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Stress-Free Wedding Dress Shopping – 8 Top Tips!

Stress-Free Wedding Dress Shopping – 8 Top Tips!

wedding dresses

Choosing your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of getting married (apart from sealing your commitment to your Significant Other, obviously!). However, it can also be a little overwhelming. To make the most of your wedding dress shopping experience, here are my 8 top tips for a successful trip.

1. Be Open-Minded About Style

Whether you have a Pinterest board full of ideas, or you haven’t even looked at a photo of a dress, you may have a style of wedding dress in mind that you just *know* is going to be the one for you. While it’s fantastic that you know what you’re looking for, don’t dismiss other styles without trying them on first! Nine times out of ten, brides will tell you that the dress they fell in love with was completely different from what they expected. Be guided by the shop consultant as to which styles will suit your body shape, and even if you are unsure, make certain you try them on. It may be that you don’t even get as far as coming out of the dressing room, but at least you’ll know for certain that it isn’t right for you!

2. Only Bring 1 or 2 Guests With You

It is an occasion you want to share with everyone, but bringing more than 1 or 2 trusted friends or family members with you can turn what should be a wonderful experience, into a stressful nightmare! Too many conflicting opinions can cause you to become overwhelmed, and finding a dress that gains everyone’s approval can be an impossible task. Choose carefully who you bring along. Make sure they are behind you 100% and know your style. They need to be able to give their opinion in a constructive manner, and also understand that it is your day. It is you that needs to be happy in the dress you are wearing! You can always bring 1 or 2 different guests along to a second appointment to help you make your final choice.

3. Ignore Wedding Dress Sizes!

If you have started your dress shopping then you may already know that wedding dress sizes bear no resemblance to your normal high street size! Designers work from their own size charts which makes the sizes they state very hit-and-miss. Try not to worry about the size you end up with. It’s possible that your wedding dress size will be 1, 2, or even 3 sizes bigger than your usual clothes! This is very normal. At the end of the day, being comfortable is more important than a label that no one will see. You can always remove it if it bothers you too much!

4. Wear Light-Coloured Underwear

To get the best idea of how a wedding dress looks on you, you want to be able to see the features of the dress, not the colour of your knickers! Wearing plain nude, or light-coloured underwear ensures you see the dress in all its glory. This helps you gain a better idea of how it looks and what your guests will see on the day. Wearing a strapless bra is also helpful, especially if you are trying on strapless gowns.

bridal shop

5. Avoid Fake Tan/Makeup

OK, I have to admit, this is coming from a dress shop owner’s perspective! However, if you went to try a dress on and it was covered in stains or smelled of stale body odour, you’d find it a little off-putting, I’m sure! So, while you want to look your best when dress shopping, leave your fake tan off and keep makeup to a minimum. You don’t want the added stress of worrying about marks you have left on an expensive wedding dress! On the same note, being freshly showered means the dresses stay in tip-top condition for future brides to try on.

6. Shop Well In Advance Of Your Wedding Day

Wedding dresses, in the main, are ordered in by the shop, especially for you. However, some designers have up to a 6-month waiting time before your dress will arrive in the shop. To avoid heartache, make sure you start shopping at least 9-months to 1 year before your wedding day. The last thing you want is to find the dress of your dreams and discover that it won’t arrive until after your big day! Tell the consultant when your wedding date is so they can direct you towards dresses that will arrive in time. If you only have a few weeks before your wedding, choose a shop that sells off-the-peg dresses and/or designers with short lead times.

7. Know Your Budget

Work out how much you can afford to spend on your dress before you arrive at the store. Let the consultant know how much you have available so they can guide you toward dresses in your price range. Remember that accessories and alterations will be additional costs, so ensure you have budgeted for these, too.

8. Be Sure You’re Happy Before You Say Yes!

The most important thing to remember is that it is YOUR wedding dress, and YOUR wedding day and YOU need to be in love with your gown! Don’t be afraid to say if the dress everyone else thinks is perfect, doesn’t feel the same to you. If this is the case, it may not be The One. However, before you dismiss it completely, tell the consultant and guests what you are not happy with. Maybe the dress can be altered slightly or adding a belt, straps, or other accessory turns it into the dress of your dreams. If you’re still unsure, go away and think about it for a while before you make your final decision. At the end of the day, your wedding photos will be around for a lifetime so you need to be sure you love how you look! Not all brides get that little fizzy feeling when standing in their perfect dress, but if you are reluctant to take it off then it’s probably the one for you!

Bride in wedding dress

Ready to start looking for your dress? Book an appointment at Lucky Sixpence Bridal, here!

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