Dress shopping- Share your story!

I stared my dress shopping about a month after I got engaged (11 months before the wedding). My dress shopping lasted all of one day... My mom and I went to 2 appointments, but it was at the first appointment (10th dress I tried on) that I found THE dress!!! It was great that I just had my mom, cause I was really able to focus on what I really liked, instead of a bunch of different opinions (:

I started dress shopping about 2 months after we got engaged. I thought it was going to be stressful but it actually wasn't at all. I only went to one store, I was planning on going to 2 more. But I tried on a bunch of different options and my mom actually pulled my dress. I put it on and right away I felt comfortable and felt like me, I think it was probably my 12th or 13th dress. After having it on for a bit, my mom made me try on like 3 other dresses we had in the room. I hated them all. I put my dress back on and I loved it. I told my mom and my god mother that I was done shopping and this was the dress I want. They were surprised that I made my mind up so quick but I think when you know you know. I'm happy that it was just myself, my mom and god mother/ aunt; that way it was more about my opinion. We ordered the dress that day and I just got a call on Friday that my dress came in!

Mine started out as the most fun but eventually became exhausting! I went to 4 different bridal shops, but 5 visits total. Overall I probably tried on 30-32 dresses on my journey...by my last trip I was really over it. But I just bought my dress this weekend and I am so in love with it. I actually fell in love with it during my 2nd bridal shop trip, but it was more than my budget. I went back this weekend intending to try on a different dress that I thought I would get, but the original dress was still there and 20% off! I just had to try it on again and it just blew every other dress out of the park.

I started dress shopping about 1 month after getting engaged, which was 10 months before the wedding. We went to 2 store the first day. About a month later we went to another store and I said yes to the dress that day! I went dress shopping with my mom and dad, which is exactly what I wanted. My parents paid for my dress, and to me, their opinion and mine was all that mattered. I tried on around 20 dresses total. I did a lot of dress research before going shopping and new the exact designers I was interested in, but I tried in several dress styles. In the end, I picked a beautiful fit to flare style by Hayley Paige that had been at the top of my try on list from the time I got engaged. I go for my 2nd fitting this week and I can’t wait to see it again!

I had a dress originally from a failed engagement ten years ago. I thought that I would be able to use the old dress for my wedding this year. The dress was beautiful but had a dated structure. Dress restructuring is very expensive so I made the trek to Davids Bridal to see if I can find a dress within a reasonable price range.

I tried on five dresses ( more than what they advise) and four out of the five looked beautiful. Only 1 would've need a few minor alterations. I chose my dress because it had a corset back which I felt more comfortable with, and it had a beautiful train that I thought mimicked my original dress.

The experience was exhausting (wedding dresses are heavy!) but I'm glad I went. I found the perfect dress and it was made positive because my Davids Bridal Associate was very good at her job. Highly Recommend!

I hated my experience at DB if I'm being honest. Maybe it was because we gave them a smaller budget than the other shop, but the dresses didnt wow me and being a plus size girl having the samples not fit well really didn't help me see the potential in any dress. Plus the dress I saw online that I loved was not available in my area. I was so mad that I didnt call to see if they could get it.
But then I went to a plus size boutique next door to DB immediately after, all their samples fit like a glove and were beautiful! Did we end up spending 3x the dress budget? Not quite but it was considerably pricier. But everybody cried when I found the dress! Even my tough as nails teenage sister got teary eyed!
All in all I tried on maybe 10 dresses.

I’m really particular with clothing and I originally planned on having a custom dress made but still wanted the full dress shopping experience. So I traveled back to my home town/state to try on dresses at the same cute little bridal shop my sisters bought their dresses from. Since I went with my 4 sisters and my best friend of 19 years, I fully trusted their judgement and had each girl pick out a dress or 2 that they liked and thought I would like/look good in. I honestly loved every dress I tried on but not in full, I liked a piece of this one or the beading on that one. The one I ended up buying I actually originally passed on because it didn’t have real sleeves. But I tried on another similar one by the same designer and said I loved it because it was cap sleeved but I wanted the incredible beading of the other one. The sales girl checked and the one I put back also came in cap sleeved with an even prettier open back so I was sold.

