A Complete Guide To Finding The Perfect Wedding Dress

For many brides to be, wedding dress shopping is both the most exciting and most terrifying part of wedding planning. The dress you choose is going to be the most important factor in how you look in your wedding photos for the rest of your life. You want to make the best memories possible, and looking like the perfect bride is a big part of that. Read on for some tips to make sure that your wedding dress is perfect.

Start Your Wedding Dress Shopping Early!

The first step is to start early! Most dressmakers require an order six or even eight months ahead of time. Starting a full year ahead of time gives you the time you need to try on dresses and give the decision the proper amount of agonizing. If you are short on time, it can be possible to get a dress made in as little as a month or two, but this is much more expensive. If you have the luxury of a long lead time for your wedding, take advantage by getting started on your dress shopping as soon as possible. This will not only save money, but give you enough time that you do not feel rushed to make a decision.

Determine Your Dream Dress.

Before going into the store, make a few decisions ahead of time so that you can use your time with a consultant more efficiently. Look around at different dresses in catalogs, magazines, and online, and find the dresses that stand out the most to you. Absolutely feel free to let relatives, especially close relatives like your mother and grandmother, give input. However, keep in mind that this is your day! If you find yourself drawn to a style that your older family does not approve of, do not let yourself get strong-armed into a dress that you do not love. Pick a dress for you, and only take on advice that gets you closer to your dream dress.

Decide on a Price Range.

Knowing a budget ahead of time is useful as well. Do not go too cheap on your wedding dress, but have a price in mind going into the store. A sales representative will sometimes try to talk you into a dress far outside of your budget, especially if you do not have a number in mind walking in the door. Paying 10% over budget for the perfect dress is reasonable. Paying double your budget is not. Knowing a budget walking in helps you know which dresses you should be focusing on, and will help you keep the sales representative on track.

Have Some Pins of Your Favorite Styles Ready

When you go to the store, you will now be armed with this information. It can be a great idea to bring sample pictures of dresses that really speak to you, so that the representative can be more able to assist you. This is especially helpful because sometimes, even if they do not have the type of dress you are looking for, they may be able to order it or point you in the right direction. You should also ask what price ranges they cater to; if they are out of budget, best to learn up front so you can leave to another store.

Think Outside the Store.

Rather than just walking into a store, there are also other ways to find a dress. One great type of wedding dress event is a trunk show. Since many stores will only have a relatively modest selection of dresses on hand, going to a trunk show can let you see the entire line-up from a single designer. Often, these events also come with savings. You could score the perfect dress at 10% off or more.

Another great way to get a wedding dress is to buy second hand. While many people would think buying a wedding dress that has already been worn would lead to a subpar dress, nothing could be further from the truth. Dresses are typically only worn once, so wear is practically non-existent. A decent tailor can alter a dress to fit perfectly for a fraction of the savings you get buying second-hand. They can also add features or modify a dress to better suit your vision. Once worn dresses often come at deep discounts of up to 40-60% off the original price, meaning that you can get a dress that would ordinarily be far out of budget. Second-hand dresses are at least worth a look, even if you end up not finding one you like.

In Conclusion

Shopping for a wedding dress can be scary, but it is also a lot of fun. Keep it low stress by giving yourself plenty of time to think and decide on the perfect one. Spend some time looking at lots of dresses to get an idea of your favorite style, and go into the store armed with that knowledge! Follow this advice, and your wedding dress will be perfect.

I hope you found this post useful!  I know I wish I had it when I was shopping for a wedding dress!

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