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Wedding Advice

November 27, 2017

DC Wedding Planner | Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Dress Shopping

Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Dress Shopping | DC Wedding Planner

Photo Cred: Dyanna LaMora Photography

If you’re like most brides, you’ve been envisioning what you’d wear on your wedding day since the moment you knew how to daydream. Fast forward to today and you now have the ring on your finger, you’ve picked a wedding date, and now it’s time to choose a dress chosen by the wedding gods themselves *insert praise hands emoji*. To help you along the way, we have the answers to everything you need to know about wedding dress shopping – from how far in advance should you begin, and what to expect once you’re trying on your dream dress. No need to worry, we’ve got you covered! Continue reading on to get the scoop on saying yes to the dress!

When Should I Begin Shopping?

The sooner the better! Time is of the essence here ladies. Unless you’re lucky enough to find a dress off the rack in your size, no alterations needed, your dream dress is going to need to be altered to ensure it fits your body perfectly. Nine to 12 months before your wedding is ideal and always make an appointment in advance. Depending on the time of season, bridal shops can get busy and you want to ensure you have the option of trying on the dress in the window or the one hiding between dresses on the rack.

Where Should I Go?

Off the bat you’re going to want to choose bridal stores that cater to your budget and desired look. Narrowing down your price point is the first step. You’re not going to want to step into a store that has starting prices above your budget. Next, identifying the style of dress and designer you’re interested in will help steer you in the right direction. Love a certain designer’s style in dress? You’re going to want to know who in your area carries the dress and it’s availability. Add those store to your list. Last but certainly not least, ask your friends where they’ve purchased their dresses at that have had good experiences with wedding dress shopping. These will also be great stores to consider when you have no clue where to begin.

Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Dress Shopping | DC Wedding Planner

Photo Cred: Red October Photography

A Few More Things To Keep In Mind!

The formality and location of your wedding should play a big role in your wedding dress shopping decisions. A formal candlelit ceremony is not the time to sport a short sundress, nor is an afternoon garden party the place to break out the cathedral-length train and veil. Get our drift?

If the salesperson brings you something she says you must try, try it — even if you hate the way it looks on the hanger. Many brides have ended up waltzing down the aisle in a gown the salesperson had to persuade her to try on. And while certain styles work best on certain body types, it helps to try on all different kinds of dresses, then decide what shape and style you look and feel best in. These ladies have seen it all. Taking their cue once or twice may benefit you.

One of the biggest misconceptions about bridal gowns is that they only come as is. The truth is, most gowns can be ordered in alternative forms. So if you like the bodice of one and the skirt of another, ask to have them put together to form your dream dress if they come from the same designer. And don’t be afraid to ask to have embellishments like bows and beads added or removed. Keep in mind though that the more you stray from the original design, the more it will cost you in the end.

Looking for more wedding advice? Be sure to check out more wedding tips we have for your big day including our recent post on Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Venue!

Tiffany Rivera is a DC Wedding Planner & DC Event Planner serving DC, Maryland, Virginia and beyond!

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  1. […] Looking for more wedding advice? Be sure to check out more wedding tips we have for your big day including our recent post on Everything You Need To Know About Wedding Dress Shopping! […]

  2. […] you jump into looking at venues or purchasing wedding dresses, sit down with your fiancé and map a budget for the wedding. Determine if either of your families […]

  3. […] Memorial and the rest is history. The love and respect that these two displayed the day of their wedding for each other and every single person around them was truly a remarkable thing to witness. From […]

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