Congratulations on your recent engagement! If you’re just now starting the planning process, you’re probably unsure what to expect at your bridal shopping appointments. It’s totally normal to go into the shopping process unsure of what to expect, but to help relieve your stress and make you better prepared, we’re sharing a few things we think every bride should know before her first appointment.
Don’t Procrastinate
Generally, we suggest brides start shopping as soon as possible once they’ve set a date and venue. While this may sound long, it can take anywhere from 5-8 months for your wedding dress to come in after you order it. This is because your wedding dress is a much more high-end garment than your typical retail experience—materials need to be sourced, and the dress needs to be created to fit the measurements from the designer size chart, so the process takes much longer than expected.
Come With Inspiration, But Keep an Open Mind
We think it’s a great idea to look at dresses on Pinterest and in bridal magazines to get an idea of what types of gowns you’ll want to try on once you arrive at the store. Showing these to your stylist will help her pull dresses she thinks you’ll like, and makes the process much smoother. That being said, it’s always important to come with an open mind—it’s not uncommon for brides to come to the boutique dead set on a certain silhouette, only to find they don’t like it as much in person!
Be Selective In Your Guests
It’s always fun to bring your biggest supporters with you to your appointment. They’ll help you narrow down tough decisions, and share in your joy when you find the perfect dress! However, it’s good to be picky about who you bring: sometimes too many opinions, or opinions voiced that you don’t want, can overpower your own. At the end of the day, it’s your wedding dress, so it’s important that you’re the one who makes the decision.
Get Ready!
Come to your appointment with your hair and makeup put together. By no means do you need to be fully glam the way you will on your wedding day, but a hint of mascara versus a messy bun and no makeup can be the difference between a “yes” and a “no” for a dress, and make you find your perfect gown a lot faster!
Prepare a Budget
Come to your appointment with your budget set. If you tell your stylist your budget, she’ll make sure you don’t try on anything that goes over what you can afford. This way, you don’t have to worry about or deal with the stress of trying on and falling in love with a dress you can’t have.
Ready to find your dream wedding dress? Book an appointment at Bella Bridal Gallery and find your perfect wedding dress.