Planning Your Wedding Wardrobe
Most brides have been envisioning what they would wear at their wedding since they first heard about Cinderella's wedding and her glass slipper. Of course, some may never have thought about it at all. Either way, they are going to encounter a lot of pressure and stress that will accompany all of the wedding shopping. First comes the dress. After all, the gown you put on for your walk down the aisle will be the true centerpiece of the day. This one article of clothing is probably going to be the most expensive and talked about thing you'll ever wear and most likely, you will only wear it once.
To assist on the search for the perfect dress, you will find answers to your most pressing questions. Whendo you start? Where do you go? And what will you find once you get there?
When to Begin
The best piece of advice we can give is: shop early. At least nine months before your wedding is ideal since you will require about six months to spare for fittings. Why? Well, unless you buy a ready-made dress or a floor model gown, wedding dresses are custom made. Once the dress arrives, it will have to be altered -- usually several times -- until the fit is perfect. Many companies can turn a dress around quicker if it proves necessary. However, if you have less than six months, start shopping yesterday, and you will find it will be a tremendous help if you can be flexible about your dress choice. Stress saver tip.. Avoid weekends and evenings if you can possibly do it. Bridal salons get insanely busy -- especially if you're marrying in a popular month such as June or December. If you are able, take time off during the week to shop, you'll be able to get more of the sales person's time and attention.
Where Should You Go
The most popular and logical place is a bridal salon, known for their personal service, quiet and unhurried setting, and have a wide selection of gowns from a variety of designers. You'll find jazzy salons in the upscale shopping malls, or in popular shopping centers, downtown areas, and even many of the larger department stores. Check the internet "googling" "Bridal Shops" or "Wedding Services" to find out available salons in your area. Ask recently married friends for their recommendations. Find out what worked and what didn't. Avoid pitfalls they encountered. Find out which shops have given excellent service to past brides you may know, then call to make appointments. Try to limit your selection to three or four salons, and be sure to take notes. It would probably be prudent to start a small notebook, writing down the details on the gowns you like. Research for the salons that are most appropriate for your budget. The average salon carries lines in the under-$1000 category, there are others in which the dresses start at $3000. Save yourself -- and the salons -- time by asking their ranges before you make an appointment.
Besides the day-to-day selling dresses, salons also have special related events such as trunk shows and sample sales. At these, a specific designer (or representative of a bridal manufacturer) brings their latest dress line for brides-to-be to try on during this in-store gathering. The advantage? You get to see every dress in the line, and not just the selected by the store for you to see.. And you may even be able to chat with the designer in person -- or better yet, get their advice on things you should be checking.
At a clearance or outlet sale, the dresses used in the salon for brides to try on are put up for sale. The stores have dresses in an array of sizes, though the typical sizes are 6, 8, and 10. Keep in mind that while wedding dresses run small, samples are likely to fit if your regular dress size is a 2, 4 or 6. They may not be super clean, but that is what dry cleaners are for and your savings may easily pay the cleaning bill.
If your father has put you on a strict budget and you find the gowns in a bridal salon are out of your league, you might want to try your luck at a bridal outlet. As in othr clothing types outlets generally stock older designs from past seasons, or those designed by lesser-known designers whose names you may not recognize. Shopping at these outlets can save you money, but keep in mind you may have to sort through many dresses that won't approach your dream but this is a part of the process so grin and bear it. You may not find what you're looking for, and also the prices may not be that far from those at regular salons. Do your self and your purse a favor. Look around.
Another option is to rent a gown, especially if you're not the sentimental type and have other priorities that rank higher than a dress you may only wear once. After all, the logic of buying something to wear for just one night may be lost on you. Trust me, the groom will think you are the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and so will your mom.
Some rental shops have wedding dresses in stock or you may be able to find a store near you that rents only wedding gowns, again, remember, Google is your friend. On the downside, you will not have the selection you would at a bridal salon. And the styles may not be the most up to date.
What to Know
Wedding dress shopping comes with its own language, and the more you know about which dress styles flatter you, the easier this shopping exercise will be for you. Before you even set foot in a salon, do your homework so you will have an idea of what to expect. Familiarize yourself with the gown and all of its parts: neckline, waistline, sleeve style, skirt details, fabric, finishes, train. Learn all about the basic silhouettes, and decidet which one will best suit your size and shape.
This is also the time to consider the formality of your ceremony and the all about the wedding site. Your gown should also reflect the time and place of your ceremony. A formal candlelit ceremony is not the time to be wearing a short sundress, nor is an afternoon garden party the place to break out the fifteen foot train and accompanying veil.
Take a minute visualize yourself as a bride. What do you see? Are you wearing a full ballgown with your hair in romantic ringlets? Or are you outfitted in a filmy, flowing dress and your loose hair is sprinkled with flowers? Write down the adjectives that best describe how you want to look and feel on your wedding day. Here are some examples of the images you will be trying to see:: princess, sexy, sophisticated, over-the-top, classic.
What You Should Expect
When you get to the bridal salon, a salesperson will be assigned to you. You will want to have a good feeling about this person. Can you work with them every time you return to the store? A good salesperson will ask you what type of wedding you're having, how you see yourself looking on your wedding day, and ask the type of dresses to which you are drawn. She will also probably look you over thoroughly and decide for herself a style that will look good on you based on your body type, then bring you dresses to try on. If you're uncomfortable with this, try to find a shop where you are free to look through everything for yourself.
From the moment you enter the salon, be mindful of the way you're being treated and of the way the salespeople are making you feel. Are they treating you respectfully? Or are they acting haughty? Let you feet do the voting for you. If you don't like what you see, hear, or feel, you may want to take your business elsewhere. This is where the knowledge you've armed yourself with will come in handy. If you can talk expertly about dress silhouettes and styles, the salesperson will know she's dealing with a customer with an idea of what will work for her. Take advantage of a salesperson's expertise. She works with brides every day -- if anyone knows about dresses, she does. Try your ideas out on her, and consider her advice. If anyone tries to talk you out of or into something, or makes you feel uncomfortable about your decisions put the brakes on, remember that a good salesperson will never push you to buy something you're unsure about. After all, if you are happy with what you get you will be a good reference for them in the future.
How to Shop
When you finally step into the dressing room, keep an open mind. If the salesperson brings you something she says you must try, try it -- even if you hate the way it looks oover her arm. Many times a bride has ended up waltzing down the aisle in a gown the salesperson had to persuade her to try. And while certain styles work best on certain body types, it helps to try on all different kinds of dresses, then you can decide just the right shape and style you look and feel best in.
One of the biggest misconceptions about bridal gowns is that they are WYSIWYG that is, what you see is what you get. The truth is, most of them have alternative forms. So if you like the bodice of one and the skirt of another, ask if you can have them put together to form your dream dress (provided, of course, that both gowns come from the same designer). Also don't be afraid to ask for embellishments such as bows and beads added or removed. Keep in mind, though, that the more changes from the original design, the more it will cost you in the end.
Something else to remember: You didn't get engaged on your first date (or maybe you did), and, likewise, you shouldn't buy the first dress you try on. Give yourself options and lots of time to think by shopping more styles -- and elsewhere -- before you buy. Even after you think you've found your gown, take the extra day to be absolutely sure it'sThe one. Since bridal gowns are custom-made, most salons put a no-return policy in their contracts.
Lastly, always trust your instincts. Ask yourself, can I really see myself walking down the aisle wearing this gown? Is this the way I pictured myself looking as a bride? If not, move on. If indeed, this is THE gown ,take a deep breath, smile at your reflection, and breathe a huge sigh of relief -- the search is over, now on to the next crisis.
