Summary
- It is important to keep an open mind and try on different styles of wedding dresses
- Bring the right people to your appointment who are supportive and helpful
- You do not need special undergarments unless you intend to wear them on your wedding day
- Be honest about and stick to your budget
- Be ready to say yes if you find the right one
- Wedding dresses take 4 to 6 months to arrive from date of order
- Do not worry about your body shape or type, or any disability you may have
- Trust the process
Wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting parts of planning your big day, and we want to make sure you have the best experience possible at your bridal appointment.
As bridal stylists, we’ve helped countless brides find their dream dress, and along the way, we’ve learned a few things that can make the process smoother and even more enjoyable. There are some helpful tips and insights that can make your appointment stress-free, fun, and successful. If you want to get the most out of your visit, especially if it is your first wedding dress appointment (and actually enjoy the experience), here are 8 things we wish you knew before stepping into the bridal salon.
1. Do Your Research, But Keep an Open Mind
The starting point of your bridal appointment will be going over your saved dress inspiration photos! Pinterest boards and Instagram saves are great for inspiration, but keep in mind that your dream dress might not be what you think it is. Many brides fall in love with a wedding dress style online, only to realize it doesn’t flatter them the way they imagined.
I personally have had numerous brides walk in telling me that they wanted sleek and simple yet said yes to a big sparkly ball gown. And I cannot count how many times a bride has told me “absolutely nothing strapless” only to walk out with a strapless bridal gown.
We wish you knew that you can trust the expertise of your bridal stylist and be willing to try something out of your comfort zone.
2. Bring the Right People To Your Bridal Appointment
Your entourage can make or break your dress shopping experience. Many brides want to be people pleasers and bring all of their closest friends, extended family members, possibly their future mother and sister in law. This is not the time to be a people pleaser.
Bring trusted people whose opinions truly matter to you—those who will support your vision and understand your personal style. Make sure that the people needed are present for your appointment (whether in person or over video call). There is nothing worse than watching a bride light up when she finds her dress only to watch that light dim when she realizes she cannot yet celebrate the moment since someone important to her is not there.
We wish you knew to choose your entourage wisely and make sure they are present to take in your “yes” moment with you.
3. You Do Not Need Special Undergarments
This is the most frequently asked question we receive when setting a bridal appointment. Wedding dresses are built with cups in the bodice, and typically have plenty of structure within the composition of the gown. We usually recommend just wearing nude underwear! There is no need for a strapless bra or shape wear unless you are planning on wearing them on your wedding day.
Many dresses have sheer backs, side cut outs, low backs, or plunges that can make wearing undergarments tricky due to lack of coverage. It is better to try them without these undergarments so you can get an idea of how the dress will truly fit you if you are not able to wear these with your gown. However, if you know that you absolutely will be wearing shape wear or a bra, you should plan to wear those to your appointment to determine if the dress will be feasible or what alterations may need to be made to accommodate your plan!
We wish you knew that most wedding dresses are highly structured with built in support so you do not need special undergarments at your bridal appointment.
4. Know Your Budget (And Be Honest About It)
We want to help you find the dress, not just a dress you fall in love with and can’t afford. Be upfront about your budget so we can pull options that work for you. At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo, we have new gowns to order that will fit in most budgets, and offer a large selection off the rack that allows us to get you a gorgeous gown at a lower cost.
Keep in mind that alterations, accessories, and taxes will add to the final cost. You can also search for bridal boutiques that have designers in your price range, and those offering a sample sale or a trunk shows with a price point that fits.
We wish you knew you can be honest and up front with your wedding dress budget.
5. Be Ready to Say Yes
This advice is at your own discretion, but allow us to explain. Many brides don’t expect to find the one during their first bridal appointment, but it happens all the time!
If you find a dress you love, don’t feel like you have to keep looking just because you expected the process to take longer. We have had a lot of brides start at our store, try on a dozen dresses, and find an absolute favorite. But other appointments were made for that day so off they went, losing that special moment to say yes to that perfect dress. After visiting three more bridal stores and 40 more dresses tried on, they came back at the end of the day to say yes.
Sometimes there are special offers for brides who say yes on their first visit or during a trunk show that you can only take advantage of that day. We also advise that you say yes when you know it is your dress because our inventory and this industry is ever-changing.
We have had brides who fell in love with a dress who left only to find that it had sold out of the store by the time they wanted to return. In some cases, the gown could still be ordered, but we did not have it any longer for the bride to try on. If she had planned on buying the sample at the discounted price, it would be no longer available at that price, nor would it be available at all had it been a discontinued sample. Also, price changes can and do happen at a moments notice at the hands of the designers.
We wish you knew you can trust your gut and know when it is time to say “yes”!
6. A Special Order Wedding Gown Takes Time to Arrive
Wedding dresses are not like regular clothes you can grab off the rack. Most gowns take 4-6 months to arrive, plus time for alterations. Plan your dress shopping timeline with enough time in advance of your special day! This will allow you the most flexibility in finding your dream gown without limitation.
That is not to say that you are out of options if you are working on a shorter timeline! If your wedding is coming up soon, be open to sample dresses or rush/quick ship options. Some rush and quick ship options will incur a rush fee, so please keep this in mind if you are dress shopping closer to your wedding day. We have worked with brides whose weddings were the very next day, so do not panic if you have a shorter timeline.
We wish you knew the best time to shop for your wedding dress is 9 to 12 months before your wedding date!
7. You’re Beautiful As You Are
We hear it all the time—brides apologizing for their body shape in the dressing room, being anxious about their weight or a part they do not like, or simply feeling insecure.
Remember:
- the dress is meant to fit you, not the other way around
- we are ALL different shapes with different styles
- your bridal consultant wants to bring you dresses with the right fit that you will love
We have sample sizes ranging from size 2 all the way up to 32, so you will have options close to size in our store. Just know going into the process that some dresses will be too big, some too small, and some just right. Also keep in mind that brides rarely fit into a perfect size – every bride requires alterations to make their dress fit to their unique body type. No matter your size or shape, you deserve to (and WILL) feel stunning in your gown!
We wish you knew real brides come in every shape and size and there is a perfect wedding dress out there for every one of them.
8. Trust the Bridal Appointment Process
Our job is to give you a great experience and help you find dresses that make you feel amazing. We know how these gowns fit, which styles will highlight your best features, and how to guide you through the entire process.
Committing to your dream wedding dress is a big decision and quite possibly the best part of the wedding planning process. Once you have your venue, date, and wedding dress, everything else can fall into place with your aesthetic in mind.
We wish you knew that you can let us do what we do best – provide you with the best wedding dress shopping experience!
Final Advice
There are many wedding dress boutiques that you can visit for a bridal dress appointment. Each store will provide a unique experience. Most will have all the dress styles available to try, hair ties and high heels in the changing room, however inquire before booking if you are looking for something specific such as:
- a certain designer like Madi Lane or Essense of Australia
- the basque waist silhouette
- a particular fabric like crepe or Mikado
- plus sizes
- a type of appointment where food and drinks are provided or large groups are accommodated
Bridal shopping should be a fun and memorable experience. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be setting yourself up for success—and walking away with a dress you absolutely love!