Dress Shopping with Dad: Yes or No?

I don't think it's strange at all, you should include who you want to include. But you don't want too many opinions either.

I didn't include my dad because I want a "first look" with him the day of the wedding, it is something I talked to my photographer about.

It's really your personal preference. I don't think it's strange if your dad is there - I considered having mine there when i shopped for dresses - but if you would feel uncomfortable, then you can kindly let him know why. For me, I ended up deciding that I wanted to do a first look with my dad on the wedding day because I'm not doing one with FH. I thought it would be nice for my dad to have that moment with me, and also with my 3 sisters who are bridesmaids and will look gorgeous. You could just let your dad know that he's so special to you that you want your look to be a surprise on your wedding day.

It depends on where you are shopping. If it's a small, intimate, bridal shop, then bring dad. If it's David's Bridal where there's 100 people running around changing clothes, it might make other brides uncomfortable for a man to be there.

My dad came with me (and my mom) when I was ready to decide, not in the beginning...he's very good at being critical, which helped me. I'm in my 30s too.

ETA: he came with me to a local bridal boutique where I was the only one there, BHLDN, and JCrew.

@PK has a GREAT point. Had that experience at David's Bridal when I was there for a bridesmaid dress fitting for another girl's wedding. But as far as having your father with you for the experience, no, that's not weird.

My Uncle went with my cousin when she went dress shopping. I think it was very sweet and I caught an awesome moment on camera between the two of them when she said yes to her dress that I plan to put in her scrapbook. I would love for my Dad to go with but he doesn't want to.

Nope.....nice to have a man's perspective!

Up to you! Personally, my parents are divorced and I'm not close at all with my dad so nope, absolutely not. But I definitely needed my mom's opinion before I could buy a dress!

I had a first look with my dad so I only took my mom to try on dresses. Maybe if you are uncomfortable with the idea you can suggest saying you want to do a first look on the big day and want it to be a surprise!

If you are close with your dad, and he is comfortable with it, go for it. I've opted for a first look with my dad so I only took my mom, fmil, and sisters when i tried on dresses

Sounds like he's really into it, so if you're not adamantly opposed, I'd let him join. It's really sweet that he wants to! The father of a family friend of ours had her dad there as she tried on 40 different dresses.

I don't think my parents have particularly good fashion sense, nor do they know what looks good, so I brought my mom to see the dress I settled on before buying it, but I didn't feel a need for her opinion. I wanted her not to hate it, but that's about it lol

First, no I don't think it's weird. My dad went dress shopping with both my sister and I. It was something he wanted to be a part of. It was special because I know who much my dad hates shopping but how much he loves us. If you feel comfortable with it, let your dad come along and share those memories with you.

ETA: I'm 31 and purchased my own dress.

I loved having my dad come along to one of my appointments. It ended up being the best one and the one where I found my dress. I never even thought to ask him because I figured he wouldn't want to go. My mom, sister & I were all going one night after work and my mom just so happened to ask him to join. He agreed if we could eat dinner after lol

My dad would hate dress shopping (he hates all shopping). But if this is something your dad wants to be part of, I would just let him come!

"Weird" is subjective. What I may find weird, you may find run of the mill. You might classify some of my run of the mill behaviors as weird. If your initial response to the suggestion of having your father accompany you while shopping for a gown was that it felt "weird ", you need to stop and think. If, after considering it, you realize that you just needed time to think it through (because it hadn't occurred to you), that's one thing. If you had always envisioned this time as a female moment, that's different. Think about it -- decide what feels right for you. All women are different -- some anticipate the moment in which they will tightly hug their fathers during the father/daughter dance while a deliberately emotional song plays, while others can't even fathom the thought of even doing the eighth grade sway with their fathers to a more upbeat song. See? It's an individual decision. If you decide you only want your mother to be involved in gown shopping, then tell her that you'd like your father to see you in your bridal finery on your wedding day, and let her know that this is the way you've always envisioned it (or you tell your dad). If you're fine with both of them coming along, then invite both of them. If you're stuck in the middle, why not limit your choices to three gowns while shopping with mom, and then invite dad to weigh in. The important thing is you choose what you want -- whether your entourage involves mom, dad, either, or both.

I actually kind of wish my dad had come. I ended up sending him pictures and calling him about the dress and showed him the moment I got home. He was so excited and really helped me make a decision.

I invited my dad to come with me and I am paying for the dress and in my 30's. I needed to know he felt I looked like a princess since I am his princess. Yes it is not the norm to have dad there but I only had my parents with me. The first appointment was just my mom and daughter with me but I decided after that if my dad was comfortable with it I wanted him there. He was honored to be invited.

My father and I didn't have the best relationship when I was young but over the last two years things have changed a bit. Anyway, both him and my mother went with me to try on my dream dress. I didn't find it odd and it wasn't uncomfortable at all and actually the experience was absolutely wonderful. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again I wouldn't. Even though we butt heads a lot I have always valued his opinion on certain aspects in life, mostly on anything creative (from fine art to cake decorating to fashion design). My appointment went flawlessly, I tried on a total of five gowns in completely different styles and saved my dream dress for last. I didn't need either of my parents approval considering I'm 25 and FH and I are paying for the entire wedding ourselves, but both parents agreed it was my gown. The funniest part of the appointment was my father picking out accessories. Afterward I went up to put the deposit down and he graciously put $200 toward my gown (that is A LOT of money from my father).

Just make sure when you bring guests with you to try on dresses, that they are people you actually value and trust their opinions.

I didn't include my dad because I wanted a first look with him. When I went dress shopping, I had my mom, FMIL and BMs.

If your dad wants to come let him why not? My dad would have rather had a tooth pulled without novocaine lol, but if your dad wants to be a part of it why not? I think it's sweet