I am so excited to finally launch Wedding Wednesdays! I have talked with multiple brides-to-be in order to determine what they would like to learn about prior to their wedding day. Being an engaged woman myself I will be touching on topics that have been helpful to me too. I am starting this series off with something every bride looks forward to; finding her wedding dress, There are a few things to consider when looking for your dress.
1. When to make your appointment.
As a busy bride to be you are most likely considering a Saturday to make an appointment at the dress boutique. The thing about Saturdays is that it is a free day for most brides and this tends to make for a crowded day in the bridal shop. If you can only make a Saturday work do your best to get an early appointment before the crowds come. The earlier your appointment, the less crowded the shop will be. The BEST time to go is a week day in the afternoon. It is ok to take a little time away from work when wedding planning and sometimes it is the wisest move you can make. Bridal shops are very slow during the week and an appointment during the afternoon will allow for the attention to be focused on you. Also you won't be overwhelmed weaving through other future brides when looking for the dress of your dreams.
2. Set a budget before you go.
This step can be crucial. Setting a budget for the entire wedding is important but setting a budget for the biggest factors is vital as well. The dress should have a max budget you are comfortable with prior to shopping, When you meet with your consultant at the dress shop you will be asked what your desired budget it. This will help them to choose options for you that you love and won't be disrespectful of your budget.
3.. Focus on finding what best suits your silhouette FIRST.
There are so many different styles of dresses it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. The best place to start is finding out what best flatters your figure. Try not to get caught up in what is on trend right now but keep the focus on what makes you feel comfortable and highlights your favorite features, For instance if you're a shorter bride you MIGHT want to stay away from really full ball gown styles. They can tend to swallow you up and then your guests will be more focused on how much of the dress they see instead of how beautiful you may look in it. You should always be the highlight.
4.. DON'T pick a dress just because it's trendy.
Your wedding dress should be timeless. One of the last things you should think when looking through your wedding photos 20 years from now is "I should have chosen a different dress." That is not to say that a gorgeous dress that meets the years unique trends and makes you feel absolutely beautiful in it is off limits. NOT AT ALL! The most important thing is to feel like you never want to take the dress off because of how special and beautiful you feel in it. Just remember not to focus on only what is currently popular. A classic dress will never go out of style.
5. Don't bring a large group with you.
It is very easy to want to ask all your bridesmaids and close family to share in this exciting experience with you. However, it can easily become overwhelming when you are trying to find the dress of your dreams and you have 10 different opinions clouding your own. If you have ever seen Say Yes to the Dress you'll know that they bride who brings multiple people with her tends to get overwhelmed quickly. It is bet to keep it to 2-3 people in your group for this day. I personally wanted to ask some of my bridesmaids to come along but knew that bigger numbers don't always work out best. I decided to keep it to my 3 mothers. Ny this i mean I had my mom, my future mother-in-law, and my god-mother come along. It was so special to share this moment with them.
6. Keep an open mind.
This point goes well with #3. After you get engaged you are definitely going to start looking for wedding gowns and finding what looks most beautiful to you. There is nothing wrong with finding what you really want prior to your appointment. It is in fact very wise to do as much research as you can. Just remember to also try on dresses outside of what you want. If you want a ball gown don't be afraid to also try on a more fitted style. If you want strapless it is ok to still try a dress with straps or sleeves. You never know, your dream dress may not be what you expect. I can personally attest to this! ;) I my self knew the EXACT dress that I wanted and did my research to find a shop that carried it. When I found it and tried it on I absolutely loved it and was convinced it was the one. At my second appointment I tried on everything that was the opposite of my "dream dress." I figured it would just be for fun since I already found the one. Little did I know that my true dream dress was still waiting for me and did not resemble what I THOUGHT I wanted. This final dress gave me the feeling every bride hopes to find and I never would have found it if I was not willing to go outside my plan.
7. Don't forget to move in your dress.
Remember you won't be standing during your entire wedding day like you will be on the pedestal in the dress shop. When you try on a new dress don't forget to move around. Do a dance move like you plan to at your reception. Raise your arms over your head. Most important of all don't forget to sit down. If your dress hugs your silhouette don't forget you still need flexibility to sit comfortably. Remember you will be wearing this dress at least 8 hours or more on your wedding day and you should not feel constricted or unsure about it in any way.
8. Have a great time!
This tip may be listed as number 8 but it is technically my #1 piece of advice. It has been a while since you were a little girl playing dress up and pretending to be a bride. Now it is real! Soak it up and have a great time! You are the bride! This is your time! Make this day extra special! Plan a meal afterwards with the group you bring with you to celebrate that you find the dress. Gush about how you will marry the love of your life. Celebrate this beautiful milestone!