6 Wedding Dress Shopping Tips For Every Bride to Be
One of the most exciting parts of wedding planning is wedding dress shopping! No matter how old you are, it’s easy to get excited about one of the most important dresses you’ll ever wear in your entire life. Before you get too overwhelmed, here are some wedding dress shopping tips for the beautiful bride to be.
Contents
Don’t rush the decision
You may be anxious to find your perfect gown, but you shouldn’t rush the experience. If you buy the first dress you see, you might regret it for the rest of your life, even when you’re showing your grandchildren pictures of your wedding day. According to a report from market research firm OnePoll, women spend over 100 hours and take 30 trips per year to shop for clothes. You know you have the patience, so don’t rush it.
In fact, this is good advice for every part of the wedding planning process. Don’t let the excitement of picking out the perfect wedding dress distract you from more important issues in your relationship. In the 1950s, the median age for marriage was 23 for men and 20 for women. In 2004, it shot up to 27 for men and 26 for women. More couples are taking their time, and that’s okay!
Look around online
Believe it or not, you can actually shop for and purchase a wedding dress on the internet. As of August 2017, women’s apparel was the number one top-selling item on the internet. You can do some research if you just want to see what kind of dresses are out there, or you can get the whole process done all online. Purchasing online might even save you some money. Plus, U.S. e-commerce revenue is nearly $423.3 billion, and it’s steadily climbing. Just make sure you order your dress far enough ahead of time.
Order your gown ahead of time
Speaking of ordering your gown, you might be shocked at how long it takes for a gown to be made and shipped. In fact, wedding gowns take anywhere from four to 10 months to be made. Once you factor in shipping time, alternations, and fitting, it can take up to 12 months for your gown to be ready. Don’t put off dress shopping, lest you have nothing to wear on your wedding day.
Don’t pay attention to sizes
While you need to know what size you are in order to get the right dress, don’t let the sizes bother you. Bridal styles typically run smaller than regular clothing, so don’t be surprised when your wedding dress is a few sizes larger than what you’re used to wearing. If you’re shopping online, get familiar with the measurement guides and sizing charts. If you’re going to a bridal salon, the consultants will help you with the sizes.
Don’t try on too many dresses
If you’ve never walked into a bridal salon before, you’re probably going to experience the shock most brides do when they see the sea of white dresses on the racks all over the place. You might feel like you have to try on them all, but you don’t. In fact, most wedding experts suggest that you don’t try on more than 10 dresses because it can lead to confusion. Most brides try on between four and seven gowns before finding the right one.
Keep your budget in mind
Finally, you want to figure out your budget before you start shopping. If you try on a dress and fall in love with it only to find out you can’t afford it, what are you going to do? You also have to remember the extra charges that go along with a wedding dress. You need a veil, undergarments, shoes, and alterations. Alterations can add anywhere from $200 to $800 extra onto your bill, so you should leave room in your budget when you’re shopping.
Your wedding day is going to be one of the best days of your life, so you should be wearing an amazing gown to match the occasion. Keep these tips in mind so you don’t lose your mind while you’re shopping.
