Entourage at Bridal Gown Shopping?

My sister had that many. I originally only wanted me and my MOH. But i decided to invite everyone. I don't see them saying anything negative and i am not really one to care if I prefer something over someone else's idea. I think it all depends on your group and your comfort level with them.

It really depends on your group. I went shopping like 6-7 times (I know, I know) with groups ranging from just me & my mom, just me & my MOH, to large groups of my mom, MIL, MOH, 3 sisters, grandma. Really all of them went fine. I didn't like it when it was just me and one other person. I just felt both times, the other person just ooh-ed and ahh-ed at every dress and didn't give any constructive advice/comments. Again, it depends on your group and the experience you want. I am super indecisive and wanted lots of opinions and brutal honesty.

I went alone to the bridal shop until I'd made a decision, then I brought in my peeps to see it, so please consider that when reading my comments.

The entourage is a bad idea. Even the most independent-minded bride is going to be influenced by the crowd that is gathering and there is going to be at least one person with every gown who says "Eh...hmmmm....well..." and makes a comment or even has a look on her face that will NOT be helpful.

To decline someone's offer...just say "I'm researching right now and I'll let you know when I'm close to making a decision." Or be blunt and say "I prefer not to be influenced."

Brides with large entourages don't buy dresses. It's too difficult to please everyone. Please yourself and narrow it down to one or two dresses and get opinions then. Or don't get opinions at all (that's what I did) and just tell them "Come see my dress!"

I invited any bridal party that wanted to come, my mom, and my MIL. My MIL couldn't make it up (lives 3 hours away), so my mom, sister (MOH), and 2 bridesmaids came. It was fine. Do keep in mind that many salons are small and it can be difficult just to have that many people in the shop. I think some shops even have a limit (though none I went to did). I think that can be the bigger problem with big entourages!

Thank you ladies! I'm not easily swayed so I think I will be fine, but I'll keep thinking about it.

@Stephanie I didn't even think of that, that is a good point! I will make sure to check on that beforehand.

Can you break them up? Go to 1 store with 2, another store with 2-3, etc. I can't deal with big groups and the most people I had with me was 4 and that was only once.

I've seen some nightmare entourage members, on "Say Yes to the Dress." although the shows might be edited to showcase the most drama.

I went with just my Mom, sister/MOH, and grandmother. I showed my bridesmaids the gown, when they went in to get measured (same salon).

I took 3 - Mom, SIL (who was a BM), and my BFF/MOH, and I went the second appointment by myself. I'm very strong-willed and not easily swayed, but trying on dresses, while fun, is also stressful and physically can be tiring... the dresses are heavy, many are hot, and they take a lot longer to put on than a regular dress.

Most first-time appointments are 90 minutes, which leaves you enough time to try on around 10 dresses. Just keep that in mind, too - as Stephanie says, many places don't have seating for 6 people to join you, because most people come in with no more than 3 (that's what I observed too), but with 6 people all picking out dresses, you will not have time to try on 20 of them - nor will you want to! If you do take all 6 people, let them each pick out just one dress for you to try, and you pick 3. Otherwise feelings are going to be hurt, or they'll want to repeat the process, which I don't recommend.

Piggy backing on Stephanie: You should definitely check with the salon because when I was booking I had a couple ask me to ensure I didn't bring anymore than 2 or 3 people with me.

I only took one friend with me, but the bride that was at the salon at the same time I was had a large group - I think there were about 8 with her. It was just like what they show on SYYTD... so many overwhelming opinions. I felt kind of bad for the other bride honestly. She looked frustrated.

Several of the bridal salons I had appointments with wouldn't allow that many people, so you should definitely check on that first. If they don't (or even if they do, no one else has to know ) that's always an easy excuse to give if you want to tell a few they can't come. Blame it on the rules of the shop and just bring your closest if that's what you want.

I had 5 people and I think it went really well. I had my mom, FMIL, my grandma, FH's grandma, and my MOH. I actually enjoyed having everyone's differing opinions and it didn't get out of hand at all. I think that with the right group of people, dress shopping can be really fun.

I have 9 BMs (sounds nuts, I know) and I didn't want a huge group. So the first time I went, I went alone. It was FABULOUS. I got a feel for what I liked and what I didn't, and it was great.

The 2nd time I took my daughter. She is 110% honest, and we had a great time, and I think I found "the one". People wanted to come, I just told them that I really didn't know what type of dress i wanted, and I wanted to go alone to ensure I was picking dresses that I liked, without outside influences. Easy peasy.

I don't think that is too many as long as they all aren't strongly opinionated and expect completely different things. These personalities wouldn't mix well no matter the size of your group. I bet that if it had just been my mom and aunt, it would take forever to find a dress that they both agreed on. Instead, I took just my mom and sister. Even going into the appointment, they had a different vision for me than I did.

I took 5 girls plus my mom and FMIL the first day I went shopping. We went to a few stores. I didn't expect to find the dress the day of and I had told everyone I didn't plan on buying anything that day. And I didn't.

The next few times I went I just took one other person. I'm glad I took a group the first time, they all wanted to shop with me and we had a great time. Since it was the first day of shopping, no one was really pressuring me.

Like most people have said, it depends on your group. Ever watch Say Yes to the Dress? Granted, they often focus on drama - people in the entourage who have strong opinions and dislike whatever the bride chooses and so forth. My dress shopping experience was very low key and surprisingly easy. I made two appointments. My sister/MOH was the only one to accompany me, and I found my dress at the first appointment (it was high on my list after shopping online). Cancelled the second appointment, and called it a day.