Is it too early to try on dresses?

I would go and start getting an idea of what you like on your body. Give yourself a generic budget of $1000 and remind yourself that you don't get to buy any of the specific dresses you try on because they'll probably be discontinued by the time you're ready to buy. But that'll give you a huge head start for shopping when you are ready.

I already know that I don't want to spend more than $1000 on a dress regardless of other budget, so I don't think that will be an issue.

I also don't really find a concern with dress & venue matching. I'm going to choose the dress I want and feel comfortable in regardless.

However I do appreciate the reminders about it being discontinued later, etc. That's definitely something to keep in mind.

It really would be more to see what styles work on my body type, etc. I likely will go for just a casual look, but I really honestly do appreciate all of the input! Y'all give great things to think about.

I think you can start looking whenever you want; just go in with an easygoing objective to look at styles and silhouettes, not buying right away.

I ordered my dress last November and my wedding isn't until June 2017. Hadn't planned to buy so early, but I found the perfect gown and knew for sure I didn't want to look any more.

Yeah wait until you find all your main things first to get a feel of how the dress should be

I think it's too early. Until you have a venue BOOKED, you do not have a wedding date. And you don't know if the venue you decide on will impact the type of dress you should ultimately pick.

Also, from reading other posts on here, dress regret is REAL. And almost always involves buying a dress too early. It gives way too much time to see other stuff as you look online for other wedding ideas.

I do think that you can try on dresses with no intention of buying anything. I went dress "window" shopping shortly after getting engaged but didn't even take a form of payment with me. I just wanted to see some different shaped dresses on my body. I couldn't imagine myself in any wedding dress and wanted to see what shape gown worked on me. Months later, I went back and tried on lots of gowns in that particular shape to actually buy one. Maybe do something like that at most? But I don't recommend actually shopping and buying anything until you have a venue, a budget, and are within 9months to a year of your wedding.

I think it's a great idea to go and figure out what you like. Even better with your sister coming into town. Keep an open mind and try on every silhouette and style.

Definitely too early to commit to buying a dress. Focus on venue and budget right now.

I think it could be a great time to have with your sister! just keep in mind that it is super early and you might change your mind between now and next Oct. I would see if she would be able to come back maybe closer to your wedding to go dress showing, like maybe around 10 to 12 months before wedding date

I am getting married in January 2017, and I first tried on dresses in September 2015! I was glad because I tried on a lot of styles, and learned what looked best on me. I went twice with my mother, and then in January I went all by myself and really found what I was looking for.

There are a LOT of brides on here that bought dresses 15 months or 2 years before their wedding, and had terrible dress regret. They ended up changing their mind, tastes or body shape - or saw a new trend in wedding dresses they fell in love with - and fell out of love with their original dress. Which they were stuck with, had already fully paid for, and couldn't return or sell for even half the price.

It's called dress regret, and it's incredibly expensive. Don't let it happen to you. Wait until 12 months out, when you've got a venue booked, a date and a realistic budget. Then go crazy!

I bought my dress 20 months before my wedding, but I had my venue and date picked. I wouldn't have bought it that early if the store didn't store dresses for free, however.

I would recommend waiting especially since you don't have a date and may end up getting a dress that is completely wrong for the season (ie super heavy dress for an outdoor July wedding.). Dates change so easily and you may find that you are able to save by choosing a different date and it'd suck to save by changing the date but have to spend more on a dress.

ETA: Since buying my dress, I have stopped looking at dresses completely and it's been hard to avoid them while doing so much of the other planning. It's incredibly different to look through bridal magazines for ideas because every other page is a dress. I feel like it would have been easier if I had been further along in planning when I bought my dress because I would have a better idea of what I was doing for the other stuff and wouldn't need to look for inspiration.

I say don't do it. You have way too much time to change your mind.

Instead maybe venue shop, stop at a few flower shops, or have her try on BM dresses.

You can always look and try on dresses, get a feel for your style and budget

The first question they're going to ask is "what's your budget?"

The second question they're going to ask is "what's the venue?"

These questions matter because that's what they use to determine what types of dresses to show you. If you can't answer both of them, you probably shouldn't start looking. While I get that you don't think the venue will matter, trust us when we tell you that it does. A dress you'd wear in the Ritz Carlton ballroom on a Saturday night is likely different than the dress you'd wear to get married in a backyard barbecue at a lunchtime Sunday wedding.

And yes, dress regret is real. I had it. I bought my dress over a year before my wedding date and I ended up having such real regret that I went out and bought another one. Just wait a little while longer until you at least know the venue before you start looking.

I don't think there is anything wrong with trying them on, but I definitely wouldn't purchase anything yet.

If you find one you LOVE just wait and keep your eye on it, and the bridal store you found it at for deals/sales etc. Could save you a lot of money and stress just being patient!

I most defiantly would not try on dresses. Your body and your tastes can change a lot within a year. I also would not go dress shopping until you know your budget and venue since those can both be large factors in the overall "look"