Is 19-20 months out too soon to get a dress?

If you definitely know what you want and you find your dress during one of those appointments, then I don't think that's too soon to purchase your dress! I would caution you to stop looking at dresses once you buy your dress, since that may cause dress regret. If you have any doubt about whether it's the right dress for you, it may be better to wait even a few months. If you're buying a new dress, as long as you purchase around 9-12 months in advance, it should arrive with plenty of time for alterations. Congratulations on your engagement!

I wouldn’t buy a dress more than a year out. So many things can change in a time frame like 19-20 months, and there are so many posts on here of brides picking dresses early and then having tons of dress regret and buying a 2nd and sometimes even 3rd dress.

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Thank you so much first of all !!

Also, yeah I have a style in mind. I want lace, maybe some 3D details or even some unique patterns/textures. It's kinda been the style I've wanted for years so I honestly don't think my style will change!

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Yeah I've heard of this happening. What do you think causes the dress regret??

You may find a venue that changes the style you want. You may just stumble onto other dresses you like. Maybe the desire for some other feature like sleeves or train may happen. Or you find out that alteration costs are too high for what you might want.

If all these are likely to be non-issues, you would be okay.

View Quoted Comment Different styles come out, changes in your body happen, you end up going in a different direction when booking venue, etc. There’s so many factors. I actually had a certain idea of dresses I liked, and then I ended up buying a dress completely different from what I originally thought I’d get.

Yes to answer your question

I bought mine about 30 months in advance. If the pandemic hadn't been a factor, it still would have been about 18 months ahead of our original date. I don't think it's too early. If anything it'll take the pressure off you that you have to find a dress at those appointments since you have so much time if you don't like anything you see. And if you do find something, it'll be a relief to be able to check off something.

It sounds like you haven't actually booked a venue yet meaning you don't actually have a wedding date yet so I would secure a wedding venue before you worry about a wedding dress. The venue you end up booking could be completely different than what you are envisioning therefore changing what type of dress you will want to wear.

Yes, too early. And I also agree with Veronica-- you don't have a wedding until you have a wedding venue with booked date. But also, consider how you will store this dress for ~2 years. Most dresses come in 6-8 months, so once it comes in, you must take off the property. The store will not keep it onsite while you're waiting for alterations which only take place 2 months before your actual wedding (to account for body changes). To properly store, you should lay your dress flat (horizontally) in a cloth garment bag say underneath your bed or at the top of a closet shelf. You do not want to hang vertically in a closet where it may pull fibers and fabric.

I agree that it's much too soon. Even if you have a venue in mind, they may not have the date/season you're wishing for which will also affect dress style. There have been way too many posters on here with dress regret. Between 9-12 months from wedding date is ideal to get the dress.

I think it’s great to start looking that early so you have plenty of time to try on lots of different styles and really know for sure what you like/want. But I don’t think I would pull the trigger until about a year out. Soooooo much can change during that time, and you don’t want to end up with a dress you regret or that doesn’t fit!

Dress regret is real. There are many posts in the search bar where brides bought a dress very quickly after getting engaged and they fell out of love, unable to sell it to recoup costs and purchased another dress or two before the wedding day. Styles change, your tastes change, your body changes. Don’t buy a dress before 10 months maximum before the wedding, and make sure that you absolutely do not want to take the dress off. Do not settle if you are not in love with it.

I would give yourself a little more time, but not too much, my dress just came in and I ordered it from a bridal shop. It took 11 months to arrive, because of supply chain issues. I still have 3 months for alterations. So that is a total of 14 months before the wedding.

Too soon to buy, but not too soon to look. Go get your venue, decide when and where and how many people to invite. Then, get the dress. Don’t design your whole wedding around your dress which what you will have to do if you get your dress this early.