Time for another wedding post! I hope y’all like these, because there are about to be a LOT over the next year and a half. Today, I wanted to share tips on something that was so foreign to me- trying on wedding dresses! I had gone with friends as a bridesmaid before, but in terms of figuring out how to purchase my own dresses (more on that later!), I was so clueless! So, I’ve rounded up my best tips for buying a wedding dress!
Ask your friends
NO one knows more about weddings than former brides! Ask all of your friends who are married or about to get married- this goes for every aspect of the wedding planning process. Find out where they not only purchased their dress, but where they tried outfits on.
Do your research
Start looking at shops in your area! If you have a local bridal magazine, like Brides of North Texas, see if they have a list of bridal shops. Most of them will have pictures of dresses on the website so you can get a feel for the types of dresses they carry. Some shops may be more modern, some more vintage, and some may have a little bit of everything.
Gather your squad
Grab your bridesmaids, your mom, your future mother-in-law, and any other lady (or gentleman) in your life who you want to be there! I’ve heard a lot of advice that says more people = more opinions, but if someone is important enough to be in your bridal party, I think they should be invited to help you try on your dress! While half of my bridesmaids live out of state, I loved having at least half of them and my mom there with me to help me choose!
Check online
Don’t be afraid to check online! There are tons of online wedding dress retailers, including reputable ones such as BHLDN (which has some locations inside select Anthropologie stores), that sell affordable dresses. You can also check out vintage stores, ebay, or even Facebook marketplace- my friend got an incredible deal there! Obviously, do your research and try to read as many reviews as possible when shopping online, but if you’re not into having your friends and family watch you try on dress after dress, this can be a perfect option.
Visit as many stores as possible
You can break this out into multiple weekends, don’t overexert yourself or all the dresses will run together! And your friends probably don’t want to go to 5 stores at once. When making appointments (as all stores require appointments), try to plan times that work for as many people as possible. If most of your squad lives out of town, factor that in as well! I know it seems ridiculous, but you want to try on as many dresses as possible. I tried on around 30 dresses (yes, 30!) at 3 different shops, and it was 100% necessary. I visited Bridal Boutique Lewisville, Sunday’s Bridal, and De Ma Fille (for DFW brides, they are closing the end of August so get your deal now!).
Get out of your comfort zone
Despite what you may think, you need to try on allll kinds of dresses! I went it with two specific styles (I have very discerning taste!), but I let the sales associate at each shop show me things I wouldn’t have picked myself. Granted, my ceremony dress/all the dresses I loved ended up being the ones I pulled as soon as I walked in, but I loved seeing different styles. One of my options was a long-sleeved, lace, Kate Middleton-style dress, and every time I tried one on, I realized it wasn’t what I really wanted. Just because you love something on Pinterest doesn’t mean you’ll love it in real life (this applies to EVERY part of wedding planning!), or you may love it, it’s just not the one. There were so many times where I said, “this is pretty, but it’s not for me.” Try on a ballgown, a poofy princess dress, a mermaid dress, a boho style, something tight, something loose, something sleeveless, something with sleeves, and anything in between. The worst thing that can happen is you won’t like it, and you can cross it off the list! Your sales associate will appreciate your quick decision making, and it will help you narrow down your options.
Have a plan
Before you go, think about your wedding- will it be in a church? an urban, exposed-brick warehouse? a garden? You should either have your venue booked or at least have a pretty good idea. You don’t want your dress to clash with the venue or your overall day. Another huge thing to consider is- will you have more than one dress? It has become popular to have more than one dress now, and I am one of those people! I wanted two dresses because I want to be able to actually dance and enjoy my reception, and I hate bustles. This meant that yes, I was looking for two, but when I was looking at ceremony dresses I could go big or go home with my trains! Think about what you want and what you like, and this may change once you start trying on!
No matter what, make sure you have fun when trying on dresses! Buying a wedding dress should not be a stressful experience- you are only going to wear this dress once, so grab some champagne, whether you are in a store or sitting on your couch surfing the web, and have fun!
