If you're reading this, you're most likely a bride-to-be and if that's the case, then CONGRATULATIONS! We are thrilled for you as you begin your wedding planning journey. Fewer things can stress a bride out more than wedding dress shopping. And if you happen to be a bestie, maid/matron of honor, mother-of-the-bride or anyone in between, then we hope this post will assist YOU as you help the bride in your life navigate the most common stressors of wedding dress shopping.
Below, we are going to list a few common questions we receive from brides regarding their bridal appointment and then provide advice, straight from our expert bridal consultants mouths!
Your Bridal Appointment Questions Answered:
I just got engaged. When should I begin shopping for my wedding dress?
The past few years have brought shipping and delivery problems across all industries-bridal included. That's why we can't stress enough the importance of shopping for your dress early. We usually like to suggest around 9-12 months before your wedding date. This will give you plenty of time to decide on dress style and when you finally say "yes", you will have plenty of time to order the gown, shipping and arrival and alterations appointments. We want your wedding planning process to be as stress-free as possible.
Have a tight timeline? No problem! Even if your wedding is sooner than the recommended timeline, our consultants can work with select designers and dresses to make sure that you will find the one (keep in mind, you just might have fewer selections with a rushed time frame)
2. Who should I bring with me to my appointment?
One of the reoccurring themes we've seen with brides over the years is what we call the "people pleasing syndrome." You might guess where we're going with this one...a bride has so many loved ones in her life that she ends up bringing guests who might mean well but end up derailing the appointment with opinions or personal taste over what the bride would ultimately choose as her dream dress. That's why we recommend bringing minimal guests to your bridal appointment.
At Blush, we ask that the bride bring up to 3 guests with her to the appointment. We do this in order to help the bride narrow down her group which allows the appointment time to be intimate and supportive rather than overwhelming and frustrating. We find that the less people with the bride, the more she is focused and decisive. After all, this IS about the bride and the less people involved, the easier this will be for her and her party.
3. How do I know what my bridal style is?
A wedding dress should be a reflection of the bride's personal taste. Finding your bridal style is easier than you would think! If you haven't already, we recommend starting a Pinterest page, just for the convenience of putting your wedding inspiration all in one place.
Then ask yourself a few questions as you start pinning gowns and decor:
"Is there a similar fit or style I gravitate toward?" "What kind of fabric do I feel the most comfortable and confident in?" "What style do I envision my wedding- ballroom, rustic, destination?"
As you zone in on an overall theme, you will have a better understanding, ahead of your appointment, as to the kind of dress you want to try on. However, if these suggestions overwhelm you, no worries! Pinterest aside, your consultant is trained to listen to you, ask important questions and help you narrow down your bridal style until you find THE one that has YOUR name written all over it!
4. Is it ok to say "yes" at the first shop?
This question comes up a lot from our brides who are surprised when they find themselves tearing up and ready to say "yes" when they find their dream dress but worried about other bridal appointments scheduled at multiple boutiques. Our answer is always "go with your gut." There is no wrong way to find your dream dress. Brides envision a journey and sometimes all it takes is that "a-ha" moment when you know nothing else has compared to that gown! More often than not, brides get overwhelmed the more boutiques they visit. Remember-don't make this process more stressful or confusing than it needs to be! Trust your instincts and you can't go wrong.
5. How do I know the dress is THE one?
Lastly, let's talk about THE one. We've made it this far and now we've covered everything from knowing your bridal style to trusting your gut. Well, this answer is the summary of all of the above! When asking our consultants what they see most with our brides who've said "yes," we pretty much get the same answer: You don't want to take it off! A bride has found her dress when she feels most confident, most comfortable and honestly most herself! There is no magic recipe or chain of events that makes a bride say yes! Furthermore, we want to stress that it is ok if you don't tear up in a dress! You may not be a crier or have that kind of emotional moment you see on TV- and that's ok! What you will know is that you have found a gown that you can envision yourself wearing on a day you will cherish forever and THAT is all the proof you need!
If you made it this far and have found this post helpful, be sure to comment below and share!
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