Wedding Dress Shopping Tips

I've only been wedding dress shopping once, but I would recommend keeping an open mind. If your consultant pulls something that you don't think you will like, try it on anyway. And articulate why you don't like something. The more information the better.

Wear a good, supportive strapless bra & nude colored panties if you've got 'em.

Don't make any hasty decisions (you've got time judging by your wedding date)

Take pictures of yourself in all the dresses you're considering (if they allow you to)

Try to get information on the designer and style of the dresses you really love, they may not give it to you, but if they do you can possibly find a great price on it elsewhere.

I fell in love with one dress, then tried it on again at my second appointment at a different salon. They were trying to charge $100 more for it so I told them their competitors price and they dropped it $175 to keep me buying from them...so prices are negotiable.

Here are my tips (some are the same as pp's). Bring pictures of styles you like so you have a good place to start. Be open to your consultant's ideas, many of them have been in the business a while and may know something that will look great on you that you never would have picked on your own! When trying on dresses, make sure you can sit, stand, bend, dance, etc in it comfortably, my step daughter loved her dress but it was a snug mermaid style dress and she had a really hard time getting to the sitting position in it! If the salon allows, take lots of pictures from different angles. Looking at the pictures was a great way for me to see things that I didn't in the mirror. And last but not least, the fewer people you take with you the better off you'll be. It's tempting to bring everyone along, but that many different opinions can really muddy the water!

I agree with what everyone else says..

1. Keep an open mind, try on anything and everything within your budget. It could look hideous on the hanger and gorgeous on you, or the other way around.

2. Look your best. A lot of girls go in looking like a bum and then feel ugly in everything they wear, because they feel ugly lol

3. Bring hair accessories. The bridal salon might provide them, but bring them just in case. If you're going to be wearing your hair up for the wedding it helps to be able to visualize it by putting your hair up with your dress on.

4. Don't bring too many people. Too many opinions cloud your judgement. If everyone else is iffy about something, but you love it, you might like it a little "less" because all 5 people with you didn't express how much they loved it.

5. If you find something you love, don't keep looking. Too many times you will find what may be "THE" dress, and you'll love it, but then you try on 5 more and like the other ones too.

Then you end up with 4 dresses that you like and can't make up your mind.

Oh and don't rush into a decision. If you aren't sure about a dress, don't feel like you HAVE to pick somthing. Schedule another appointment at a different salon or just go home and review the pictures and stuff, sleep on it. Make sure it's a decision you won't regret later just because you felt you needed to pick something.

Go in with an open mind, pictures are good but also see what the consultant may suggest.

Don't rush into buying the dress. If you love it when you first try it on you will love it later if its meant to be. So don't feel like you have to buy it when you go shopping on Sunday. Dresses always go on sale.

Make sure they know how much you want to spend. You mentioned a price but make sure you make them aware of it. Its not worth trying on something that you can't afford.

Only bring 1 or 2 people with you, unless you want a lot of opionions. I just brought my mom and it went smoothly.

And most importantly....................HAVE FUN!!!

Thanks ladies! You all gave me some awesome advice and I would've never thought of the bra/panties thing -- really smart idea!

I agree with the ladies!

One of the things I learned is that is to have a budget in mind. Because when I was trying on dresses, the consultant I worked with was great and knew my budget and she sneaked a dress in she knew I could never afford.

And the biggest thing is don't bring to many people. I only brought my MOH and her mom, and a little time into the consultation a friend joined us and the three of them were wonderful.

And take in the experience. I could not stop smiling the whole time!

From a bride's perspective my advice is not to be scared by dress sizes. Bridal gowns run SMALL. Do not freak out if you are a size 8 trying on a size 14 dress. I wish someone told me that when I went.

From a photographer's perspective my advice is to go with something off white because it photographs much better than pure white. But if your heart is set on a pure white dress, then textures like lace or crystals help the dress photograph much better.

Good luck and congrats!

I work in a bridal salon so here are my 2 cents:

- bring only 1 or 2 people who are most important to you ie. mom, sisters, will give you their honest opinion... no BS

- go with an open mind. obviously tell your consultant what you 'like' & don't, BUT give her some play room to make sure you def don't like a trumpet dress or diamond white, etc.

- when you first meet your consultant, tell her what you're looking for BUT be open to her suggestions... it might look hideous on the hanger but ya never know what it looks like on you... so keep that in mind.

- if ya find a dress ya really like, try on some veils with it. where i work, once we get a bride into a dress she loves, we go to the veils so she can see a more 'finished' look. also, if ya know what size heel you're going to wear, ask your consultant if they have any in that height so you can get a 'final' picture. don't skimp out on those departments either... you're gonna want to know what you'll look like put all together...

That's why i love where i work, we put the bride in the gown, give her a heel, veil, jewels to try on (which most of the time she takes).

tell your consultant everything you're looking for, like & don't but keep an open mind. oh & please leave the possy at home, they will only confuse you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to be perfectly honest, when i went dress shopping... i just brought my mom because she knew me the best thus what did & didn't look good on me... that's the person ya want to bring! GL & congrats!!

I would bring the proper body armor, if you need to wear it. I second bringing jewelery along and making sure you look your best. Take pics of both the front and the back of all your dress choices. The FH forgot to take a pic of the back of my dress, and I have no idea what the lace up back and sweep train look.

Above everything else, have a good time.