When to dress shop ( Fall/oct 2020 bride)

Also October 2020, here! I've started listening to dress podcasts and am narrowing in on my vision/styles I like. I plan on dress shopping at the end of 2019.

I bought my dress in July and I'm getting married next July. My wedding planning book says to buy your dress 6 to 8 months before your wedding so I felt a little ahead of the game. My bridal consultant actually told me I wasn't too early and that she wishes the wedding planning tools would suggest that brides go shopping a year in advance. It has nothing to do with styles changing or dress regret but rather with seamstress appointments. My dress should be coming in next month and because I might have my dress sooner than another July 2019 bride, I'll definitely be able to get a better appointment with my preferred seamstress. Keep in mind, if you're getting married during busy season that the best seamstresses are likely swamped and you'll want to give them adequate time to alter your dress.

I would start looking at styles you might like now and then going shopping a year out. I went to two bridal salons and I'm actually thankful the first one turned out terrible. They made me try on every type of dress imaginable and at my second salon, I knew what styles I liked and what I definitely didn't like.