So, you are engaged, congratulations! Now that you have your ring, let’s focus on the dress. The dress is what really makes any bride feel amazing on her big day. A wedding dress is so special compared to any other clothing you will ever wear in your lifetime. It is uniquely yours, and meant for you on your special day. With so much meaning built into one dress, the process of looking for the dress can sound daunting. That’s exactly why we are here to help! These are our top 5 things to know before you start your shopping journey.
1. Do your homework.
One of the first things your bridal consultant will ask you is, “Do you have any inspiration for what you are looking for?” This is where all those screenshots and pins come in handy. Before you come into your first appointment, make sure to research and find out what you think your style could be. Creating a mood board is a good way to combine all the different elements of the dresses you’ve admired. Knowing what is not of interest to you is just as helpful as knowing what sparks joy. Once you’ve collected your inspiration images or created your mood board, be sure to bring them along to your appointment consultation! In addition, it is also helpful to know the designers that are available at the boutique before you go!
2. Be open-minded.
Now, since you have studied Pinterest for hours, you might think you know exactly what you want. While it is wonderful for a bride to have inspiration, it is also important to keep an open mind throughout your appointment. You never know, your dream dress could be one you never considered looking at before the consultant picked it out for you. You might walk into the bridal store with your heart set on a ball gown, but end up falling in love with a fit and flare once you discover that style works better with your body shape. You never know until you try on.
3. Set your budget.
Setting a budget is one of the most important things to do before scheduling your appointment. This can help you really narrow down your choices and help you to be honest about what you can comfortably purchase. It is important to keep in mind that while the dress is the most important part of your outfit, it does not complete it. You’ll need to consider saving some of your budget for alterations, a veil, shoes, accessories, etc. Here at All Brides Beautiful, our dresses range from $1,500 – $3,500. However, you can also get a lot of bang for your buck by shopping in the off the rack section as well.
4. Allow yourself ample time to get your dress.
In order to find your dream dress it may take one appointment, or you may have to come back and try on again. Every bride’s journey to finding her dress is unique. This is why it is so important to leave yourself time to find the one. Once you find your dress it will need to be ordered and made for you. This will take anywhere from 4-6 months. After that, we like to leave 4-5 months for alterations.
We suggest allowing 8-10 months on average. However, giving yourself a year for the whole process is ample time so you don’t feel rushed.
5. You’ll save money by going to a trunk show!
Trunk shows are the absolute best, I think we can all agree on that! Trunk shows allow bridal boutiques like us to showcase and provide to you dresses from a designer that the shop usually carries. You will be offered discounts and will have access to additional dresses to look at and try on. Trunk shows provide a unique experience and are only open for a limited time, so it is important to make the most out of them! All Brides Beautiful will be holding a trunk show with Dutch designer, Modeca, September 4th through September 14th. Be sure to put it on your calendar!
