avoid frustration, tears, and overpaying, consider the following tips. By being a prepared bride, you’ll be a happy bride, and at least this aspect of your wedding will go off without a single hitch.

Plan ahead. Most wedding planners will advise their clients to begin looking for a wedding dress at least eight months prior to the wedding. But that’s if you know what type of dress you want to wear for the big day. If you’re still in the “I don’t know what type of dress I want!” stages of planning, then make sure you start browsing for ideas at least ten to twelve months prior to your wedding.

Get Inspired. Most brides look in bridal catalogs, wedding magazines, and online on bridal communities to get ideas for their ideal wedding gown. But there are other sources for wedding dress inspiration, too: movies, television shows, online stores like Dimitra Designs Bridal Emporium, and even Pinterest and Instagram.

Check the Sales. Who says you have to pay full price for a wedding dress? Many brides have found their dream gown in the sales or even clearance section of a bridal dress shop. Last season’s top picks may have their prices slashed drastically, but aside from being considered “last season”, there’s nothing else wrong with these discounted gowns.

Go With What You Love. While you’ll definitely want to consider your body’s shape and skin tone when shopping for potential dresses, if you really love that empire-waisted dress or want to go sleeveless in February, go for it! The ideal dress for you is one that you love, and in the end it really doesn’t matter if it isn’t your ideal fit or the best choice for the weather.

Get Advice. While you should certainly go with your gut when selecting a dress, if you’re uncertain or just can’t pick among three or four dresses, enlist your mother, your sister, or even a few friends to give you their uncensored advice and commentary.

Find a Seamstress. If you’ve found a wedding dress that you absolutely love, but it’s too short or its sleeves are too long or it’s a size too big or too small, the expert work of an experienced seamstress or even a tailor may be able to transform that beautiful wedding dress into your wedding dress.