Dress Shopping Tomorrow/Anxious

I don't have any advice because I'm going dress shopping tom too!

@Lisa Good luck to you!

I'm going shopping for the first time next month and for some reason, I am concerned about what bra and shoes I'm going to wear. I want to aim toward something that I will wear on the wedding day just to help put the whole look together... maybe for hair too. But I hear it's good to have an open- mind on styles and and it's up to you if you want to go alone or not. I am going with 3 of my BMs. Good luck and have fun!

My advice is to not rely on others opinions on your dress.

My family came to my first appointment with me and hated the dress I was in love with so I went with the dress that made all of them cry even though I didn't like it.

I now have to return the dress tomorrow and start the process all over again because I didn't listen to what I wanted.

Luckily my mom was super understanding and was only mad that I didn't do what I originally wanted. (She bought the dress.)

@kennyeh and @coolkat I am going with just my maid of honor so hopefully the opinions won't be so bad

I will definitely have an open mind on styles.

Don't listen to anyone's opinion but your own.

It was a culture shock for me

I loved a dress my family hated, my first bridal consultant was a dream, she routed for me and what I wanted and even brought in a few compromises, in the end I cried but I left that dress behind.

My second place the consultant was a little pushy, she wanted to make a sale and complimented everything on me, but in the end I was stern with her and found my dress.

I looked at maybe 15 dresses? In not easily overwhelmed but I was emotionally drained after!

Be aware that you will be half naked infront of a stranger!

I am glad I did my hair and makeup, if I hadent done some I think the day could have been a bust because I wouldnt have felt comfortable with pictures and people staring at me.

Bring a good group, mine was pulling me in 10 different directions and I enjoyed my time with just my mom and me much more.

You will be fine! I was super stressed about shopping too. You've gotten some great advice here. I would recommend dressing up/doing your hair/makeup, etc. beforehand. Do whatever you do that makes you feel confident and beautiful before you go, that way you feel good and you will have a better idea of how you will look on your wedding day vs if you go in yoga pants and a top knot.

I just wore nude colored underwear and didn't try on any dresses with bras or shoes...no need at this point. You got this! Good luck!

ETA: If you love it and you don't cry, don't think it's not the one. I didn't cry and many people don't, you just know, don't let the sign of zero tears tell you you're not choosing correctly. But if you do cry just embrace it!

I went in only knowing what I didn't want. My consultant asked about my hobbies and personality and then went to get dresses that she thought fit into my personality.

Thank you all for all of the great advice!

It turned out that what I thought I wanted was not even close to what I really wanted. I ended up loving things I thought I would hate and hating things I thought I would love. I learned lots of things about myself and about dress shopping in general.

1. Even if you go in with an idea in mind, keep a completely open mind. What looks good on someone else or in a magazine, may not feel good or look good on you.

2. Wedding gowns are heavy AF. Even things that look delicate and whimsical somehow manage to weigh about a thousand pounds.

3. There is a reason for the price disparity. Many of the more expensive gowns in my range felt way better - the lace was softer, the satin was silkier, the way things moved - it all got better with the higher price tags.

4. Don't wear lace underwear. My fave thongs did not do well with the hooks and closures - I gave my consultants an eyeful unintentionally several times because my undies got caught on the hooks of the dresses.

5. I went alone and truly missed having my favorite people with me. That said, when I showed them pictures virtually, they all love the dresses I hated. Entourages make you feel loved / Entourages also make you feel crazy. Decide which is more important ahead of time.

6. Personal note - if you can't handle the attention of dress shopping, a big wedding is not for you. Thus - I am eloping.

Also - I ended up buying my dress online from BHLDN. No thong issues, no body issues, no entourage. :-)

Congrats!

do NOT have any expectations, give anything a chance and try on everything.

I went alone and it was the easiest WR thing I've done thus far, by a LONG shot, Its the most important thing i am wearing in MY life, i wanted to make sure it was right for ME, not pleasing to 5 other people. My bridal party was a little upset but i was really happy with my decision to do it alone. If your going with just your MOH you made a really smart choice!

I didnt have the issue of being nude in front of a stranger, she put the dress on the floor, i stepped in, pulled in up and covered as much as i could and she came in and tightened me up, most she saw was my bare back.... but i DO recommend nude underwear, my navy was showing in every single dress.. lol

You may or may not have "the moment" but if you do, dont question it. Make your life less complicated and trust your gut

What everyone said before about underwear and bras (unless you're not planning a strapless dress). I wore a regular bra and brought a strapless with me, but ended up just wearing the regular one (I have "more than ample" boobs, and didn't want to spend the whole day pulling up my bra).

Also - keep in mind your budget from the very first. DO NOT try any dresses on that are over your budget - you will only be disappointed. Remember that alterations will add to this cost, so best to buy something under budget.

I didn't bring shoes to my first appointment (selecting a dress). I did to my 2nd one (even though I'm wearing ballet slippers) - so they can pin up the hem for you. At that one, I wore the correct colors of underwear and bra.

I only brought along a good friend that I knew had the same fashion taste as me. I'm not having a WP, and my mom is too far away to come with (and she has dementia anyway).

Take some deep breaths. Make sure to only go with people who you feel comfortable around. Try on as many as you possibly can! And you don't need to make a decision that day, take some time to think about your options!

Have fun with it! It's such a fun process.

Keep an open mind! I went in with one dress I thought I was going to pick to be "the one" and I FELL IN LOVE with another dress that I thought I'd never ever pick. Ever. It had so much on it that I thought I didn't like but it is just gorgeous.

Can't thank my consultant enough for pulling it haha.

I've been married before and regret the entire wedding shopping process. I was extremely young, and woke up one day and decided that was the day I would look at dresses. It was my FH and best friend. I tried on 4 and bought the 4th one. Also didn't end up buying anything near what I thought I wanted. I had to try it on for my family when I got home, and although they were excited to see the dress. I really didn't think about the fact that my Mom and Mamaw would probably have loved to went with me to try them on.

So this time around, it will be just my Mom and Mamaw going. I plan to go in September so that I am a year out. However I am already nervous about it!! I'm honestly afraid nothing will look good on me. That's my number one fear.

I would just say to try on as many dresses as possible, hopefully if you're lucky this will be a one time thing and you won't get to go try on wedding dresses again. So just take your time and enjoy this. You have plenty of time to find a dress, so if you don't find the one on the first day you go, try again. Just enjoy every second, it's a huge day and you don't want to have regrets about how many dresses you didn't try on.

I was super nervous/anxious as well as excited to go wedding dress shopping to the point where I felt pretty much sick to my stomach the morning of dress shopping. Buying your wedding dress is a big deal, but I think sometimes people feel so much pressure to find the ONE dress when there are like a million dresses available.

Here's my advice:

- try on lots of different styles/colors/fabrics

-make sure you eat and drink before your appointment

-listen to the opinions of the people you bring with you but go with your gut in the end on what feels right

-when you do find a dress you like, make sure you can move comfortably in it and walk around

Relax and enjoy dress shopping!!!

ETA: Also remember that the bridal consultants see tons of women half naked that made me feel better about getting down to my bra and underwear in front of a stranger

I was very nervous when I went dress shopping, But It turned out to actually be a fun day. Don't go in with any expectations of what kind of dress you THINK you want. I wanted a typical princess ball gown and the women over my appointment purposely put me in the complete opposite and I LOVED IT! Just have fun! You can listen to other opinions because we all wont our mother/whoever to like our dress too. In the end though you have to be the one to love it and wear it all day. You'll be the one looking back at pictures and either thinking "I love that dress"....or.... "why did I let them talk me into that dress",,,