Etiquette for Inviting People to Join You Dress Shopping

I went dress shopping with just my stepmom and moh. I didn’t even tell anyone else. No one cared they just enjoyed the pics

I told my BP, FMIL. & my mom. I did let them know that if they couldn't got that it was okay. My FMIL ended up forgetting that I told her so she didn't show up. I was actually relieved since I didn't want any pressure to find "the one".

I do suggest to go with a small amount of people. There was a total of 9 people staring at me with all there opinions. I did stay strong and tried to not let there opinions bother me.

View Quoted Comment

Yeah, that's definitely a concern! This makes me feel better. I wanted to go by myself honestly but they all seem to have other ideas. I'll extend the invite but I think my BP will most likely pass due to travel expense which totally understandable and fair. Thank you!

I went by myself the first time, and it definitely allowed me to focus on myself and the dresses without extra opinions! I definitely say take a small group because salons can be small and it's pretty stressful already with the dresses and keeping everything organized in your head in terms of what you like. I had my mom and moh(sister) come with me when I had narrowed it down, and I video conferences my FMIl when I had the dress picked so she could be part of it! Everybody was happy in the end, and anyone not there oohed and aaawed over pics.

I invited my mom and my FMIL the first time I went shopping, Now I invited both again but only my mom is able to go. It was easy for me to avoid hurt feelings from not inviting anyone else though, since everyone else I'd want to invite lives 3,000 miles away in my home town.

I only brought who I wanted to bring knowing whatever criticism they had would come from a good place and wouldn’t annoy me lol. My advice would to keep it a small group. If anyone has any issues with it say you want your dress to be a surprise-which is usually the truth!

You're really not obligated to invite anyone to anything, so try not to let this bother you much. As a bonus, keeping your entourage small means less conflicting opinions and conflict during shopping! I would take anyone whose opinion I really valued the most

Dress shopping is not the time to be a people pleaser.

Bear in mind you'll be half naked in front of a stranger consultant while stepping in and out of dresses. If that's not awkward enough, a lot of your bra might be exposed depending on the cut of dress. If the dress is too small, a lot of your back will be exposed while the consultant straps you in. You'll also be discussing budget with your consultant.

Having multiple people there could really add stress to something that should be leisurely and enjoyable. If people are flying in for this, you'll be in "host" mode and they'll prob hope you'll find something that day.

I would take just your mother and the people closest to you, ones that you are ok being half nekkid and discussing money in front of.

Happy search!

I'm inviting my mother, BP, and grandmother. My FMIL lives in NC and it's not reasonable to have her come all the way to FL for that! If I don't find The Dress, I'mm only have my MOH and mom go to any other appointments, so it's not draining.

Thank you so much for all of the advice! Honestly, this has helped to quiet my concerns a bit and I’m not as worried about not inviting everyone now. ❤️

I told my bridal party (2 live out of town) and my future MIL and told them they were welcome to come but not to feel obligated. I even expressed i just didn’t want them to feel left out of it. My MOH flew up from Florida and my other BM joined us. My sister (MOH 2) was also there with FMIL and my mom. It was nice but not too overwhelming.

I went shopping several times. The first time my mom, grandmother, and former best friend came (at the time she was my best and maid of honor, but we had a falling out since & she dropped out of the wedding). The second time my mom and grandmother went shopping with me. The third time my mom, grandmother and sister went with me. They live three hours away so traveling was easier for them than your friends and family. I invited my mother-in-law because I didn't want her to feel left out, but she was always busy.

There is not etiquette as far as dress shopping goes in most opinions I've seen on here. You could very well go by yourself if you choose. I went with just my mom and sister (MOH). I surprised my bridesmaids and MIL the day of in my dress. I think going with your mom and grandmother only is fine.

If this helps- you will have a few alteration appointments- you can invite others to go with you then that weren't there the first time.

I went with my mom only. I didn't want too many cooks in the kitchen giving out opinions.

I say you don't need to invite anyone you don't want to. It can be a big or as little as you want! Send pics of dresses you try on to keep them included. Maybe tell your bridal party you're going dress shopping but don't necessarily ask them to go with you. Let them know you'll send pics and that will be plenty good enough!

I went dress shopping with my mom, hubby's mom, moh, and 1 other bridesmaid (the bridesmaid that was helping the moh for the wedding). I only invited who I want to be there. It also helped that they all lived in town except my moh & my mom. Invite who you want. The more people you have there, the more stressed you will be and you will feel pressure to find a dress. No one else in my bridal party or family cared. I also didn't show anyone my dress except the people that were at dress shopping with me. I wanted it to be a secret.

No, you don't NEED to invite anyone, there's no etiquette rules on this. I love my MIL dearly but there's no way I would have invited her dress shopping! I went a couple times with my mom, gma, and sister (MOH). Even that was hard. If you're good with just your mom and gma, don't feel like you have to invite anyone else.

I ended up going once by myself and found about 6 dresses that i really really liked. I had the shop pull those same ones for an appointment a week later and invited my family back to look only at those ones. It worked perfectly.