Part of planning a wedding is buying a wedding dress. For many brides-to-be this is not as easy as it sounds. There are things that can be done to make wedding dress shopping stress-free, Follow these simple tips and tricks to ensure a fun dress-shopping experience.
Research Wedding Dresses Before Shopping
Don't begin shopping for a wedding dress until you have spent a little time researching dresses. Ask yourself the following questions before you go to the stores:
- What is my wedding dress budget?
- What style of wedding dress best suites me?
- Do I want traditional wedding dress or something more modern?
- Is this an indoor or an outdoor wedding?
- Is this a winter, fall, spring or summer wedding?
Once you have answered these questions, you are ready to move on to the next step. Each of the above questions can be answered in a combination of one of three ways:
- Browse wedding magazines (save money by doing this at the library)
- Use the Internet to research different wedding dress styles
- Sign up for a Spring Bridal Show
Finding the Right Bridal Boutique
Once you have decided on your budget and style, it's time to find a wedding dress store that suites your needs. The internet is the perfect place to research wedding dress stores and boutiques in your town or city. Pick four and five shops and telephone each one so that you don't waste time going to a shop that does not have dresses in your budget, or where you don't feel comfortable with the staff. When you've narrowed your choice down to three or four stores, make an appointment to visit each one. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours in each bridal boutique.
Take Supportive People With You When Visiting the Bridal Boutiques
Make a day of wedding dress shopping. Arrange to visit two bridal boutiques in the morning, then break for lunch and visit two more in the afternoon. If you've already bought shoes, make sure to take those with you, because if you find the right dress, you will need the shoes for the initial fitting.
Some brides like to take their bridesmaids with them when shopping for a dress and some prefer to take their mother or their sisters. It's a personal decision, but whoever you decide to take with you when shopping for a wedding dress, make sure they are supportive people who are willing to give you an honest opinion. The most important thing is to enjoy the day.
What Not to Do When Buying a Wedding Dress
Never make the mistake of ordering a wedding dress that is a size or two smaller than your current dress size because you plan on losing weight prior to your wedding day. Instead, arrange for a final fitting one month before your wedding. Two weeks before the wedding, many brides like to host a small cocktail party and "Wedding Dress Reveal" for the bridal party (bridesmaids, mother, mother-in-law to be, sisters and sisters-in-law to be).
The Wedding Dress Reveal is a relaxing way to celebrate your purchase with family and friends and will also help to relax you when, on your wedding day, you are standing in front of all of your guests.
What to do With Your Wedding Dress After the Wedding
Because a wedding dress can be a big expense, it is acceptable for the bride-to-be to ask if the wedding boutique can do a post-wedding refitting so that the wedding dress can be used for other occasions. Usually this involves dying and hemming the dress so it is more suited for evening wear. Ask about this before you buy your dress. Some materials are more easy for a seamstress to work with than others.
Finally, enjoy wedding dress shopping. It shouldn't be a stressful event, rather it should be a day to enjoy. Read more tips on how to plan your stress-free wedding easily.
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Julie Burtinshaw - Julie is the Reading and Literature and Writing and Publishing Editor for Suite101.com. She is also the author of five books and is ...
