The dos and don’ts of wedding dress shopping

Wedding dress shopping can be a stressful time, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re lending you a helping hand by providing you with some dos and don’ts to follow while searching for the perfect frock.

DO figure out your budget

Nothing is worse than falling in love with a dress only for it to be way out of your price range. Make sure to set a budget and stick within that budget while shopping. Also, keep in mind alterations, accessories, and shipping costs. Those can quickly add up, and you want to leave room in your budget for them.

DON’T bring too many people

Only bring one or two people whose opinions you completely trust. This way you know you’ll be making the right decision, and you won’t be swayed by too many opinions. If you want to include everyone, bring them along to the final fitting! They can also help pick out accessories.

DO plan accordingly

Book your first appointment at least a year out. Salons can fill up with appointments quickly, and if you aren’t buying a dress right off the rack, you’ll need to account for the time it takes to make it. You also want to schedule multiple fittings. After you choose the dress, you can begin picking out the appropriate undergarments as well as accessories like shoes and veils. You’ll need your shoes picked out before you can get your dress hemmed.  And you’ll want to bring your accessories to the final fittings to make sure everything goes well together.

DO read the contract

This is very important because you want to ensure everything is correct! Go over everything with your consultant, too, so you can double check the size, designer, color, style number, etc. This contract will also detail when the dress is expected to arrive as well as all of the pricing information and payment dates. Expect to pay 50-60% of the dress price as a deposit; the rest will be due when the dress arrives.

DON’T stress yourself out

This should be a fun time for you! The consultant is there to help you and so are the people you bring along. Do some research beforehand so you know what to expect, and you’ll be good.