Running out of time??

I would go shopping ASAP and just be straight up about the timeline and budget. They want to help you, so make it easier on yourself by letting them do all the stressing.

The bridal shop I went to had an "off the rack" option, if you don't care about getting your dress brand new. They usually knock down the price a little bit and the dress i tried on ended up being my dress. Plus the shop holds onto it until it gets closer to the wedding so I dont have to store it. You could see if the shops you're looking at have that as an option

It sounds like you will have to pick something off the rack. Unfortunately, it can take anywhere from 9 months to a year to get a dress. The other option would be to get a wedding dress from Azazie. They have the option to try a dress on before you buy. It take about 5 weeks to get your dress.

I would definitely go somewhere the has an off the rack option. Even tho another shop might be able to order it in time. Some designers take longer than others or you may have to pay expedited fees. That way too you don’t fall in love with a dress you can’t try on it time. I would only go to an off the rack store it’s your best option with your timeframe. They also tend to be a little bit cheaper than normal boutiques!

The sooner you can go dress shopping, the better. As I am sure you have been told, they recommend ordering your dress 8-10 months before your wedding to allow time for it to arrive and for you to get alterations. With you being 6 months away, you may end up having to pay a rush delivery fee, which will cut deeply into your $1000 budget. I would try to find shops that offer off the rack dresses or only try on designers that guarantee arrival within 3 months.

I would 100% recommend checking out Azazie.com. They have SO many options, they also have an at-home try on option so you can try before you buy. All of the dresses are within your budget, they would definitely come in within your timeline, and they offer FREE custom-sizing, which would save you money/time on alterations. I ordered my dress from them and I absolutely love it, not to mention it was only $350 and fits perfectly.

Other than that, I ordered my first wedding dress from David's Bridal and it came in within a month. It really just depends on the dress/store. So if you're not up for the online option, don't fret because you still have plenty of options!

You may have inadvertently done yourself a favor and saved money by buying off the rack. I was super surprised by how nice some of these dresses were. Good luck, you can do it!

Go to a consignment shop! You'll likely be able to take the dress home same day and it will be less expensive. Dresses take around 6 months sometimes to come in.