That first look of the bride as she appears at the top of the aisle is one thing everyone will remember, especially the groom!
Most brides want to be greeted by the “oooos” and “ahhhhs” that inadvertently prove that the wedding gown she picked was exactly the right choice. With this on your mind, it’s no wonder that you may be feeling some pressure to pick the perfect gown.
With so much choice available – there are endless wedding dresses, two-pieces and bridal suits in all shapes, styles, sizes and colours to explore – defining your aisle style and discovering the bridal ensemble that is oh-so-you isn’t easy.
We share our top tips for shopping for your bridal gown and getting the reaction you deserve from your groom and guests on your wedding day…
Start your search sooner rather than later
The key to enjoying a largely stress-free wedding planning experience is good organisation, and this all begins well in advance of your big day and with hours (and hours) of wedding inspiration gathering under your belt.
The same approach should be taken when shopping for your wedding dress. Start your search for your wedding dress at least 9 to 12 months ahead of your wedding date.
Prepare yourself and your budget
Before hitting the shops, do your research. Look at how much you’ll be able to spend on your gown. Many brides choose to spend up to 10% of their entire budget on their dream wedding ensemble.
When conducting that all-important research go beyond what styles are out there and which designs complement your wider wedding theme as Martha Stewart details:
“And we don’t just mean scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest to understand what wedding dress styles you like. While this is important, it’s even more important to call salons that you’re interested in visiting and understanding what price range they offer dresses in. The last thing you want to do is show up to an appointment and experience sticker shock or to fall in love with a wedding dress that’s far outside your budget.”
Book an early appointment at your bridal boutique
Now for the best bit – trying on lots of beautiful dresses! That visit to a bridal boutique with your nearest and dearest is a defining and memorable moment for every bride, but don’t just choose any boutique.
Again research is the key. Dig deeper into which boutiques suit your wedding theme and budget, and make an appointment.
When booking, go for an early, weekday appointment where possible. Most boutiques are relatively quiet first thing in the morning, which means it’ll be all hands on deck helping you find the dress of your dreams.
Keep an open mind but don’t compromise on the cut
You’ve probably heard this time and time again but the gown you fall for is far more likely NOT to be the style you had in mind, which makes the wedding dress shopping experience pretty interesting.
With this, you should open your mind and experiment with all kinds of styles and colours. Before you do, however, focus on finding a cut that works for you and your body shape.
Getting the silhouette of your wedding dress just right should always be your first port of call. Remember the exact size of the dress doesn’t matter, alterations will ensure the perfect fit.
Whether going classic or cutting edge, don’t forget to accessorise!
Your choice of accessories is just as important as the gown itself. With so many to choose from – including these stunning bridal capes and capelets – you can complement your aisle style to perfection and make your wedding ensemble truly one of a kind.
Discover more about what not to do when shopping for a wedding gown here.
