Keep your Shopping Circle Small
Don’t bring too many people with you to shop. Create space for your own thoughts; others will have the best intention, but their honesty might not be your truth. If you can, try to have someone with you who’s on your wave length.
Avoid Wedding Dress Blindness
Avoid going to too many bridal shops in one day; wedding dress blindness is real! It can be exhausting bridal shopping; not everyone realises the emotion and mental effort there is with trying to find the perfect dress for your day.
Weekend Appointments
If you have time and can do a weekday appointment, boutiques are always quieter in the week - this means you’ll get a longer time slot and a more relaxed appointment. Think about it like this; it’s the most important dress you’ll ever buy, so set some time aside.
You can always bring bridesmaids with you again if they’re unable to come with you during the week - this gives you a little breathing room too.
Watch the Bubbles
Keep an eye on the amount of fizz you’re drinking at each boutique. It’s important you make a sober judgement on your dress, not one that’s fizz fuelled that you may regret later on.
Check Lead Times
If you’re searching for a specific dress, check the lead time as this will give you a good idea of when you need to order it. In general, bridal gowns don’t take more than 4-6 months to arrive unless you have something really specific in mind.
Important: Try to stick to a 12-18 months shopping schedule. You don’t need to shop 2 years or more in advance as there’s a chance you could still change your mind after purchase and see something new you may prefer.
Trust the Process
Experienced Bridal retailers know their stuff; trust the process when you start shopping.
A good bridal boutique will put you in different styles so you can see what your body feels best in, and will then expand on that style.
Take the Pressure Off
Try not to put too much pressure on yourself; if you’re an anxious bride, the right boutique will put you at ease within the first 15 minutes of entering. Go on personal recommendations from friends and family that have been to other shops - this is a good place to start when starting out bridal shopping.
Star Tip
Keep your first look special. If you’ve shown everyone your dress before the big day, you’ll dilute that look on their faces when they see you on your wedding day. Keep it a secret and you’ll get
maximum emotion during your first look.