Dress shopping

Wouldn't bring too many but that's up to you. No measure up but wear you hair nice and comfortable clothing. Have i ideas of what you want and don't want.

I had 7 ppl and it was overwhelming. Way too many opinions, but one of them gave a great suggestion that helped make my dress complete. I would say invite ppl who will give honest opinions and have great taste.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the advice!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for your advice!

When I made appointments at dress shops they told me I could only have a certain number of people. Which worked out great bc I had an "out" if people wanted to come. . .try to respect the wishes of the salons.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! The place I am looking to go only allows 4 people.

Everyone has their own approach to wedding dress shopping; some people like to make it more of an event/bridal party activity than others. Personally, I wanted it to be a special moment to share with my mom and sister, so they were the only two people I brought along. They know me best and are very supportive, and it was 110% the right decision for me.

I'd recommend wearing nude underwear, a strapless bra, and bringing along a hair tie. If you've been looking at wedding dresses online and are interested in trying on certain silhouettes in particular, have pictures handy for the consultant.

Most of all, be open-minded! I can't tell you how many people have something specific in mind that they want - or absolutely don't want - and they end up with something completely different. Definitely try on different silhouettes, dresses with different colors/tones, and different features and materials. And have fun! I ended up buying a dress at my first appointment, and it went by in the blink of an eye.

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I had my mom sister and step dad with me when we went shopping for my dress. I felt that was enough with my most important people. Then we did a second one (after dress was chosen) that has my sister, step mom, step sister and fiancé moms.

I just went recently and brought 5 people - my mom, my sister (MOH), future mother in law, future sister in law (bridesmaid), and best friend (bridesmaid). I feel like this was a good amount and not too overwhelming.


As for the experience/what to expect, for me it was really fun to get to try on all the dresses and while people definitely had their opinions, no one was rude or obnoxious (which was surprising given my family lol). I ALWAYS thought I’d for sure go with a mermaid cut, but what I actually liked was a lot different. So my advise would be to keep an open mind and try on several styles! I tried on maybe 8-10 dresses in 2 hours. I didn’t realize I’d need help getting into and out of the dresses which required stripping down in front of the dress shop attendant, but they do this all the time so it wasn’t awkward/weird. One other thing I experienced was that the reactions of everyone else will really away your opinion, so don’t immediately commit to a dress until you have some time to think about it away from everyone else. I was stuck between 2 dresses, but by the next day I knew for sure which one was “the one” and the other one was not “me” or my style at all, everyone just reacted so strongly with “ooo’s and awe’s” that I felt like it must be the one. Once I realized I for sure wouldn’t be getting the one that wasn’t my style, I showed my fiancé and he was really surprised I even considered it, he immediately said “that’s not your style at all”😂.

I brought just my mom, and it was perfect. She sent pictures to family of the 2 dresses that I was trying to choose between. Everyone was replying back that they're favorite was the first one with the sweetheart neckline, but i had absolutely loved and said yes to the second without. If they were all there, I would not have been able to choose the way I did. It was an easy choice the more I stood in the second one.

I brought my mom and one of my bridesmaids and then when I picked a dress, I face timed my best friend who’s also my MOH. Much easier having those few people there.. oh and of course I brought my dog with me too

I actually went by myself aha. I kinda felt like everyone had a diff style than me and I didn't want to bother coordinating schedules aha

ZERO! At least until you are down to maybe two dresses and can't decide, if you really feel like you need an outside opinion. I've been shopping by myself a few times and I LOVE it. I intend to keep shopping on my own until I find the one.

Say Yes to the Dress is my nightmare - these poor women are already nervous enough about their bodies or fitting into some standardized "ideal" image of a bride, and then all these voices around just confuse them. You see them come out all hopeful because they've tried on something they like, and then the dress they like gets shot down. Or someone says: "I had a different vision for you." That's always the point I throw something at the screen and shout, "Who the heck asked you?!" As a society we've become so hung up on the "vision" of the bride that we even let it cloud our opinions of other people. Go at least once by yourself just to see what YOU like without any outside noise. Get a feel for what looks good on you and what doesn't. And if you feel like you really want someone else to weigh in, then allow people into your safe space.

Thank you for this amazing piece of advice.

Don’t bring people you are trying to please. And probably not people who ask to go. The first time around I brought my mom, sister, friend, FMIL, and both fsils. The fsils were adamant that they be there. I have always and still try to seek the approval of my future family. Bit me in the butt that time. I ended up buying a dress that I immediately regretted just because they liked it???? What the heck was wrong with me man. $700 down the drain. Plus my family didn’t have nearly as many opinions as my future family. When I confessed to my mom that I didn’t like that dress that she bought for me, she suggested we go again. I didn’t invite future family the second time. I truly enjoyed myself and the special moment with the people who wanted me to pick a dress I liked and not one that they liked. I wish I would have just done that the first time around. I ended up getting a different dress with just my family. Much better experience. Not as much anxiety and pressure to please people, and I really wish that fsil hadn’t insisted that she go the first time around. Had to break it to future family anyway that I got a different dress that I actually love. That was hard, but too bad, my dress, my day.


TL;DR only take people you are comfortable with

I took my mom and sister my friend came later. Just know the more you bring the more opinions you will have. It can get crazy and stressful.

Go alone girl... lol I had 7 people with me and it was a complete nightmare. My grandmother was running around pulling dresses and TELLING me what I like the entire day. I wanted to rip my hair out. I had secretly gone with my MOH/best friend first and that was enjoyable. She has the "If you're happy, I'm happy" personality so it was very low stress. When I went with the big group, I had the women in my family and the women in his. They didn't know each other at all so trying to make them get along had me stressed out already. Definitely be careful with who you bring.

That's really up to you. I went to at least 7 stores. The first few I took my sister with me since my mom didn't want to go. Once I locked in the dress I like, I went with my 3 BM, and my mom. I ended up not purchasing that dress. I went to 1 by myself. The last one where I finally found my dress, I took 1 BM with me, my sister couldn't go. So yeah.

I took my mom only but that was because I only wanted limited opinions. My best friend was working that day so we took pics, went and had lunch where she works, asked her opinions, then went back and bought the dress!


Set your expectations very clearly. I told the stylist not to bring me anything over $500 because that was my budget. I didn’t want to fall in love with a dress I couldn’t afford.
Be open to different styles. I thought I wanted something flowy because I’m curvy, but it made me look heavier than I am. I ended up trying on something fitted and it was perfect!
Ultimately, it’s your dress, so when you click with something, you’ll know!