DON’T PUT OFF SAYING “YES TO THE DRESS”!

Are you stressing about finding the perfect dress? We’ve all been there. Finding your dream wedding dress should be something to look forward to and not to run away from!

It’s also important to consider the time it takes to make sure that your dress fits and is in-hand on time for your wedding day. It can take up to 6 months to receive your dress from the bridal shop and even an additional 6 months to get your dress back from a seamstress. I’m sure you have noticed that since the pandemic it takes longer to get most things and this is especially true in the bridal gown world. So, give yourself plenty of time to find the perfect dress, order the dress and have it altered.

As you prepare for your appointment(s) to try on dresses, keep these tips in mind.

Image © Mia Grace Bridal

1. Go in with an Open Mind.

Do you already have a specific style in mind? We would still encourage you to try on other styles because you may be surprised to find that your dream dress isn’t the exact style that you pictured. All that matters is that you feel amazing in it. A large percentage of brides end up choosing a different style than they thought they would even like!

The Bridal Shoppe can testify to this! See their latest review – “My experience at The Bridal Shoppe was wonderful! Yvonne was such a big help and made the day so fun! I ended up choosing a dress that I never thought I would go for, but I fell in love with it after trying it on! Yvonne was so patient with me as I tried on many dresses and never made me feel pressured in any way. I’m so happy with my decision to shop there and can’t thank Yvonne and the whole team enough for the experience!” – Megan F.

2. Be careful with Negative Self-Talk.

Most of us know what this is like… Sometimes we are our biggest critics. Don’t allow your mind to wander to hateful places leading up to and during your bridal gown appointment. You don’t have to love every dress that you put on, but loving yourself will make the selection process much more enjoyable. Plus, we already know you are going to look amazing in any dress that you choose.

3. Budget First.

Go into your appointment knowing a range in budget. If you know that you can’t spend more than $1,000 on a dress, then keep your range between $750 and $950. This will be so important for the bridal shop’s team to know when helping you select dresses to try on.

4. Book your Appointment(s).

Nine out of ten bridal shops require an appointment to come in and try dresses on. Don’t assume that they take walk-ins. When you’re ready to start your dress hunt, make your appointments right away so that you’re not on a waitlist.

5. Don’t forget the Alterations.

It could be as simple as hemming your dress because your dress is too long or it could be that you’re buying it off the rack in a size 12 when you’re truly a size 6 or vice versa. Seamstresses are AMAZING at what they do, it’s truly an art, but don’t don’t assume that drastic alterations can be made without talking to them first. Alteration shops typically have a waitlist, so we encourage you to get on that waitlist shortly after selecting your dress!

Mia Grace Bridal recommends that when shopping for your wedding gown, order your gown at least 12 months before the wedding, if possible, to ensure you have more than enough time. Gowns can take anywhere from 8-10 months to come in and 2-3 months for alterations.

6. Know your Goals.

Are you trying to slim down or bulk up a bit before the big day? Remember, you are beautiful just as you are and your soon-to-be spouse already loves you just the way you are! (That’s why they’re marrying you, haha!) But we understand if you have certain goals that you want to accomplish before the walk down the aisle. Just keep these goals in mind when you make your size selection. If your goals extend past the time that you will have your dress in hand, you may run into some fitting issues on your big day. Stick to your goals and be mindful of how the dress will be altered to fit you.

The Bridal Shoppe carries dresses to fit every size and body type.

“I was so nervous to go dress shopping being a plus size bride. I had messaged the bridal shoppe on facebook in hopes to ease some of those nerves and they were so fast and responsive! They made me look forward to the trip more so than being stressed about it! I had 6 people with me and Rose was my consultant. SHE WAS AMAZING!! She made me feel 100% comfortable and confident! She could tell immediately when i wasn’t feeling a dress and knew that the dress i picked was the one for me. It really felt like i was in there with a friend by the end of the meeting. I will forever recommend this store and Rose! Thank you!” – Lexie V.

7. Bring the Right People with You.

Don’t bring people with you to your bridal gown appointments if they don’t fit your vibe. You need positive, uplifting and encouraging people with you as you try on dresses. We may be our own biggest critics but we definitely don’t need anyone to fuel that fire.

Mia Grace Bridal says: “Shopping for your wedding gown is extremely exciting, but it is also highly emotional, so we recommend only bringing your closest advocates to help you make this special decision. “

8. Do Your Research.

Research to determine what is most important to you. Is it budget? Designer? Style? Material? Have a general idea of what you’re looking for but still keep an open mind to other options. Trust your bridal shop stylist because they are great at what they do and their goal is to help you find your dream dress. Tell them what you’re looking for in terms of style, budget, etc. and they will be able to pull dresses for you! Pinterest is a great tool for inspiration. Pin a few dresses that you love to show your stylist. You can also visit our PInterest page to see dress trends for the next 24 months! Check out our Pinterest HERE.

9. Trust your Gut.

You will know when you found THE dress. You may find it right away or it may take several tries, but don’t get discouraged because YOUR dress is out there!