Wedding dress shopping tips
You have started your planning, probably have a few things done, but now comes the fun part! It’s time to start looking for that perfect wedding dress. Some of us may have childhood visions and know exactly what we want in our dress, but the rest of us have no clue! Although you may have an exact picture of what you want, give yourself some options and be open minded because you may fall in love with the unexpected! Your dress should express your personal style and not be something that is completely different from whom you are. Below are a few ideas to keep in mind when starting the search. These suggestions will help you have a fun and not stressful experience! Enjoy :-)
Research - Before you venture off and start actually trying on dresses we recommend all brides-to-be do a little “research”. Go out and buy yourself a few of those wedding magazines or search the internet for all different styles. When doing research, I recommend going to a few wedding websites such as theknot.com and weddingchannel.com to name a few. These sites allow you to search and narrow your search by style, silhouette, and pricing, which is important if you have a budget to stick to. Give yourself a max budget when dress shopping. Consider the cost of alterations and accessories when you’re doing your budget. Start saving photos of the styles you found in magazines and on websites so that you have a print out of the pages to show the bridal shops, that way they have a much better idea of what you are looking for. Once you have a good idea of what you want to try on start looking up bridal shops in your area. Again, you can do this by searching online, as well as using the websites mentioned above - they will assist with finding bridal shops in your area. Once you have a few salons, start calling up and making appointments. Although an appointment is not always needed, most places prefer you make an appointment especially on the weekends when they get very busy. This will guarantee you personal assistance by a bridal gown consultant.
Start Shopping - Once you have your date set, try to start shopping as soon as possible. We recommend shopping 10 months or more before your wedding, but no later than 6 months before. The reason being that most designers will take about 3 – 6+ months to order/make your dress and have it shipped to the bridal salon. Once the dress comes in and you are 110% in love with it, this will give the store enough time to do alterations and have fittings. Most places will schedule 3 fittings with the bride to ensure the fit is just right for your big day!
When visiting the bridal salon we recommended bringing along 1-3 people, at the most to give their opinion. Two is ideal though. You don’t want to bring too many people because this can be an exhausting experience and too many opinions and ideas can be overwhelming. Also a big request among salon owners is that you not wear too much make up when trying on dresses. Besides the obvious reason of not wanting to have the dress ruined by makeup, but also you want to see yourself at your most natural so that you can really get a good idea of how you will look! It is also very helpful to wear a strapless bra.
Some Bridal Shops will allow you to take photos, so find out before hand if you’re allowed. If so, bring a camera along to help you remember how you looked in the dresses.
Styles:
Wedding dresses come in a variety of fits and styles to suit every bride. You may have tried on a few styles you liked in pictures and then did not like them on yourself. Do not get discouraged! The bridal consultant should be able to assist you in finding a style that will flatter your figure. Another thing to keep in mind is the formality of your wedding. If you are having a simple casual wedding, the dress should be appropriate for the event. Larger, traditional weddings call for a more traditional wedding dress. Below are a few samples of the different available styles.
A-Line - Fitted around the bodice and flows out to the ground resembling the shape of an A, and flatters almost all body types. The bodice can create the illusion of length on a petite bride and also slims down a rounded figure.
Empire - Starts the waistline underneath the bust. This fit works well on petite brides because it will make you appear taller. It is also a recommended fit for a smaller bust. Keep in mind this style can also be combined with the above A-line skirt, which also makes for a great fit!
Column - Starts at the neckline and is narrow from the neckline to the hem. This fit is made to hug all your curves. This fit is a little more casual then most and is seen in a lot of destination weddings. This fit is best for a lean bride, tall or short, a curvy bride may feel uncomfortable because the fit is not usually accommodating to problem areas, but this can sometimes be fixed with the purchase of a slip/body shaper.
Ball Gown - This fit is the most classic and popular among brides. This reminds most of us of being a princess and a ball! This is exactly how you should feel the day of your wedding. This fit has a fitted bodice and a full skirt, which works best on slender or pear-shaped figures. It brings attention to the torso and the waistline and takes attention away from the hips. The full skirt might not work to well on a short bride because her height may not hold the skirt up well. Be sure you feel comfortable and not overwhelmed by the full skirt.
Mermaid - One of this season’s favorite fits; this fit contours your body from the neckline down to your knee and then flares from the knee to the hem. This fit will accent all the natural curves of a women’s body. We recommend this fit for slender brides preferably taller but petite brides can pull this off as well! The flare at the bottom may make it a little harder to walk so you do need to feel 100% comfortable in the dress.
Along with all these dress styles there are a variety of necklines that can be used with all of them. As well as the option of having straps, sleeves or no straps on a dress, either of these options can be discussed with the bridal salon.
We hope this information has given you a better idea of what to look for when you start your shopping. Remember this should be a fun and exciting experience and in the end it comes down to the dress you love! You will know when you find it and you just don’t want to take it off! Good luck ladies and happy dress shopping!
Nadya
Sources:
Pictures:
http://www.ribbonsandpearls.co.uk/style_guide/dress_guide.htm
http://www.partypop.com/Forums/images/268504.jpg
Dress Styles
http://www.weddingsolutions.com/fashion_and_beauty/Dress_Styles.html
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