If you, like me, have been thinking or envisioning your wedding dress since you were 6, then shopping for your wedding dress can be one of the most important part of wedding. Your wedding dress will be the centrepiece of your wedding, and everyone will be dying to see it! As with me I'm sure most of you brides, will have lots of questions about wedding dress, when should it be bought, where should you go and what to expect while shopping for it. Hopefully this blog post will provide you with some guidance and hopefully answer most of your questions. So, let’s start !
( dress from cheapbridalgowns.org.uk)
A short simple answer is to START EARLY! No sooner than you have a engagement ring on your finger it wont be long before the wedding magazines comes out ! Ideally you should start looking for your wedding dresses as early as nine to twelve months before wedding date. Unless you plan to buy a ready-to-wear dress, you should have as much time as possible since most wedding dresses are custom made, a lot of fittings may be required for alterations and doing final touch ups.
(Vera Wang Wedding dresses)
When to begin.....
A short simple answer is to START EARLY! No sooner than you have a engagement ring on your finger it wont be long before the wedding magazines comes out ! Ideally you should start looking for your wedding dresses as early as nine to twelve months before wedding date. Unless you plan to buy a ready-to-wear dress, you should have as much time as possible since most wedding dresses are custom made, a lot of fittings may be required for alterations and doing final touch ups.
Where to shop.....
The most popular choice for shopping wedding dresses are the bridal shops. These are most popular because they stock a wide selection of designs, form variety of designers and you usually get a personalised service. Various boutiques in shopping malls, and large departmental stores also stock wedding dresses. You can also check out the Internet, and auction websites whilst doing a search. Check out local listings to as they will give you various options within your area. Word of mouth recommendations are very helpful, so check out where your friends and family have brought theres from. They can help you shortlist the boutiques based on service and variety etc.
Whilst you make your short list, consider shops which fit in your budget. You will save a lot of time and effort if you know what your budget it. There is no point in enquiring about a shop which have a starting range of £1500 when your budget is £500. If you are on a tight budget, you can try you luck at secondhand shops. The designs may be a bit older,(perfect for that vintage wedding !!) or the designers not well known, and the dresses may not be super clean, but you may find a little treasure! Another option is to try a rental wedding dress. If you are not very sentimental, this can be a much cheaper option. You can check the local rentals under ' wedding hire' and also check online. The only negative here is that you may not find a wide selection and maybe the design are not as per current trends and you will probably need a dress maker to alter the dress for your size.
What to expect.....
Shopping for wedding dress can be really confusing, especially if you don’t understand the about your shape and size. Before you go to a bridal boutique, you should visit a dress maker and get fitted. Knowing your shape and size will help you understand what shape dress will look best. When looking at dresses, familiarised yourself with the gown, with things like the fabric, finishes, neckline, waistline, sleeve style etc.
When you visit the shop, you probably will be left with a specific salesperson. This is the person with whom you are going to deal with untill you receive your wedding dress. She would usually ask you about your wedding, the time lines, the formality of the wedding, what time of the year etc. She would also ask you if you have anything particular in mind for your wedding dress. She will look at your body shape and may suggest to you what kind of dress would suit you best.
If like me, you have done a bit of homework and know what your looking for, the salesperson will know and she would know that she is talking to someone who knows what she wants! While talking with her, try to get ideas from her. She is the one who knows about wedding dresses the most since this is what she does, what looks awful on a hanger may be your dream dress once on !
When you enter into changing room, keep your mind open. You should try all dresses which salesperson brings for you. Try all different types of dresses on and take a picture, Then you can decide which dress you feel most comfortable in and like the shape of. Most of the gowns can be customised to your style, things like taking the body of one and skirt of another, or adding or taking away straps. You can always ask for embellishments like beads and sequins. However remember, all customisations can add to the cost of your wedding dress.
Don’t rush to finalise your wedding dress. Remember to take your good friends and immediate family members. Take any hairpieces with you and also try on veils. Birdcage veils are right in with the vintage look, see if you can have it included with your dress. Most salons have a no-return policy on wedding gowns, so make sure you are 100% happy! Go with your instincts and visualise yourself wearing that dress on your wedding day. If you feel nice about it, you should probably go for it !
Shopping for wedding dress can be really confusing, especially if you don’t understand the about your shape and size. Before you go to a bridal boutique, you should visit a dress maker and get fitted. Knowing your shape and size will help you understand what shape dress will look best. When looking at dresses, familiarised yourself with the gown, with things like the fabric, finishes, neckline, waistline, sleeve style etc.
When you visit the shop, you probably will be left with a specific salesperson. This is the person with whom you are going to deal with untill you receive your wedding dress. She would usually ask you about your wedding, the time lines, the formality of the wedding, what time of the year etc. She would also ask you if you have anything particular in mind for your wedding dress. She will look at your body shape and may suggest to you what kind of dress would suit you best.
If like me, you have done a bit of homework and know what your looking for, the salesperson will know and she would know that she is talking to someone who knows what she wants! While talking with her, try to get ideas from her. She is the one who knows about wedding dresses the most since this is what she does, what looks awful on a hanger may be your dream dress once on !
When you enter into changing room, keep your mind open. You should try all dresses which salesperson brings for you. Try all different types of dresses on and take a picture, Then you can decide which dress you feel most comfortable in and like the shape of. Most of the gowns can be customised to your style, things like taking the body of one and skirt of another, or adding or taking away straps. You can always ask for embellishments like beads and sequins. However remember, all customisations can add to the cost of your wedding dress.
Don’t rush to finalise your wedding dress. Remember to take your good friends and immediate family members. Take any hairpieces with you and also try on veils. Birdcage veils are right in with the vintage look, see if you can have it included with your dress. Most salons have a no-return policy on wedding gowns, so make sure you are 100% happy! Go with your instincts and visualise yourself wearing that dress on your wedding day. If you feel nice about it, you should probably go for it !
Here's to making you feel like a princess, happy shopping,
Gemma x x x
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