I don’t want to post a picture yet in case fh sees but it is ZB318 by the Australian designer Zavana!!

I went to DB a couple weeks after getting engaged. Going in, I was *super* anxious. I'm 5 feet tall and had ingrained the idea that short girls can't wear long dresses. I researched a ton online ahead of time and had 5-7 styles in mind. I tried on about 7-8 dresses, and found the one then! It actually ended up being one of the dresses I had bookmarked online beforehand. I'm wearing style 7WG3741 in a petite size.

I bought my dress from David's Bridal and found my dress at the first appointment! I was torn between two gowns, but my entourage loved Option A while I was still stuck on Option B. Ended up trusting the entourage and bought Option A - and I'm so glad I did

Whew! Mine is a story. I had to put off dress shopping after having back to back surgeries that really kept me from being able to walk around much (if at all) and moving around enough to keep putting dresses on and taking them off. So I decided I would hit two places in one weekend and wanted to have the one either in my hands or ordered by the following week. I printed all the ones I really liked including 2 I was obsessed with that I found through online vendors. The first venue was amazing!!! They were so helpful and really listened to what I was looking for. I have been married before but never felt that bridal moment until that day. The dress that was closest to my #1 pic was not the right fabric for my beach wedding. It was something I could have overlooked if it wasn't also out of my budget. So on to the second shop, day 2. What a nightmare!!!! First we were rudely approached by an employee when my friend pulled a couple of dresses after they had us wandering for 20 minutes. None of the dresses I wanted to try on were available despite them having my favorites identified on their website. They made a big stink about me coming in with "only" 3 1/2 months before my date. They kept putting me in dresses that looked nothing like what I wanted because it seems adding an extra inch to a dress to fit my 6' frame was just too difficult with the time we had. On top of it my friend kept trying to talk me into dresses I didn't like because they were her style. Then I hear her getting the employee helping me to get dress info for her so she can order what is essentially a bridesmaid dress to wear to my wedding. I'm not having bridesmaids so that isn't the part that bothered me, but can the lady find me a dress first please? Finally they found a dress that was the fabric I wanted but strapless which I did not want and in a yellowish champagne I just didn't like. Still I let the employee and my friend talk me into seeing what the seamstress could do to make it fit better. After standing around another 20 minutes they had me get out of the dress while the seamstress helped someone else. Ok, fine. We walked around and looked at more dresses my friend liked. Then they had me get back in the dress so the seamstress could take a look. I change again and walk out to the seamstress hemming dresses for a bride and her entire bridal party!!! I was melting in a building without A/C in July and just over it at this point. I took off the dress and told my friend I needed a drink. The following Tuesday I ordered my #1 dress that looked most like the one I tried on day 1 that brought me to tears. It should be here any day, and while I'm nervous about how it will actually come out, I feel good knowing I got the dress I wanted and even communicated with the dress maker to get a few alterations that will make it absolutely perfect!

But in the end I'm happy to have both experiences. I didn't even get to pick out my dress, or anything really, the first time and so now I feel like I earned my bridal badge of honor.

1st store - My mom and I randomly stopped at a David's Bridal and I found a dress that I didn't buy, but was convinced was the "one".

2nd store - Months later my mom and sister came down to visit me, we went to Brilliant Bridal 5 mins down the road from my house. I tried on about 10 dresses and found a dress that I loveddddd, but we had another appointment back at David's Bridal, so we went over there.

3rd store - We go down to David's Bridal and I tried on about 6 dresses, every dress was horrible, the sales people were hovering. I re-tried on "the" dress and they were pushing me to buy it ... but it was just a no the second time around.

I kept thinking about the dress at the 2nd store so we went back, and they had it waiting for me. They had a feeling I was going to come back lol. My dad passed away when I was 3 and they mentioned if anyone in the family was military we could get a discount, and for some reason that's when we all 3 started balling lol. It was an off the rack store, I got to take the dress home that day so it's sitting in my closet. My first fitting is this weekend.

To start I still don't have a venue locked down or a date, but I have my gown!!


