Ok to just try on wedding dresses?

Well they are a sales-based business. For every soon-to-be who comes in to play dress up, there's a potential sale that they can't make with a bride who is ready to buy. So yes, they may rush you a bit but it's really only because when you stop and think about how many girls they see in a month who really aren't coming to buy a gown, they could be losing a lot of sales.

Please don't take this negatively, but I wouldn't recommend even trying on dresses that are over your budget for a dress. What if you fall in love with one? What if the ones you look at seriously feel inferior in quality, and you end up disappointed? I don't see anything wrong with shopping early just to see, that's what I did and no one seemed snobby, but they knew I would come back if I liked something. I would go and look, but stick to dresses in your price range.

I'd 2nd Gabrielle. Honestly starting with a place that's out of your budget is only going to hurt you. There is still an element of "you get what you pay for" when it comes to dresses, so if you're automatically looking at expensive dresses, everything else is going to pale in comparison. The first place I tried dresses on was at DB. I knew that they'd have all the styles I'd be able to come across and I wasn't expecting much so I couldn't be disappointed. It was at DB that I was able to narrow down styles and fabrics that looked best on me so when I went to nicer shops, I knew what to look for and still stay within my budget and not have dress envy when I couldn't afford something.

Ashley, I agree with Gabrielle. I tried on a dress from somewhere that I couldn't afford and fell in love with it. But I was forced to live with reality. Now personally, if it's just to bond with girls and have fun then go for it.

No one is going to be snobby to you. But it is frustrating to a bridal consultant to get a dress out of its bag. bride into the dress. and then the dress back in to the bag. It takes about quit awhile. Please remember that some salons work on a commission base. you could be taking the consultant away from a paying bride. if you are going to try on try on dress in salons within your budget. you get an idea of the style and quality of the dresses you can buy. if you are not satisfied with what you are seeing. you can always re elevate your budget and see where you can diver funds from one section to up your dress budget to get a more expensive dress.

Also most salons have you fill out paperwork and contract before you even try on a dress. so if you don't want to be bothered with follow up sales calls stick to the shops within your budget first.

Happy Shopping

And third it is recommended that you purchase your dress at least 6 months in advance or more. Most salons have a floor sample only.You dress will have to be ordered in your size. then altered to your specifications (hemming etc.) They like at least a month for that.

So technically you are right on schedule.

Happy Shopping

I agree with Gabrielle but if you do go let your consultant know up front and try to keep your appointment to 1hr they work on commission and if you're appointment runs long and you may be costing that consultant more than just the commision they wont be getting from you,

Be very careful with that strategy! That's what I planned to do, fell in love with a dress and ordered it with $400 down.

I do not regret it at all... I LOVE my dress! But, if you really don't want to buy yet, I would say don't go dress shopping yet....

From the consumer point of view, it could be bad because like everyone else said, you could end up finding a dress you really feel like you can't live without. Why torture yourself with looking at something you "can't" have?

From a business point of view, imagine if you were the consultant; you spend time with a bride who you think is going to buy a gown. You make sales commission so you are really pushing for a sale and then you end up with the person who had no intention on buying anything in the first place. Wouldn't you kind of feel like that person just wasted your time?

I would say don't waste anyone's time. If you aren't planning on buying something, be upfront about it and tell the people helping you that you are just looking so they know that upfront. But you can just "look" online you know that right?

This could be very frustrating for everyone and kick off your dress search with a sour start. I would not go!

I gathered magazine/online printout photos of dresses I liked for a few months before walking into a dress shop at 13 months before my wedding. My dress was the second one I tried on at the first shop. I waited a week and went back to buy it. So, I bought my dress one year before my wedding. I so did not expect that! I love my dress don't get me wrong, but I didn't need to buy it that early. I had way too much time to second guess it and let it hang in the salon.

I wouldn't go physically try anything on until you're closer to the year mark. And I would never let a consultant put anything on my body that was out of my budget. NEVER!!! Let alone walk into a store where you can't afford anything on purpose! You could totally fall in love with something and then be totally hosed. Don't do it.

Dont try on dresses you cant afford.

But I say go try on dresses you can afford and get ideas, it doesn't hurt.

I went to just look at dresses because my wedding is so far away and ended up falling in love with a dress. I ended up buying it because I was told that dresses get discontinued a lot and my dress might not be there in a year or so when I would have wanted to get it. So I already have my dress, but I didn't want to risk not being able to get it because I love it so much!

I didn't plan on buying a dress the day I went dress shopping! If you are up front about your budget, they may be able to show you samples within your price range, too. If you love Demetrios dresses, but can't afford them, that may be a good option for you.

If you want to play dress up, do it with dresses below your price point, so you'll be pleasantly surprised when you try on ones at your budget! Also, you can get a great feel for silhouette and what you like with dresses that are less expensive and then try on the ones you love and are in your price point later. I think it's a good idea to have some purpose to your shopping experience, but that's cause I don't like shopping too much! Haha!

If you are going to just go try dresses on, I would recommend that you go to a place that isn't pricey. But than again, every store has pricey dresses. Tell them your budget and ONLY pull dresses that you can afford. I went in not expecting to buy, I already had money down on a different dress at that store, with a $2000 budget, and walked out with a discontinued dress for $265 that I fell in love with. No dress regret here.

I agree, don't try on dresses you can't afford. This is a big no-no, I read about it all the time, see it on tv. A bride falls in love with a dress she can't afford, and nothing compares to it, and she ends up so disappointed. Or she breaks the bank and buys it even though she can't afford it. Go try on dresses in your price point so this doesn't happen to you.

If you are not planning on buying from them - then do not go. It is a waste of time for them and you.

I do not think it is too early for you to start looking at dresses at all. If you are not going to buy soon, do not make an appointment on a weekend, when the shop is the busiest, make one during the week. It is a great idea to go try on dresses as seen here many of our dream dresses on paper are not our dream dresses on our bodies. I thought I wanted an A-Line but low and behold a fit and flare looks great on me. Try to go to a shop that you will buy from.

I did go to Alfred Angelo and quickly realized their styles were not for me - so I won't be going back. I have also been to a local shop (Panache) that is more of a whole in wall - but they have been so great - don't care if I drop by to look or try on - no pressure sales, always friendly and helpful. I am to the point that I will most likely order my dress from them - even if I find it elsewhere because of their service!

Well for starters- they will ask you your budget and if you dont meet their budget of what they have for sale there, they wont help you much. You will get an attitude from them. There is no problem with trying on dresses early, but dont tell them there is no way you will be buying anything. Just tell them you aren't in love with any of them and not ready to make a decision based on what you saw. But as the others said, falling in love with a dress you can't afford will be devastating! Go where you can afford. Start with a chain like DB or AA and get a feel for what you like, not a pricey boutique.

Don't try on a dress you can't afford..... Word to the wise.... Learned that from 10 Top Bride mistakes on Say Yes To The Dress..

I agree with D1. People who AREN'T getting married try gowns on just for fun. You need to be serious about it and that seems like a waste of time. Also, you're probably going to be excited and it's a disappointment waiting to happen.

If I had a salon, I'd hate to see a gaggle of girls coming in for a "bonding experience."

Whatever line of biz you're in, think how you'd feel if someone led you to believe they were going to buy something from you and then didn't -- because they never intended to.

Personally, I hate clothes shopping. If I'm there it's because I need to buy something. Yes, sometimes I'll try clothes on and not buy them (didn't fit right). But, I don't want to waste my time or the staff's.