No matter what your budget, personal style or timeline, you can find the wedding dress of your dreams! Here are a few of our favorite tips for choosing the perfect dress for your perfect day!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK - Explore Pinterest (website here). Look at Bridal Magazines. Check out what your favorite celebrities are wearing.
UNDERSTAND BRIDAL SIZING - Bridal gown sizing is generally higher than regular clothes sizing. Don’t be upset if you find you need a larger size than what you are used to. Most gowns can be altered up or down one size. Wedding dresses usually have an automatic 1-inch seam allowance.
KNOW YOUR MEASUREMENTS - Getting professionally measured is a terrific idea and will help you choose a dress that is the right fit for you. You will want Bust, Waist, Hips.
PURCHASE ACCORDING TO YOUR MEASUREMENTS - Know that your measurements may not match up perfectly to the size chart on your boutique’s website. If that is the case, always go to the higher size (it’s much easier to take a dress in than let it out).
FIGURE OUT YOUR BUDGET AHEAD OF TIME - Who will be paying for your dress? While it may be hard to figure out your numbers, it’s always good to know them going in.
KEEP YOUR VENUE IN MIND - Is it indoor? Outdoor? Casual? Formal? This will help you determine the look and feel of your dress.
CHOOSE THREE ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING GOWN - Do you want to go classic? Glamorous? Vintage? Relaxed? Comfortable? Trendy? Traditional? These will help you determine what style and feel you want to go for. This will help you eliminate a lot of choices upfront.
TRY YOUR DRESS ON WITH THE SHOES YOU WILL BE WEARING (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR!) - You can get a real idea of how you are going to feel on your big day if you try on your dress with shoes that will match what you will be wearing.
STAY TRUE TO WHAT YOU LOVE - Your wedding day is not the day to try something that is a brand new style to you. It’s a day to express everything that is beautiful about you, and you want to know that you can pull it off with ease.
All that being said…..
KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN - You may be surprised at what looks good on you. Many brides still believe that long, flowy white gowns are the only color and style of a perfect wedding dress. Consider the possibility of a different color or shade. Consider the length of what makes you comfortable. It may even be a pair of pants!
It’s important to know who you are and what looks good on you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate all that you are and all that is to come!