Shopping for a wedding dress is one of the most exciting experiences for a woman. It is exciting enough to be a bride and plan a wedding. But to know you will be the center of that wedding means you will want to find a perfect wedding dress for the occasion.
I was engaged the summer of 2008, and although there was a year until my wedding, I began searching for a dress as soon as possible. It did not take long to find the perfect dress for me, but along the way, I learned a few helpful tips.
Go wedding gown shopping during the “sale season.”
If it is possible, look for gowns during the time when they are on sale. That depends on the season of your wedding, of course. My wedding was in June 2009. I bought my dress in May-June 2008. By that time, most summer dresses were going on sale. This may vary according to store.
Visit a variety of stores.
My selection was limited. I lived in a small town in Eastern N.C., and I had to drive 45 minutes to find the nearest bridal boutique. I tried about 4 different stores; some I visited more than once. If you live in or near a larger city, you may have plenty of choices in bridal shops. Visit them all if your schedule allows! Just because you peruse the stores’ merchandise does not mean you are obligated to purchase from them.
Do not go wedding gown shopping alone.
This tip is probably an obvious one. Most brides take their moms, bridesmaids, or other girlfriends. My two bridesmaids were out-of-state, so I took my mom, who was also my matron-of-honor, to go dress shopping with me. It’s important to have at least one friend with you to give her opinions, help you in and out of dresses, and share the adventure with! I loved having my mom with me. I knew she would give me her honest opinion while I was trying on dresses. And she was contributing financially to the dress of my choice; also, very important.
It is okay to buy a dress on sale. Be aware of your budget.
Some brides refuse to buy a wedding gown on sale. Well, if they have the money to spend, then they can shop away. But if you have a tight budget, don’t go overboard on the dress. As important as the wedding dress is, I knew I just could not afford an expensive one. Although the wedding dress will be worn by the focal point of the wedding (the bride) and it will be captured in time by photos, I realized that I would only wear it once. Your dress needs to be perfect for you, but be willing to search for the perfect dress on the sale rack.
Get an idea of the style you want, but expect the unexpected!
This is possibly the most important fact I learned through my experience. A bride will look through magazines, wedding books, online bridal sites, and find her ideal wedding gown style. And there are many to choose from! The variety is endless: strapless, spaghetti straps, halter… tea-length, a-line, cathedral, etc. There are so many combinations to choose from! Some dresses are ivory, white, or blindingly white; some dresses have beading, embroidery, or are plain. Every bride has at least a small idea of her preferred style. I thought I did, too.
Even before I was engaged, I decided, after looking through numerous sources, that I wanted an a-line wedding gown, strapless or with spaghetti straps. It needed some beading at the top/chest area and even around the waist. I wanted it to be floor length with a very small train. So my mother and I set out on the search. We visited two bridal boutiques, where I tried on 2-3 dresses. They didn’t fit quite right, of course, but that did not matter much, because they just didn’t feel right either. My mother asked me more than once “Are you sure you like this style?” My response was an unsure “Yes.”
At the second store we visited, after I tried on a few strapless, a-line dresses which didn’t meet my satisfaction, the sales associate who had been assisting me asked, “Can I give you my opinion?” I responded eagerly. “Yes, please!” She continued, “You may want to try a different style. With your slender body frame, an a-line dress might look like it’s swallowing you.” Well, I hadn’t thought of it like that! But she was right; that style dress was not working for me! My mother agreed.
The third store we visited had a large selection. Being aware of my budget, I headed for the sales rack, as did my mom. She pulled out a pretty gown: halter top, slender waist, mermaid style bottom with a small train- not my original style! At first I didn’t care for it, but I tried it on for my mom anyway. Once I pulled it out of the bag and put it on, I changed my opinion. I loved it! It fit surprisingly well. The alterations would be minimal. The gown had delicate flowers embroidered around the neckline and all the way down to the waist, with some light beading around the flowers.
After that, I tried on a few more dresses, but they didn’t compare. We stopped at another store, but I was barely interested in their merchandise. I couldn’t stop thinking about that halter/mermaid style dress! My mom and I went home and told my step-father about it. He said, “It sounds like that’s the dress.” And he was right! The next day, we drove back to the store and purchased my dress. I realized that my perfect dress was the opposite of what I had originally wanted. But once I found it, I knew. As a bride, you will know when you have found your perfect dress.
Hopefully, these tips will be helpful to a bride looking for her wedding gown. Enjoy the experience. Share it with friends and family. Stay true to your budget. Stay true to yourself, but be open for change. All that matters is you and your fiance’s happiness. Your perfect wedding gown is just an enhancement of that perfect day.
