Wedding Dress Shopping - Pandemic Production Times?

View Quoted Comment I’m definitely indecisive, and will probably have major dress regret to be completely honest. I think I’m going to go in August or September

I definitely say start 12 months out. I’m getting married in March and went at the end of April. My dress is supposed to be in by December, then on to alterations. Fingers crossed it all works out!

Like many have said, I think it depends on where you purchase the dress, the specific designer, and where you end up getting alterations done. I ordered my dress the end of November, it was in by mid-March, and the alterations place said they need 2 months to complete everything...so my dress is just chilling at my brother's place until my first fitting! haha There's nothing wrong with starting 12 months out, as long as you have a plan for where to store the dress if you don't want anyone to see it!

View Quoted Comment That sounds so beautiful!

I waited unfortunately and had a hard time finding dresses that I could get in time without paying rush fees, etc. that was 6 months in advance. I was told most designers take 6 months minimum, plus you’ve got to plan time for alterations. I think a year would give you enough time but why not start sooner?

I was also worried about this.

I shopped last year in June (restrictions in Australia had lifted to shop with 2 guests at that time) for our September 2021 wedding, and was told the dress would arrive in November. I thought with covid, Christmas and then new years that it would be around late Jan, maybe Feb by the time it arrived, so I was super shocked when it was delivered early! I picked it up on Halloween, so it was 4 months from purchase to pick up.

I would say, as the other posters have said, it's going to depend on so many factors - the boutique and their connections with the designer, what dress and designer it is, whether any of the fabrics are coming from places that are restricted currently, where their designs are made... on and on it goes!

Better to be safe than sorry in my book - there's not so much downside to having to store the dress for a while as there is to the dress simply not arriving in time, to me anyway!

Plus, my alterations lady said to start alterations 3 months out, so you want to leave enough buffer time to make any changes to the dress that you need.

(also it's fun, so why on earth not? It might take a while for you to find something you like!)

Got engaged in February 2019 looked in May it came in about October for my August 2020 wedding.


I suggest getting an idea but depending on the style there’s a chance you may gain or lose weight you don’t want to go through the hassle of trying to make it bigger/smaller.
I also think timing with the pandemic is getting better so I don’t think it takes that long anymore.
Happy shopping