How far in advance should you buy you wedding dress?

It depends on where you go.

Mine takes 9 months to come in. I ordered it in late Feb/early March, it will be here in January.

It really depends on the boutique and the designer. I know someone whose dress took over 9 months to come in and they had originally told her it would be 6 to 8 months. I ordered my dress in February for my October wedding and it came in right at the end of July. I'll have my first fitting in a week, leaving me about 6 weeks for alterations. I say there's nothing wrong with shopping right now but you have some flexibility if you want to wait for new styles to come out. However, I wouldn't order any later than say November.

Mine took exactly six months to come in (I ordered it in November). All my alterations were done in June ... the month of my wedding. Just purchase the dress in the size you are now and they should be able to alter it to fit you. If you go to David's Bridal I've heard they just take a month or so to come in.

It depends on where you shop and what designer. I got my dress from Alfred Angelo and it took about ten weeks for the dress to come in, plus I'm leaving about two months for alterations.

15 months in advance for my Sophia Tolli

I bought mine over a year and a half in advance but it took about 5 months to come in (Sottero and Midgely). I think sooner is better, also if you lose weight they can always alter it to take it in.

Some dresses can come as quickly as 2 months and others can take a year. You should start shopping now and ask the sales consultant.

Mine will take about 6 months

I just ordered mine last week or week before. It should be here in December. The shop has cautioned me about the Chinese New year since everything shuts down. Don't know if it BS but not taking the chance.

That is pretty average for time. I bought mine nearly 16 months out. But, I bought the sample gown.

My dress was ordered in March and it just came in 3 days ago.. so just shy of 6 months!.. I think all bridal store's and designers vary so I would research what designers your interested in at what shops and call to inquire on their specific arrival times to be sure.

I went into Davids Bridal tried on dresses while I was 6 months pregnant (wasn't big yet) found online somewhere ($200 cheaper than DB) and it took a month to get it in and it took a week for alterations for me. So I say go in start trying on dresses find the one you are in love with and see if you can find online for cheaper.

I am getting married in June and they told me to buy by September but I bought it this month!

It all depends on what you're looking for. Are you okay with getting a dress off the rack? If so, you can get the dress as close as 3 (maybe 2) months before the wedding. If not, definitely get it ordered at least six months before your wedding day.

I got mine almost a year to date before our wedding on my first time out shopping...wasn't expecting to get it on the first time but I fell in love!

I will tell you what one bridal consultant told me over the phone, and it is all a matter of preference say for example you have your heart set on one dress and it has to be ordered. It could take 6 months to come in, maybe longer, then figure in a month or two of alterations/fittings. My best friend didn't have a lot of time to find her dress (she planned a wedding in 2 months when she got pregnant and wanted to have a wedding before she started to show) and she only had the option to choose what the stores had in. So, if the dress is very important to you, and you are choosy and a bit of a perfectionist with style (lol like me) it is important to start looking now to give it the window of time to have it ordered. I don't think you are too late but I would seriously start looking now. As for the weight loss, I am right there with you and this was the burning question I had for the bridal consultant at the dress shop - I had hoped I could lose more weight before trying on dresses. She said don't let that stop you from looking and trying, taking a dress in is so much easier and less costly than taking it out. Start dieting and exercising now. And start going for appointments.

I'd start looking now. You might get lucky and find one the first day, or it might take a few shopping trips to figure it out. Don't worry about trying to lose weight; unless you lose a massive amount of weight, it will be totally doable to take it in. Most of the time, dresses don't fit exactly as they are and will need alterations anyways.

When I ordered my dress (Maggie Sottero), I was told 6 months, but it took 7 and a half months.

I would say, for wedding dresses - sooner is better. they can always be taken in. you can wear some spanx to smooth out the bumps now while trying on.

I ordered my maggie sottero last august and it came in at the very end of february... so right around 6 months, almost closer to 7 months... i was just going shopping to start looking at styles and fell in love, that's why i ordered so early.

8-12 months is the norm. If you have your eye on a specific designer, it could be more. Or, if you are buying an off the shelf (think consignment or a pre-made gown at a store like Nordstrom) then you will only need a few months to allow for alterations. I bought in December, dress arrived in late June. Wedding is in September and alterations are taking about 2 months.

Non-designer dresses (like David's Bridal) will take much less time. I ordered a designer dress, Essence of Australia, and it will take 6 months to come in and they said to give at least 2 months for alterations. So you still have 2 months before you get concerned. Though I wouldn't lolly-gag. I have seen a lot of posts on here about delayed dresses and it's two weeks before the wedding and the dress is MIA!!