I took a week off work to just enjoy some time alone and do some work around the house. I decided I would spray paint some outdoor furniture to give it a little update. I'm covered in black spray paint and my mom calls and saying she's off work and is going to come up for lunch. So I run and take a quick shower, don't bother to do my hair or makeup and take my mom up town for some lunch. We had about an hour left on the meter so we decided to stop into a little bridal boutique. The lady probably thought we were crazy since I basically said I have no ideas or date or anything. So we chatted with the lady for a while and I asked her what she thought would be best on me since she was the professional. She pulled a few dresses, like maybe 5 and the second or 3rd ended up being the dress. The runner up is the flowy chiffon, I thought I wanted that look, but am sooo happy with the more formfitting.

I went to 1 store and tried on 4 dresses. The one I picked was the one I saw online and fell in love with and was the first one I tried on. My sister lives in Georgia at the time and we went down for Christmas to visit and go dress shopping since she's a BM and wasn't able to come home when the other girls would be going. I got mine off the rack and it came home with me back to Massachusetts.

First 3 pictures are the ones I tried on but didn't get and the last one is the one I chose. Just had my last dress fitting this past weekend. 19 days to go!

I started dress shopping at 15 months out. I only went to one shop and only tried on 6 dresses. Which is crazy to think because I thought I knew what I wanted but I ended up with a dress completely different which I love! After the first two dresses I learned what I thought I wanted was very wrong and did not fit my body type at all. I'm very self conscious about my stomach area so I thought I wanted a ballgown or A-line to hide my stomach but I ended up going with a strapless fit and flare that actually flatters very well which I love! I'm very happy I went so early though because there was issues and it took a entire 12 months for my dress to come in!

We had so much fun dress shopping, I’m just feeling guilty my daughter wasn’t with us on this last appt when I found the one! I didn’t intend to buy a dress so early, but I couldn’t pass up the sale and it’s discontinued. I tried on 8 dresses at the first appt, 6 at the second (DB with just my MOH trying to narrow down a silhouette I loved), and 7 (I think) at the last appt. The first dress I put on at my last appt was the one, as soon as I put it on I told the consultant I could see myself walking down the aisle in it! Since it was during the NBSE, I left that day with my dress and paid $200 instead of the $1680 on the price tag! My second favorite was $700 discounted from $2600, gorgeous but it had several snags in the tulle and was already more than I wanted to spend not considering alterations and repairs. My daughter’s favorite (from the first appt) was a one of a kind ball gown for $2200 that was stunning but WAY out of budget! First picture is my dress! I’m noticing it looks super white in the pictures, but it has a champagne lining with two layers of ivory lace. I have some ideas for alterations already, but since I have so long I’m going to wait a bit and see how I feel about adding sleeves and possibly some crinoline at the bottom next year. I’m almost sad we’re done dress shopping, my daughter (she’s 4) had a blast- next flower girl dresses!

I found my dress and I still have awhile for my wedding day! Dress shopping was overwhelming at times, especially cause it made me feel like a picky bride. When I tried on my dress I wanted to second guess myself, but everyone else saw it as the perfect one.

I went dress shopping once and it was the best experience ever! The consultant was amazing and she really helped me out during each try on, making sure to get my opinion before showing my group. I ended up finding the one after trying on seven dresses. Here are some of my favorites and the last one is the one I got!

Don’t mind my derpy face, everyone thought I was under 18 over there lol)

I started looking at wedding dresses about 14 months before our wedding (I went shopping in January). I only went to one store and tried on about 6 dresses. The dress I ended up choosing was not something I would have picked on my own and actually my matron of honor picked it out for me!

I searched online a bunch and kept coming back to one particular dress. Called a local boutique and they had one. My future SIL went with me, I don't have any family where I live. The girl had me try on one other dress that I did not like and thankfully I loved mine! I almost fit the sample perfectly! My Future SIL tried on so many and didn't find one she loved... She even used half of my appointment lol.

It was literally a great experience. The consultant I had was amazing and it was like she knew my style. I tried like 2 dresses on and the 2nd one was my dress. I went to one store with my mom. I had a feeling I would've found my dress at this shop!