Wedding Dress/bridesmaid Dress Shopping

1. Definitely have an idea of what you want to wear so that the assistants can help you find the right one. If you can choose dresses online in advance and bring photos, that is even better.

2. Bring your shoes that you plan to wear at the wedding (if you have them) and any shape wear and other undergarments you plan to wear (i.e. I am quite top heavy so I brought 3 different bras because I didn't know which would work best )

Don't be surprised if the appointment goes overtime or if you need to do multiple appointments. I had 2 x 1 hour appointments at different stores (which turned into 1.5-2 hours each) and in that time I tried on around 16-17 dresses. Depending on the style some are easier to get into than others but you will have a set of hands helping you!

When I had my appointment it didn't take long at all for me to try on dresses. I've seen some women bring and wear gurdles or spanx.

I am bringing what I want to wear for my wedding to my first fitting/alteration as I didn't know what my dress would be like. It didn't take me long at all to try on my dresses (6-7) before I found the one. How the sample dress fits is going to be different than how your dress will fit (ex. Samples are looser fitting) I would go in with an idea of what you like and then go from there. They had me try on shoes they had so they could get an idea on what the hem should be. They told me not to buy my shoes until after my dress came in.

Wear clothing that is quick and easy to get in and out of. If you have any issues with modesty, realize your consultant will likely see you in various stages of undress -- and sometimes leave dressing room doors/curtains open, so do what you can to prepare for that. Daughter wore some nude bike shorts-type underwear and a nude strapless bra. At least one store gave her a bustier to put on while trying dresses on. Honestly, they'll get you in and out of dresses pretty quickly. More often than not they'll use clips to fasten the back rather than bothering with a bunch of buttons, etc. As a pp mentioned, assume all samples are VERY stretched out, so a sample's size is not going to be reflective of what your correct size is. If you choose a dress, insist they measure you, show you the measurements, and show you the manufacturer's size chart. Wedding dresses should always be ordered to accommodate the largest measurement, even if that means the dress will need significant alterations elsewhere. Daughter's salon insisted that she initial all the measurements and the size choice on the order form so there was no confusion later about whether the correct size was ordered. If you have long hair, be prepared to put it up or tie it back if you want to see how a dress looks with your hair a certain way, or in case you get hot. And, you likely will get hot! Wedding gowns are heavy and you'll be moving quickly. Bring a water bottle with you, and eat a good high-protein meal before your appointment. I'm pretty sure daughter was barefoot when trying on most dresses, and she didn't need her shoes until it was time for alterations. Be open to trying on different styles, but also, especially if your budget is limited, take different dress features into account in terms of what alterations will be needed. A multi-layered skirt with tons of embellishment is going to be much more expensive to hem than a simple tulle skirt. If you have a larger chest, think about what it's going to take to make a strapless backless dress give you the support you'll need. Anything is possible, but it can also be expensive. Two appointments in a day will be a lot, so be careful not to overschedule. If you make two appointments, give yourself a break in between and plan to go have a light lunch and chat about what you tried on in the first store. Really think about who, if anyone, you bring with you -- the more people, the more opinions. Do you want brutal honesty or do you want unconditional cheerleading? Choose the right people and make sure they know what you want from them. Most of all, get excited and have fun!

Just found the one! I would definitely recommend the following
1. Wear loose clothing because putting the dresses on/off takes a good amount of time.
2. Bring only close and supportive friends/family3. Don’t plan too many fittings in one day. It’s tiring! 4. I’d say don’t wear a bra, depending on your bust—several dresses have the bra built in. I did wear shapewear-I’m more pear shaped. 5. Have fun! Breathe! And if you need to do a little mindfulness/grounding in the moment do some 😊

Honestly I didn’t bring much but a strapless bra and I actually didn’t need it since the dress type that I liked had built in support. I am top heavy but every dress made my boobs look AMAZING!! without a bra on. I only tried on 5 dresses so I didn’t even take up the full hour.
I go for alterations this coming Wednesday I will bring my shoes or a shoe with the same height if they aren’t in, in time. I’m going to pray the dress still fits nice because I’ve been eating really good for the past week lol

I say all that to say I wouldn’t buy everything yet, you just might not need it for your initial dress try on. But if you want spanx use a pair that you already own. No need in buying anything new, you may not need it. I was actually barefoot (socks on) during my fitting lol Due to covid regulation at the time the bridal boutique only allowed two extra guest I had my mom and sister. It was actually great, if you the less the better don’t want too many opinions.