When Eric and I arrived home from Paris, I had a few ideas in my head of what I wanted the dress to look like. I knew some of the “rules” like shopping early if you plan to order a dress as it can take up to 8 months and making sure you had a good entourage with you when shopping. However, there were a lot of things I wish I had known before starting the process.
- Make sure you ask to see how the dress is bustled. There were a few times that I thought I loved a dress until I asked to see how it would look for the majority of the evening. For me, this was a really big factor. It might not matter as much to everyone, but it’s worth asking to see if you think you like the dress.
- Bring snacks and water, it can be exhausting. It might only be shopping, but trust me (and my entourage) it is tiring!
- Wear a little extra make-up and if you have an idea of how you want your hair (curled, half-up, all up) go ahead and throw it in a quick version of that style. No need to go crazy, but it really helps to envision the day and pick the dress that feels right.
- It’s okay if you don’t cry. I felt as though I needed to cry or have some huge “ah-ha!” moment to know the dress was right, but I didn’t. It’s not that I wasn’t excited, nor am I now questioning if I picked the right dress. I just didn’t have this huge emotional moment when I did find it, and I’m okay with that. It was on my third time trying on dresses that I finally found the one, and to be honest I was torn. There are a lot of gorgeous dresses, and I’d be lying if I said it was the only dress I could walk down the aisle in. There were a few really top choices, and I would’ve been happy with any of them. In the end, I went with the one that was closest to my original vision and that I felt like a true bride in. It also was the choice I thought my fiancé, Eric, would like the best out of the two I was deciding on. So all around, it checked every box on my list.
- It’s okay if you do cry. On the flip, it’s totally okay for you to have a moment where you know it’s the only dress you could possibly wear on your big day. However you feel, and however you decide it’s the one, is okay.
- Don’t book more than 3 appointments in a day. I booked 4 for the day I had all my ladies with me and wish I had cut it down a little. We were all so tired and our minds were mush by the end. 3 and brunch would’ve been perfect for us- but 4 plus brunch was a bit too much.
- Don’t feel like you have to go to every place so-and-so recommends. For ladies, the dress can be really exciting and you’re bound to get many of your friends recommending where to go. Write these places down and then do your research. Only go to the places that match your personality and your budget.
- See if the designer you like has a trunk show coming up in your area, this usually means you can get a small discount on their dresses. Even though it’s small, it can really help as wedding costs add up fast!
- You don’t have to wear white. Most of the dresses I was leaning towards weren’t actually white. They had hints of blush or nude to make them stand out. Although, every time I tried them on, I felt like I was breaking a rule I wasn’t supposed to. Wear what makes you feel good, not what you feel obligated to wear.
- Remember to smile and have fun. At times, it feels really stressful, and I kept feeling silly about feeling stressed, which only stressed me out more. Take a deep breath and remember that whatever you decide to wear, be it a huge white ball gown or a bright red jumpsuit, you’ll be gorgeous.
Images via 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5
