Not sure what to expect from your bridal journey and your wedding dress shopping? Where to start, who to take, what will be expected of you, how you'll feel? Your wedding dress appointment is one of the most exciting (often daunting - I know) milestones of your wedding planning.
You've come to the right place, here's how we do it at The Wedding Room, follow our wedding dress shopping tips.
Listed below are a few pointers we would recommend you do before your bridal appointment. A little bit of preparation will mean you get the most from your appointment.
Assuming you have booked your venue as this tends to set your date.
- Wedding Vision - think about your venue, the style and vibe of it and how this 'may' have some influence on your whole wedding style. Consider how differently you would approach planning a wedding day in a Tipi or Marquee compared to a stately home or castle. It may (or may not) influence your dress choice, it's simply something to keep in mind.
- Research - We all have so much information available to us at the swipe of a screen or connecting with our friends for recommendations. Don't let the deluge of imagery confuse you. You can look at too many dresses online before trying them on. Save a few select images of the type of style you're drawn to, consider the neckline, the fullness of the skirt, the length of the train and the type of fabric you are attracted to. Next pinpoint 3 shops which cater to your taste in dresses, but please keep an open mind. Simply typing 'bridal shops near me' is not enough. Dresses can almost take on 3 looks: 1. Those photographed (and photoshopped) images from the designers, the ones they use when they launch a new collection every season. The dress will look immaculate, crease free and tailored to perfection. 2. How the dress looks on the hanger - the least appealing look, you simply cannot tell how a dress will look from the hanger - the biggest downfall of bridal shops and finally 3, how the dress will look on you. ALERT ALERT - it isn't going to look like it does on the model in the designers photoshoot -that doesn't mean its not the dress for you. By all means do your research on styles but keep an open mind when trying on. Sometimes a wild card, a dress you never thought you'd like ends up stealing your heart.
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Budget - Not only should you be honest with yourself about your wedding dress budget, you should also be honest with the bridal consultant. Why? Because your appointment can be tailored to suit your budget. There is nothing worse than seeing a bride fall for a dress only to learn her budget wasn't what she said it was and the dress is £500 over budget. As a bride you end up being deflated and as a consultant you're happy the bride has found a dress she loves, you've answered the brief to perfection, BUT that leaves an awkward moment of questioning if the budget will stretch. Being open about an accurate budget allows the bridal consultant to tailor your choices accordingly, it also allows for an open question if there is any wiggle room and how much that is likely to be. Some bridal shops will respect a budget allocation more than others.
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Come prepared You do not need to go to great lengths to prepare for a bridal appointment but a few pre appointments considerations could be:
- Wear pale coloured underwear - its not essential that's its skin toned but more neutral if you do not want to remove your bra whilst trying on dresses.
- Take a clip for your hair if its long, even if you don't intend to wear your hair up on the day it will prevent it from getting stuck in your zip when changing from one dress to another. Style your hair in a way that you like, add a curl if you feel its you more of a bridal look.
- Wear comfortable clothes which are quick to get in and out of, one piece dresses are ideal, don't waste time getting changed in and out of your clothes when that's time you could be stepping into bridal gowns.
- Moisturise your body and hydrate your skin by drinking water prior to the appointment, brides often mention how tiring it can be, more than they expected - obviously there is nervous/excited energy being expelled.
- If you're wearing make up, make it light with a none bright lipstick.
check back soon for part 2........ as we continue to help you find your perfect wedding dress
