#WeddingWednesday: Choosing the Wedding Dress
As a bride, you may already have certain expectations for your wedding dress shopping experience. You may think that it will be the most magical experience of your life and you’ll cry tears of joy. Everyone experiences the day differently so be sure to set all preexisting expectations aside prior to setting foot in the bridal shop. There are also a couple of things that you should pay attention to when going dress shopping. These tips will be helpful when you go to select your dress.
First of all, you should schedule a wedding dress appointment in order to go dress shopping. This appointment should be scheduled late in the day. The earlier your appointment, the better. The first appointment of the day is less crowded and all of your consultant’s attention will be on you. Also, the staff will be energetic and ready to work at the beginning of the day when they have yet to deal with the thousands of concerns from clients already. New collections are put out in April and October so if you are looking at dresses around that time make sure to schedule your appointment after fashion week.
After watching Say Yes to the Dress you may think that you need to bring every single female that has entered your life to your appointment. In reality, bringing such a large group of people can have negative results. A large group brings too many opinions where someone will always have something negative to say about each dress. It can cause confusion as not everyone will agree on one dress and no one will let you have your own opinion. Choosing the dress may be easier if you go by yourself or with a very small group. This will create a less stressful environment.
The dress may only be worn for one day but the pictures of the dress will last a lifetime. You will want to make sure that the dress you buy is picture perfect. If the bridal shop allows it, you should bring your camera wedding dress shopping with you. Call the bridal shop ahead of time to ask whether or not they do allow cameras. The camera will give you an idea of how the dress photographs. It will give you a different perspective from the mirror which is used to sell dresses.
When taking the pictures make sure that you get every angle of each dress you try on no matter how unflattering they may be. Ensure that it photographs the way that you want it to. Look at how the fabric appears in pictures. Taffeta or silk satin may be beautiful in person but they can appear wrinkly in photographs.
Also, when looking for a dress be aware that the top of the wedding dress will be the focal point of the dress. People will notice it the most and it will be in a majority of the wedding photos. If you have a specific body part that you want to accentuate then choose a dress that best shows off your assets.
You should also try on as many wedding dresses as you need to but not too many. It takes time to find a wedding dress and you shouldn’t feel pressure to try on less wedding dresses than you want. The first dress that everyone else loves may not be the dress that you love. Just don’t feel like you need to try on more than you want. You do not need to try on twenty different dresses at each bridal shop as it may cause dress overload and a sense of panic. If you are interested in specific designers then choose your top three favorite designers and select a bridal shop that carries those three. That way you will be in a shop that you know has a similar sense of style to you.
Don’t rush into buying the dress either. Just because you are not trying on hundreds of dresses that you will have to decide between does not mean that you need to make a quick decision. Take your time. Even if you do find the dress of your dreams, go home first and look up when the designer is having their next trunk show. The dress will be at least 10% off which may cover the sales tax of the dress. Also, trends may change throughout your engagement depending on how long it is. You do not need to buy a dress as soon as you get engaged but be aware that a wedding dress does take around six to eight months to be delivered.
Be aware that wedding dress sizing is much different from regular sizing. Bridal gowns run around two to three sizes larger than your regular size. Don’t pay attention to the label when choosing the dress. Pay attention to how the dress looks on you instead. It’s not something to get too worried about and you’re not the only one who goes up three sizes in one day.
Remember that all wedding dress and accessory sales are typically final. You need to be serious about each item that you purchase for your wedding day attire. You may not be able to get your money back for a veil that you were never actually going to wear for your big day.
Ask both yourself and your consultant a wide variety of questions when trying on wedding dresses. Ask yourself if you feel stunning in the dress but also make sure that you are comfortable in the dress. If you can’t move comfortably in the dress then that may not be the right dress for you. You will want to be the belle of the ball on your wedding day but you will also want to be able to enjoy the day. Don’t just stand there when trying on these dresses. You want to get a complete sense of how the dress will move and feel on your wedding day. Sit down. Dance. All of these will give you an idea on whether the dress will work for your wedding day or not.
Also, make sure that your fiancé will like the dress that you will be wearing. You’re dressing for yourself and for him, not everyone else. You’re celebrating your marriage not somebody else’s. Find out what he likes. Ask subtle questions such as “do you like lace?” If he says no then you should try to stay away from lace.
Photo by Daniel Doke
Another important thing to remember is that just because a wedding dress trend is currently popular does not mean that it will last. Have you ever looked through your parents’ wedding album? There’s plenty of proof of dying trends in there. If you want something timeless that won’t go out of style then choose something more traditional.
Everyone is different and you should try to find the best silhouette that works for you. Try to pay attention to your style and what looks the best on you when trying on wedding dresses. Another thing to focus on when choosing a dress is the setting for your wedding. If you are having a beach wedding in the summertime you may not want the big, poofy, heavy princess dress but rather a light sheath dress which flows with the slight wind from the beach. Your setting will not completely dictate what dress you choose but it should have some influence on your choice.
Of course you should be able to add your own personal sense of style into whatever ceremony you choose. Wear country boots if you’re a country bride, wear sneakers down the aisle if you’re athletic. Whatever you choose for your wedding make it your own. You should trust your consultant when going wedding dress shopping. Don’t be afraid to try on gowns that are outside of your comfort zone. Finding the right gown can be a difficult task. There are so many gowns to choose from. Here are some of the styles that make up a wedding dress:
High Neckline:
Square Neckline:
Sweetheart Neckline:
Halter:
Off the Shoulder:
V-Neckline:
Cowl Neckline:
Scoop Neckline:
Sheer Neckline:
Empire Waistline:
Basque Waistline:
Drop Waist:
A-Line:
Ball Gown:
Mermaid:
Trumpet:
Short:
Photo by Laura Shachmut
Peplum:
Slit:
Crop Top:
High-Low:
There are so many dresses to choose from. Take your time and choose the dress that is truly “the one.” If you want a unique dress then get a unique dress. If you want to be more traditional then be traditional. Make your wedding day YOUR wedding day. Don’t let anyone keep you from the wedding you truly want. Get a dress that you will remember and cherish forever.
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