Buying your bridal gown should be absolutely the most fun of all your wedding planning. Here are some tips for making it a memorable experience.
• Schedule an appointment. This will ensure that you are attended to by a dedicated sales associate. Allow yourself about 1 1/2 hours per appointment so that you do not feel rushed.
• Don’t go shopping if you aren’t feeling well. If you are bloated, sunburned, or in any way not feeling your usual gorgueos self you won’t feel as beautiful as you should.
• Take someone with you, but not a small army. Brides love to hear their girlfriend's advice, but too many opinions can be overwhelming and stressful. Remember, it is your gown and you should love it!
• Wear minimal jewelry and just a little or no make-up. This will save you the hassle of having to remove your jewelry or worry about getting makeup on the very delicate gowns.
• Bridal gown sizes run on couture sizes, which is smaller than retail size. Don’t think about the size, but the fit now. Order the size you are now and if you do lose weight, you can always have the gown taken in.
• Expect to have alterations done. Remember, you can’t have alterations until you have the shoes, slip (if you are wearing a full skirt) and bra you will be wearing with your dress.
• Be open minded and try on different styles. Gowns look different hanging than they do once they are on the body. You may discover that the perfect gown is different from what you had imagined.
• Try to be realistic. You may have been dreaming of your gown since you were a little girl. Your dress should be fantastic and make you feel beautiful, but don’t have unrealistic expectations.
• Start early! Most gowns take several months to arrive. A good time allowance to purchase is six to eight months before you need the gown. Be sure to base it on the date that you will need the gown, which means considering bridal portraits.
• Accentuate your best features. Choose a dress that you are comfortable in because you will be wearing it for several hours.
• Have fun trying on several dresses before making your choice, but don’t look forever. If you look too long, it can start to get confusing by too many choices.
Reference: The Wedding Guide