Don’t be put off or hesitant to be excited about this process. It can be fun and meaningful if you relax and prepare yourself for what to expect. Here we have prepared some pointers on how to enjoy your shopping experience and to be prepared for the sometimes long and frustrating process. Following these guidelines will help ensure a smooth and successful wedding dress shopping occasion!
- Make sure that wedding dress shopping is at the top of your priority list. The most obvious reason is that your gown will help set the style and theme of your wedding. But according to Wendy Holsomback, owner of Bliss Bridal in Fort Worth, gowns are taking about 4-6 months to come in once you place your order. She also says that you need to acknowledge about 6-8 weeks for alterations and to keep an eye on the calendar if you are planning on taking bridal portraits. “Don’t set your time line based on the date of your wedding. Keep all factors in consideration so that you are not crunched for time at the end and you have the opportunity to take bridal portraits.”
- Make an appointment, or call ahead to see if one is necessary. This ensures you the time of a sales consultant, and issues you the ability to try on dresses. If you just show up on a busy Saturday, you may not be able to solicit the help of any employees or have a dressing room to try on gowns. Appointments will guarantee the best quality service. At Bridal Bliss, the average appointment time is: 1st visit- 1. 5 hours, 2nd visit- 1 hour, 3rd visit- $75.
- Set a budget beforehand. You are wasting everyone’s time if you discuss budget at the appointment. The best thing to do is to call ahead to make sure what the salon carries will fit into your budget. Once you tell the sales consultant what your budget is, they will not show you anything out of that range- so be very honest about where that line is drawn.
- Don’t bring a large crowd of people with you to the appointment. Wendy suggests 3 because it will help you narrow down to only those that truly love you and provides a more intimate and honest experience. Make sure you invite those that will truly be there for you and support you- because it is not about them.
- Listen to the sales staff at the salon you are at. This is their job and they have worked with plenty of brides. They will often have their own suggestions on what will look best on your body and what will fit in your budget. Because of the delicate and often expensive material and dresses, store clerks are trained on giving you closer attention than necessary. They will pull all the dresses and assist you in the dressing room. Don’t be shy- they do this every day all day. And they know what they are doing and what is the best way to get in and out of each dress!
- Wendy strongly encourages you to wear underwear to these appointments, regardless if you do normally or not. It can make for some awkward situations. And although it doesn’t really matter what color they are, nude is best. If you feel more comfortable bringing and wearing a strapless bra or corset bra, then feel free to bring it. But good quality gowns should be constructed well enough not to require additional undergarments.
- Wear very little make up and make sure you don’t have anything on your body like tanning solution or lotion that might transfer to the dresses while you are trying them on. These substances can often ruin a very expensive gown.
- You do not need to worry about bringing heels- because most salons won’t let you use them anyways. They have pedestals for you to stand on so you don’t need to worry if you are petite.
- One of the most important things Wendy stresses is to not be jaded by photos in magazines. She welcomes your opinions and suggestions, but wants you to understand that those photos are professional for a reason. “Magazine advertisements have a certain dress with a certain model in the perfect light with the perfect set decoration, hair and accessories. Most of the times the dresses are pulled and tucked in the back to create an unrealistic effect.” The key here is to not have your heart set on something you see in a magazine, because the chances are that it will look different on you.
Going into this momentous occasion armed with these tips should ease your worry and fear about searching for the perfect dress. And no matter if it’s the first one you try on or the fiftieth, your fiancé will think you look like the most beautiful woman in the world. And that, is the perfect fit….
For more tips or to contact Bliss Bridal for an appointment, check out Wendy’s website and blog at www.blissfw.com.
All Photos provided by Bliss Bridal www.blissfw.com
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