Shopping for your wedding dress is supposed to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your wedding planning experience. However, without proper planning, the experience can be a little stressful.
Here are 5 Tips to help you have a successful wedding dress shopping experience:
1. Make an Appointment: It may sound obvious, but making an appointment ensures that you'll have a block of time dedicated to ONLY you. A professional bridal consultant will be able to give you their undivided attention and help you find the perfect dress for your big day. In fact, some stores may not even allow you to try on dresses without an appointment.
2. Set Your Budget: It is very important that you are honest with your bridal consultant about the absolute maximum you can spend on your dress. This way,they will not blindly pull dresses from the rack that you may not be able to afford. Once your budget has been set, stick to it and DO NOT try on dresses that are outside of your price range. The worse thing you could do is fall in love with a dress that you cannot afford because everything else that you try on will pale in comparison.
3. Bring in Photos: Although you may be able to envision your dream dress in your mind, it's sometimes hard to clearly articulate your vision to others. Having photos of styles that you like will take away some of the guess work, making it easier for your bridal consultant to pull similar dresses/styles that you are interested in.
4. Ditch the Crew: Too many conflicting opinions tends to complicate an appoinment. As a rule of thumb, you should let no more than two people tag along with you. These should be those that are closest to you (maybe your mother and maid of honor), and whose opinions you value and trust. Although you'll definitely want input and constructive criticism, remember, the decision is ultimately yours. Most brides know they've found THE dress the instant they put it on...think of it as a love at first sight type of moment.
5. Remember the Sample Size Rules: Don't be alarmed if you have to try on dresses in sizes that are different from your normal dress size. Wedding dress manufacturers have their own sizing charts, so the size of your gown will be based on your measurements. Don't focus on the numbers, but more so on how the dress compliments your body.
What are/were your biggest fears about shopping for your wedding dress? What other helpful tips can be added to this list? Please leave a comment below.
Nikola Ahaiwe is a Los Angeles wedding /event planner and owner of Platinum Touch Events, a boutique event planning firm servicing southern CA. To learn more about Platinum Touch Events, please visit our website and become a fan on Facebook to stay connected!
