9 things to know before wedding dress shopping

It’s time!! You’re ready to start wedding dress shopping! You’ve probably saved some photos and done a little digging on pinterest. But I want to help you guys out with a few pointers I wish someone had told me before wedding dress shopping!

Like… wtf should you bring? What should you leave at home? What questions should you ask? I’ve got you covered!

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE DRESS SHOPPING

MY TRIP TO BUY A DRESS WAS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE WAS EASY AND I ACTUALLY BOUGHT THE FIRST DRESS I TRIED ON! I FIRMLY YOU BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE WILL KNOW “THE ONE” BECAUSE YOU’LL FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMETHING AND KEEP GOING BACK TO IT. BUT IF NOT, DON’T STRESS. HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND DON’T HESITATE TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

1. SET A BUDGET

DO NOT. I REPEAT, DO NOT TRY ON DRESSES YOU CAN’T AFFORD. SEEMS SIMPLE ENOUGH, RIGHT?

BEFORE YOU GET CARRIED AWAY TRYING ON DREAM DRESSES, TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR WEDDING BUDGET. FIGURE OUT WHAT NUMBER YOU’RE COMFORTABLE SPENDING ON YOUR WEDDING DRESS.

NOT ONLY WILL THAT HELP YOU NARROW DOWN DESIGNERS, IT WILL ALSO HELP YOU ZERO IN ON THE RIGHT DRESS SHOPS TO CHECK OUT. IT WILL ALSO HELP YOU ZERO IN ON YOUR EXPECTATIONS DURING THE DRESS SHOPPING PROCESS.

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2. STICK TO A SMART TIMELINE

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT WEDDING GOWNS CAN TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 4-10 MONTHS TO BE MADE. THAT DOESN’T TAKE SHIPPING TIMES OR ALTERATIONS INTO CONSIDERATION. SO YOU SHOULD GIVE YOURSELF AT LEAST 8 MONTHS OF WIGGLE ROOM.

IF YOU’RE WORKING WITH LIMITED TIME, SOME DESIGNERS OFFER RUSH SERVICES, BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO PAY A FEE. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT SAMPLE DRESSES AT YOUR LOCAL BRIDAL SALONS, A LOT OF TIMES THEY’LL SELL DRESSES OFF OF THE RACK AT A LOWER PRICE.

3. FIGURE OUT YOUR ENTOURAGE

I ALWAYS SAY, LESS IS MORE.

BRINGING A BIG GROUP WITH YOU TO PICK A DRESS CAN BE SUPER OVERWHELMING. I RECOMMEND STICKING WITH A SMALLER GROUP TO START YOUR SEARCH. THAT WAY YOU CAN FIND THE DRESS THAT BEST FITS YOUR STYLE AND NOT FEEL ANY PRESSURE TO LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS.

WHETHER YOU WANT TO INVITE FAMILY MEMBERS OR JUST A FRIEND. DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.

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4. MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENTS

I RECOMMEND MAKING ALL OF YOUR APPOINTMENTS IN ONE DAY OR OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEKEND. THAT WAY, THE DRESSES YOU TRY ON WILL BE FRESH IN YOUR MIND AND EASIER TO COMPARE.

I RECOMMEND VISITING 2-3 STORES. YOU DON’T WANT TO OVERWHELM YOURSELF WITH OPTIONS. IF YOU DO A LITTLE RESEARCH BEFOREHAND, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO NARROW IT DOWN TO A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS THAT FIT BOTH YOUR STYLE AND BUDGET.

5. DON’T SKIP BREAKFAST (OR LUNCH)

I FEEL LIKE IT’S EASY TO GET STRESSED OUT AND FORGET TO EAT. BUT THERE’S NOTHING WORSE THAN BEING HANGRY. OR TIRED FROM NOT EATING.

BE SURE TO EAT A LIGHT BREAKFAST & LUNCH THAT DAY. HAVE A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE (MOST SALONS OFFER YOU ONE), BUT DON’T OVERDO IT. YOU DON’T WANT TO FEEL SLEEPY OR SICK!

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6. GLAM YOURSELF UP

I GOT A SPRAY TAN BEFORE MY APPOINTMENTS. I WANTED TO FEEL LIKE I HAD A NICE “CABO” GLOW.

I ALSO MADE AN EFFORT TO DO MY HAIR & MAKEUP “SIMILAR” TO HOW I WANT TO WEAR IT AT OUR WEDDING. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO OVERBOARD, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE IT’S FUN TO GET ALL DOLLED UP. PLUS, IT MADE ME FEEL CONFIDENT AND PULLED THE WHOLE LOOK TOGHETHER.

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7. WHAT DO BRING TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS

UNDERGARMENTS ARE OPTIONAL…

BUT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE TYPE OF DRESSES YOU LIKE AND WHAT YOU’D WEAR ON YOUR WEDDING DAY.

MOST SHOPS HAVE A FEW BRAS IN THE FITTING ROOM, BUT I RECOMMEND BRINGING SOME OPTIONS OF YOUR OWN. YOU COULD BRING A STRAPLESS BRA, PASTIES, UNDERWEAR, SHAPEWEAR, ETC.

I ALSO RECOMMEND BRINGING SHOES! BRING A SHOE SIMILAR IN HEIGHT TO WHAT YOU’LL WEAR ON YOUR WEDDING DAY. IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE!

8. CALL AHEAD

ALWAYS MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. BUT ALSO, CALL AHEAD!

GIVE THE SALON A CALL BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE. THAT WAY, THEY’LL HAVE NOTES READY & CAN PULL SOME GOWNS AHEAD OF TIME. IT HELPS IF THEY KNOW DRESS STYLES YOU LIKE, THAT WAY THEY CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS TOO.

IF THERE’S A SPECIFIC DESIGNER OR STYLE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR, IT’S BEST TO ASK AHEAD OF TIME TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A SAMPLE. IF NOT, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO ORDER IT.

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9. DON’T STRESS

WEDDING DRESS SIZES ARE WEIRD. THEY’RE WAY DIFFERENT THAN STREET SIZES THAT YOU GET IN A DEPARTMENT STORE. SO DON’T STRESS WHEN YOU SEE YOUR WEDDING DRESS SIZE.

THAT BEING SAID, THE SAMPLE SIZES AT THE STORE ARE SPECIFIC AND RARELY FIT. AKA THEY’RE “ONE SIZE FITS NO ONE”.

DON’T LET YOURSELF GET DISCOURAGED DURING THE APPOINTMENTS, THERE ARE TONS OF DESIGNERS WITH THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM. IF YOU DON’T FIND A “THE ONE” ON YOUR FIRST TRIP, DON’T GIVE UP! YOU’LL FIND A DRESS YOU LOVE!

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ALL DRESSES IN THIS POST ARE FROM àLouise Bridal, ONE OF MY FAVORITE BRIDAL SHOPS IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

HERE’S WHAT I BROUGHT TO MY APPOINTMENT

WANT MORE WEDDING PLANNING TIPS?

FOLLOW MY BRIDAL PINTEREST BOARD HERE

DETAILS ON THE TRIP TO PLAN OUR BIG DAY

GRWM BRIDAL GLAM