When and Why Did You Pick Your Dress?

Hey there! Congrats on your engagement!!!! In your timeframe, I would start looking asap - some dresses can take six months to come in. Many women struggle with dress regret, and I ended up being one of them. I picked my first dress very quickly because I wanted to make sure it would come in in time, so I very much rushed the process. I found a dress that I liked and looked good on me, but in my gut I didn't love it and only picked it because at the time I thought that was my only option. I also got swept up because my mom and my sister joined me, and they could only make the trip once. Some part of me though was always bothered by the dress.



Then I lost thirty pounds due to health concerns. My dress I had bought was not going to fit, so I decided to exchange it for either a size down or something more fitted. I ended up trying on a sample I had tried during my first look and fell in love because now it looks amazing on me. I cried, more than the first time. It made me feel more beautiful, while my first dress felt more like settling to cover up my body. And even though my mom wasn't there, I made the decision and purchased it after texting her and getting her bleasing.

Some women do not have that crying moment. Trust your gut, try on a little bit of everything! And visit at least 2 salons. You'll avoid dress regret if you walk away from the dress for a few days and really consider it. Then when you finally purchase, stop looking! Dress regret is real though, so do your best to heed mistakes of brides past. Good luck and have fun!

I completely agree with PP, you should start looking ASAP. I ordered my dress in March of 2019, received it at the very end of August, and my wedding was in November. I went into dress shopping with a clear vision of what I was looking for, but kept an open mind. Good thing I did because my dress turned out to be the opposite of what I thought I wanted. I didn't have a big emotional "say yes to the dress" moment, I just put it on and didn't want to take it off.

I actually hated the dress online. The bridal shop owner had it aside and said I should try it on. I did and fell in love with it. It was the first dress I tried on. It was also below my budget. I still don’t like it when I look st pictures of it online. I went back to try it on again and fell in love. It’s so much different when it’s on your body. I don’t know if that makes sense.

Congratulations! What a memorable Christmas present! As far as wedding dress, I would highly suggest you start looking ASAP! Some dresses can take 6-8 months to arrive once you order them. And you want to make sure you leave at least 1 month for alterations.
I did lots of online searches for wedding dresses to get an idea of what I liked (and that was actually how I ended up finding “the one”). I went to 5 different bridal stores to try on dresses & never had that moment people talk about when they find their dress. Then I saw a dress I fell in love with online, and searched high and low for shops close to me that carried it. I finally ended up finding one about 4 hours away from me and immediately made an appointment to go try it on. They had the dress on the manikin for me, and When I walked up the stairs it was the 1st thing I saw. It was even more beautiful in person, and internally I was desperately hoping I would love it, but secretly feared I would hate it on me. Well, as soon as I put that dress on, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was my dress. It was beautiful, it felt “right”, and I did not want to take it off and leave it at the store- I just wanted to wear at home LOL

Congrats on your engagement! I'm also getting married sept 2020. I found my dress in the beginning of August and it just came in yesterday...so I would start looking now bc my boutique only gave me certain months to go for alterations which was like March or June bc they are very busy. I'm sure if you plan on going to a David's bridal or another corporate type place I'm sure your fine. Also, not sure if you've picked your venue, dj etc. but for me in early August a lot of places were already almost fully booked so I would get on that too!

I got engaged June 2019 and bought my dress at a local boutique in August 2019- it was the second store I have been to 3rd dress I had EVER tried on . After trying it on I pondered and wanted to try on other styles jussssst to make sure but nope nothing compared. I bought it there on the spot and it’s been hanging in my moms closet since ! Lol I’ve only looked at it a few times and I haven’t tried it on since that day. I will be bringing it to our seamstress in a few months (wedding November 2020)

I got engaged the first of August and I'm pretty sure I went dress shopping twice by the end of that month! Our engagement is short at only 8 months so I wanted to give my dress enough time to come in. I bought it the end of August. It was at the second store, David's bridal. I don't remember what number dress it was. Probably 3 or 4. I didn't know it was the one right away! I just knew I liked it a lot. My consultant was helpful. She had me try on all the dresses, then narrow it down to three. Then I tried those 3 on again with accessories (belts, veils, hair combs). By then I was getting very confident of which dress, I was very drawn to it. Then she had me go down to 2 dresses and do it again. Then I chose. She told me to close my eyes and think about my fiance and how much I love him and our relationship. Then to picture myself walking down the aisle in that dress. I cried then! And the rest is history

I got engaged in January of 2019. We are getting married in September of 2020. I picked my dress in March of 2019 and got it in August. I got mine earlier than recommended but no regrets at all. If I were you I would start shopping right away.

Definitely try on a bunch of styles - what you think is your style might not look the best on you! Start looking really soon!

Congratulations Zoe,
I tried on over 30 dresses at 6 or 7 bridal boutiques, with the last one I tried on, I just burst into tears!!! you will know when it's the one, don't wait to start looking and planning, your venue and photographer should be the first things you take care of, good luck!!!!

You need it buy it now, they can take 4-6 months to come in plus another month for alterations. My dress was mostly what I was looking for and it just looked really awesome on me with the style and colors.

I went in October and got my dress from there the very same day. It wasn’t a sample dress, they somehow had it but it was the wrong size. I should have gotten a 2 and I got a 4. I marry in less than 2 months so buying a dress and waiting months wasn’t an option for me. Listen to what PPs say to go early!

I’m getting married December 2020 and got my dress on thanksgiving weekend (bought it off the rack). It was the second store i went to and i had found a beautiful dress at the first store but for some reason i didn’t feel it was “right” despite everyone else telling me to get it.


So glad I waited and once i put on the other dress i immediately loved all the details of it, and looking at in pictures it looks so much more flattering on me than the first dress did. I still look at pictures of it every few days (I let the store hold onto my dress until it’s time for fittings) 🙂

I bought my 1st dress in June, and then realized I hated it. I bought that one because it made my mom cry and I thought it was what I wanted. I ended up going back in November to exchange it for the dress I really loved from the beginning, but talked myself out of because my mom and FMIL thought it was too plain.

Thanks you everyone for such the helpful advice! I better get on it! I appreciate all of you 💛