Next to picking your wedding date, venue and photographer, one of the next biggest decisions you will face as
the big day approaches is choosing the perfect wedding dress. The process of shopping for a wedding dress can
be an amazing experience, but it can also be stressful and overwhelming.
You might have a picture of your ideal dress in mind, the one you’ve been thinking about since you were a
child. On the other hand, you may have no idea what you are going to wear. The important thing is to relax, and
remember that there are as many different kinds of dresses out there as there are different kinds of brides.
When to Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress Give yourself ample time to plan- generally you need to
order your gown at least six months before your wedding to ensure customization, proper fitting and enough
time for additional alterations. You should ideally start shopping for your gown nine months or more before
your wedding. (If you don’t have this much time, it’s okay, just budget for some rush charges).
Plan Ahead Take a few minutes to think about what you want. It will be helpful when you enter the maze of
wedding dresses out there to know what your budget is, any details that are essential (i.e. I must have a full
skirt, or my arms must be covered), and an idea of how traditional you want your dress to be.
Be Comfortable! On your wedding day, you’ll want to look great, but you’ll also want to be comfortable- it will
be hard to dance and laugh (not to mention posing for all those pictures) if you’re tugging your dress up or have
boning jutting into your ribs.
First- consider which wedding dress is most appropriate to your day – for example, if you’re the type who likes
to dance with her hands in the air, and anticipates doing the limbo, perhaps a strapless dress is not the one for
you. If you plan to be wearing the same dress all day perhaps a beaded and heavy dress isn’t the right choice.
A Dress that Fits Your Body Well Think about your body type and what kinds of dresses generally look good
on you. Take a look at what you regularly wear that makes you feel confident and beautiful, and then look
for a wedding dress with similar lines. Ensure that you have agreed on a fitting schedule and chances to make
adjustments. If you’re looking for a bargain at a sample sale, or discount outlet, you should budget money for
taking the dress to a good tailor. Many designers will ask for three fittings, and will closely tailor your wedding
dress to fit you.
Most of all, remember this is your wedding day. Wear whatever makes you comfortable and feels like you.
And have fun shopping for your wedding dress. It should be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
