Who did you take dress shopping?

I took my mom and all my maids. we had to drive out of state so we did BM shopping in the same trip. it was fine, none acted like we there were too many people and we got a lot accomplished

If you don't want to many to come I would you could say. I'd like to keep it small for now because it'll be too overwhelming for me to have too many people. I will be sure to send pictures and keep you updated. Even though my mom is making my dress I did go to a bridal salon to try dresses on to see what I like. Since my family is OOT two of my BMs came the first time and one came the second. If I lived with family in town I would've just taken my mom and two sisters (also BMs).

I took my mom, 4 bridesmaids (sister, SIL, and 2 FSIL), FMIL, and niece (2 years old at the time), but only because I truly wanted their feedback. That was the perfect amount of people for me. I don't think that you should have to justify your opinion to anyone regarding who you take. If they bring it up, just say you wanted minimal people there to keep the excitement/surprise of your dress. Tell them exactly what you said here. If they're good people, they'll be fine with it. If they're brats, they'll cause a fuss.

I had my MOH (SIL), my mom, my aunt (mom's sister) and 5 year old niece. I really wanted my MOH and my aunt with me but was not crazy about my mom going. She is not always the nicest of people. Since I wasn't planning on taking my mom, I didn't ask my aunt so as to not start WW III. Well, my parents decided to pay for my dress, so I invited both my mom and dad to go. When my dad declined my mom asked if it was okay to bring my aunt so I got to have her there with no war. That made me extremely happy! Having my niece was a riot. She loved all the princess dresses and couldn't wait to try on dresses herself. After I found "the dress" they even let me try on their biggest pouffiest princess ballgown just so my niece could see it. ;o)

Call the bridal salon and ask them how many they recommend you bring, and likely it will be 2-4 anyway. Then you can honestly tell the others that the bridal salon can't accommodate a large party like that - it's not like TV AT ALL. These places are small for the most part, even the chain places don't have seating for more than 3-4 per bride typically.

Tell the others you'll take lots of photos, and you can get together for lunch a few days after to look at them together, so they feel included.

Don't go into a long story or get defensive, just keep it short and sweet "So I wanted to let you know I called the the salon and they said they just can't accommodate more than four people with me for an appointment. But I promise we'll take lots of photos and I'd love to get together after to share with you what we found - would next Saturday work for you?" That's it. Positive, simple, and move on...

P.S., I took my SIL and my BFF/sister to my first appointment, and I went by myself to my second appointment, and I took my mom and SIL and BFF/sister to my final appointment for the selection. My grandmothers are not living, but would've been the only other people I would've taken with me.

I brought my sisters and mom only the first time I went shopping (it ended up being the only time). That's four people and the only people's opinions I really needed, I wanted everyone else to like the dress but they're the ones I wanted to be there. I went back with my dad after I had finalized the order and then brought my mom, my mother in law and her sister to my second fitting.

Unless anyone has already said something about going, I wouldn't even bring it up. I would bring them later to a fitting or something so they have that moment but the decision is already made and the pressure is off.

I have 4 maids and two of them are my sisters. I am very close with my family so I brought my sisters as well as both my parents. My dad's opinion really matters to me and I know he will give me an honest opinion not to say the ladies won't but who really knows you better than your family so I do not bring my other maids with. But I do involve them with other things.

I made one wedding gown shopping trip and the only person I had (or wanted) with me was my mom. I found my dress that day.

I only took my mom, and we Facetimed my sister. I wanted my sister to come, but not my SIL, but my mom and I actually went on a whim after a bridal show. The shop I went to wouldn't have been able to accommodate more than 1-2 people with me.

I took my parents and my sister. I didn't want a huge entourage and decided to limit it to the people that I felt knew me best and would be completely honest. My sister stayed in the room with me and helped me decide which dresses I wanted to show to my parents. My mom picked out dresses that she liked and my dad's initial reactions ultimately helped me find the perfect dress on my first appointment.

The bridal shop I went to was tiny and they asked that brides only bring 2 or 3 people at most. Maybe you could just tell people you have a limit and are only able to invite your mother and grandmother, or something like that? And maybe invite the rest to a fitting. Sorry, seems like an awkward situation. I only asked my mother, brother (my Man of Honor) and a friend to come with me...and three was plenty.

Keep it to a minimum. Too many people equals too many opinions. I had only 3 people and yet for me it was too much. I was an emotional wreck by the end of my first outing.

I had my mom and aunt, and I tried on two dresses and that was it. It was nice having a small group; the only other person I would have invited would have been my matron of honor but she lives out of town. She is my entire bridal party, though.

Maybe take a few with you to each shop and rotate them out? For me, I did:

Shop 1- mom&roommate

Shop 2- mom& future MIL

Shop 3- mom& grandma

Shop 4- just mom

I only took my two best friends who are also in my bridal party (one guy, one girl). My guy friend was actually the only one I had with me at the appointment where I actually found my dress. Having a small group who I really trusted was so helpful. It kept opinions to a minimum and there were fewer people who I felt pressured to please.

One of my two best friends, also my witness, came with me the first time. My partner came with me the second/final.

I am going this morning and I'm only taking my mom. For the BM I'm inly taking my Matron of Honor. Once she try the dress I'll send the other girls to purchase their dresses. No drama and opinions. It will truly be what I like.

The very first trip was just my sister (MOH). Most of the time it was my mom and my sister, but my dad was included on one trip because we were all going to my cousin's wedding after the dress shopping. He was probably the most helpful. Our tastes are similar and he is very honest. He thought every thing was lovely, but the dress I ultimately bought was the first one he really reacted to. My mom kept pressuring me to include my FMIL, but she lives out of state. Even if she was nearby I didn't want her there because I didn't want to feel pressure to buy something simply because she like it. She did say she would give opinions if I emailed pictures, but I didn't even do that. I knew I needed to make my decision on my own. Not to mention I didn't want her showing the picture to other people.

I took my mom, nana, sister and fmil(my FH is her first son getting married and she doesn't have any daughters) They were all super supportive and my fmil even cried!