Wedding Dress Shopping

I think if you start shopping/trying on dresses a year in advance, it'll give you enough time to where you're not rushed to find a dress, but also isn't too far ahead of time! You can always start looking online now at different styles and designers and such, but I'd wait to purchase anything until within a year. Otherwise, you may change your mind closer to your wedding, or you might find a dress later on that you like better.

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Thank you!! That's super helpful

View Quoted Comment Happy dress shopping!! 🙂

I got mine about 11 or 10 months prior

I started dress shopping about 11 months before my wedding and purchased my dress 10 months out.

Most psople do anywhere from 9 to 18 months out.

I started shopping in 5/19 for my 1/21 wedding. I ended up ordering my gown 10/19 and it just came in yesterday.

I got my dress in February for my October wedding, it came in August when it was supposed to be in in June, so just keep in mind any shipping delays. I think a year is a good time to start actually trying dresses on but do some research before that on what you want to try to give stylists an idea of what you're looking for.

We had a two year engagement and I bought my dress a year and half ago. I had a plenty of time to go to multiple stores, do research, and just enjoy the experience with my bridesmaids.

Started shopping in March 2019 and bought my dress mid-March for my 02/22/20 wedding. So almost a full year. My dress was estimated to take almost 8 months to make and deliver (came from the UK). It came 2 months early.

I went 11 months before the wedding (3 months after he proposed). I purchased it 9 months before, and it arrived 6 months before.
I actually found my dress at the first bridal shop I went to.

Mine was the 1st thing on my list i bought back in feb 2019 (for a 10/2020 wedding) originally i was planning on 10/2019 but pushed to 10/2020 (will now be wearing it 2 times for both 2020 ceremony and 2021 covid pushed ceremony) they didnt put it in til january 2020 though so it came august 2020 and final pick up 10/3/2020.


Keep in mind it takes time to make the dresses and closer you are to your date the less time u have to account for unexpected surprises...like covid. Usually 8-12 months i hear is enough time. Also gives u time to start doing any weight loss before it etc.
You dont necessarily need to go trying them on now, but you can atleast look up styles leading up to it. I looked up mine before i even tried it and searched for bridal stores that had the dress.

I picked my dress a year out.

I got my dress about 6 months prior to the wedding; was looking online for different ideas about 1 month prior to physically dress shopping and trying on dresses

Also having a long engagement (2 years). I had my first appointment 4 months after getting engaged. That really helped me figure out what I liked on me, didn't like, etc. Then I kept looking for another 9 months and I just bought my dress (secondhand). Now I have a whole year for the alterations and other details! Hope this helped a little

I started dress shopping as soon as we got engaged (despite knowing we'd have two years) "just in case" and also because I wanted to buy it in the States where the wedding will be but we live in Germany. I was already there visiting my family and knowing dresses can take half a year to come in I wanted to start searching so I could get it fit the next time I visited. Plus now due to covid many brides have waited even longer for a dress to come in.
I'm glad I found my dress so in advance because it helped get my vision together a little bit. From the dress I could think about veil and hair, then shoes, then accessories.
This said, if you're the kind of person who likes trends or changing things up a lot, it might be a really bad idea to go dress shopping early. You could get dress regret. But I had a clear idea so I've had no second thoughts.For someone who's busy I also NEEDED a two year engagement. I'd be such a mess with a shorter one! I hope you enjoy this time. 😊

Oh also if you're someone who fluctuates in weight this might not be as good of an idea because they'll order in the closest size to your measurements, then next time you come in with the dress they do the fitting. On a mermaid style like mine, it's very snug so there's no room for ups and downs. I knew this wouldn't be an issue for me, but realizing this might be of concern to other brides.

I got engaged in March of 2019, I was planning to start shopping in April 2020...we’ll that didn’t happen. So I started in June and bout my dress in July for my March 2021 wedding. The shop said it wouldn’t arrive in January!!

Ordered my dress a year out because they said it could take up to 6 to 8 months and I'm an over planner so. Took me about 2 months to find the ONE! With fun covid going on, I'd add an extra 4 to 6 months of ordering time as a cushion. Some brides have posted about dress delays. 😬

I went shopping about 8 months in advance (in September) and my dress officially won't come in until November. I'm expecting about 2 dress fittings after that, and my wedding is in May. So I'd say at most 8 months in advance, sooner if you know your theme and are ready to choose your dream dress!