Planning for Wedding Dress Shopping

You finally made it to the day of wedding dress shopping! This is what so many people dream of since they are little. But, with that excitement comes a lot of questions on how do I prepare? What do I need? Who do I bring? Well, this post is here to answer all your questions regarding wedding dress shopping to make it a fun, memorable experience.

How many people should I bring dress shopping?

It is important to bring just a few of the people closest to you. Aim for only 2-3 people. The more people you bring, the more opinions you have. Trust me, it will feel like too many cooks in the kitchen. I would stick to the people who mean something to you, who will give an honest opinion, but not value their opinions over your own.

But, how do I not hurt people’s feelings? If you really want a number of family and friends to participate then consider multiple appointments and bringing different sets of people each time. Remember this day is about you though and you want your experience to be enjoyable. Having too many people with too many opinions will make you second guess yourself and can actually make it more difficult to make a decision.

I’ve seen some people ask, can I go dress shopping by myself? Absolutely! Sometimes it is helpful to have a second opinion if you are indecisive, but if you know what you want then you definitely can go shopping on your own. It is not required to have someone else there.

Hot Tip: For those going to support the bride, make sure you let her express how she feels about a dress first before you say anything. A bride might feel amazing in a dress, but her good feeling is diminished if you immediately say you hate it when she walks out. Keep your opinions to yourself until you hear her thoughts first.

What style will look best on me?

Take a number of photos with you of dresses you really like. Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration. Explain to your wedding dress consultant what you like about each one – maybe it is the silhouette or perhaps you like sleeves or maybe you are drawn to a certain fabric type.

After that, be open to trying on a number of different styles! You might be surprised by how good you look in a mermaid dress or how much you love a poofy ballgown. Finding the right dress will depend on how you feel in it. As you try on a number of different dresses, you will start to find yourself drawn to certain styles more than others.

Keep note of what will be comfortable to wear all evening. Make sure you can sit in it and make sure it isn’t itchy or stiff in ways that would bother you for prolonged periods. If you want to be dancing all night, find a dress that you can move in. If you are getting married outside in July, go for a strapless dress over one with long sleeves. Think about what you will be comfortable in so you aren’t miserable on your wedding day.

What should I wear to try on dresses?

I see this question all the time. Some people buy cute little robes, but honestly you will be going from one dress into the next so there will barely be time to wear anything like that. My advice is to keep it simple – wear nude colored underwear but don’t worry about wearing a bra. Most dresses can have cups sewn into them so you likely won’t end up wearing a bra anyways.

Some people will say to bring your shoes, but it is highly unlikely you will have picked out your shoes before you pick your dress. Bringing shoes to your fitting is important for figuring out length, but you do not need to bring them to your initial shopping trips.

It will be a time when you take a lot of photos so you might want to wear something cute like a white sundress, but it is absolutely not necessary. At the end of the day, wear what you are comfortable in and is easy to get in and out of when trying on dresses.

How many stores should I visit?

This one is totally up to you! My stepmom traveled from out of town so we jammed in four stores in two days. By the fourth store, I already had my heart set on a dress so we really only went to avoid cancelling the appointment. Not only that, but all the dresses were starting to blend together and it didn’t really add anything to go to that many stores for me.

I personally started at David’s Bridal to just get a general sense of what types of dresses and styles I liked. I found a dress that I thought would work and was easily within budget. It became my dress to beat at other stores. From there, we went to a few wedding dress boutiques which offer more personal experiences.

Just like having too many opinions, having too many options clouds your ability to make a decision. I recommend starting with two or three stores and only going to more if you aren’t finding something that suits your needs.

Hot Tip: When trying on dresses, always start with the one you like most rather than saving it for last. This will allow you to compare all others as the dress to beat.

How do I know it is “the one”?

When they say you will know, trust me, you will know! Some dresses will be an easy “no” while others are a “maybe”. But, you will know when you find a dress that feels comfortable and that you feel truly beautiful in. You will likely start to compare all other dresses to that one and want to put it back on.

Don’t feel rushed to make a decision! I know everyone wants that “Say Yes to the Dress” moment, but you don’t have to have that right away. If you are concerned about having wedding dress regret, take a lot of photos of your favorite dress and sit on it for a day or two. Look at the photos and if you are finding yourself still loving it after a day or two, then you can always go back.

Hot Tip: When you find the dress, make sure you take a lot of pictures of it from all angles. Unless you are buying yours off the rack, it will likely be a number of weeks until you get to see the dress again. Having a number of photos or even a short video of the dress will help you think about how you might want to do your hair or what accessories might work best with your dress.

Where should I get my accessories?

Your bridal salon will likely dress you up head to toe with a veil and other accessories when you find “the one”. You will look absolutely stunning and you will finally feel like a bride. But, you are by no means obligated to buy these! You can likely find earrings, necklaces, headpieces, and veils all online for a lot cheaper. That being said, the one benefit to buying at the salon is getting to try on everything together so you will know exactly how it looks and you get to check it off your list. I personally did buy my veil and earrings from the salon, but I definitely could have found cheaper options elsewhere.

I plan to lose weight. What size should I order?

Bridal salons hear this question all the time. I had the same plan for myself and asked my bridal consultant what she thought. She recommended not sizing down, because the last thing you want is for your dress to not fit on your wedding day. It is a lot easier to tailor your dress down a size to fit you rather than needing to order a new dress entirely. There are so many other factors in life that might prevent you from losing the twenty pounds you hoped. So, save yourself the stress and just get what size you are at the time of buying the gown unless you have actively already been losing weight.

Where do I go for alterations?

Once you have found the dress, make sure to ask about alterations. Alterations can also be expensive, so ask for a general idea of how much it might cost so you can factor that into your budget. Some stores have their own alterations department, whereas others outsource the work. Your bridal salon will likely have a list of tailors they recommend and have already been vetted so make sure to ask before you leave.

Remember to just relax and have fun! This will likely be the only time you get to try on wedding dresses, so don’t rush it and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You will find a dress that is perfect for you.

Questioning what other little items you need to plan for your wedding next? Check out my ultimate wedding decor checklist.