10 Things Brides Wish They Knew Before Wedding Dress Shopping
1.     Budget accordingly. Alterations, shoes, veil, and accessories are not included in the price of your dress, so take that into consideration when plotting out your budget. Don’t be afraid to tell your consultant what your budget is! It can be heartbreaking to try on a dress, fall in love with it, and then realize it’s out of your price point.
2.     Keep your entourage small. The more opinions in the room, the less you can feel like yours can be heard. Bring those most important to you and listen to what they have to say, but remember, it’s your choice in the end.
3.     Undergarments can drastically change the look of a dress. Don’t forget to bring a properly fitting strapless bra, preferably the same one you’ll be wearing on your big day. It will make all the difference. At Beautiful Bridal, we also encourage you to bring a pair of comfortable high heels that are easy to take on and off.
4.     Eat a good meal before you go shopping, even if you think you want to be as slender as you can be for the experience. If you get hungry, you will get cranky, and that makes everything worse. While Beautiful Bridal does provide light refreshments, we don’t recommend coming in on an empty stomach.
5.     Brush up on wedding dress terminology. You don’t have to be an expert in all things bridal, but you should know the difference between silk and tulle, lace and taffeta, ball gowns and sheaths, mermaids and A-lines. It’s helpful to speak the same language as your consultant, and you may not have looked at designer dresses in a while. As you’re pulling pictures from Pinterest, just be sure to check out the terms behind the looks you love.
6.     Remember that every bride’s experience is different. Just because your sister picked her dream dress during her first-ever appointment doesn’t mean the pressure is on for you to do the same. Don’t be deterred if it takes you longer than you expected, but also don’t walk away if you fall in love at first sight.
7.     Try to look the part. All eyes will be on you, and you’ll want to feel as confidant as possible. Don’t go all out, but put on a little makeup and do your hair in a similar style that you’ll have on your wedding day. You’ll feel even more gorgeous than usual, and you’ll be able to envision how you’ll look on your big day!
8.     Try on a few things outside of your comfort zone. Even if you’ve always envisioned a ball gown, don’t be afraid of the A-line or fit and flair mama pulled for you. We promise it’s not a waste of time. There may be another element – like the fabric or the neckline – that will speak to you. Or, you just might surprise yourself and fall in love with look you hadn’t anticipated.
9.     Every bride is different. Your best friend may have sobbed her heart out when she found her perfect dress, but you don’t have to turn on the waterworks to say yes to the dress! Everyone reacts differently to their dress, but you’ll know when you find it by how it makes you feel internally. Don’t feel pressure to whip out the dramatics. On the flip side, crying in your dress is perfectly fine, too. Do what feels natural to you.
10. Come ready to commit, but don’t force it. When the right one comes along, you’ll know it. It sounds cliché. We know. But, it’s so true. If you’re not feeling it, don’t let mama’s tears on the sideline talk you into the wrong gown. On the other hand, if it’s the one, don’t feel like you have to walk away and think about it. Go for it. It’s okay to have more than one appointment. At Beautiful Bridal, if you haven’t found your dress by the end of your appointment, we are happy to schedule a follow up to help you find your perfect dress.
