You said YES! Now it’s time to start planning.
Once the glamour of engagement weekend subsides, reality kicks in — wedding planning is a full-time commitment. With the help of How Could You Knot, we offer invaluable experience and 24/7 support to ensure the entire wedding planning process is a breeze. From choosing place settings to determining the guest list, every detail is handled with care and consideration for you and your partner.
Beyond the intricate details and logistical planning leading up to the big day, there is one special moment that remains my favorite: wedding dress shopping!
There is no greater reassurance of “I’m a bride” than trying on those beautiful white dresses. A room filled with lace, tule, and varying shades of white creates an ambiance so serene that you’ll never want to leave. And trust me, once they start serving the champagne it will become even harder to walk out the door and leave those dreamy dress designs behind.
Joking aside, the best moment truly comes when you officially say YES to your perfect wedding dress. For some brides, you hear they try on their first dress and know instantly it’s the one. For others, it takes several attempts at bridal boutiques and almost 100 dresses later to land on the right decision.
Either way, wedding dress shopping becomes imitating and tiresome for many brides. Fear may start to creep in when you begin thinking you’ll never have that “this is the one” moment. You could even end up settling on a dress just for the sake of time. I’m here to tell you not to give in! The perfect wedding dress is out there waiting for you to try on.
Prior to opening my own wedding planning company, I worked for a professional bridal shop that taught me the dos and don’ts of wedding dress shopping. I saw many brides struggle to find the perfect wedding dress or second-guess their decision due to overwhelming opinions or venue locations. Remember, it is YOUR wedding day. This dress is basically your second most important YES you’ll say.
Here are some tips and tricks that make finding the perfect dress easy — including how to create a successful wedding dress shopping experience with your loved ones.
1. Make an appointment! I know this step may seem like a no-brainer, but most stores cannot accommodate walk-ins or last-minute bookings. The reason being is many wedding dress shops want to give their brides a one-of-a-kind experience. They want to offer their full attention to the bride and make sure there are no distractions or rushed try-on’s due to time constraints. I have worked with Laura and Leigh located in Cherry Hill, NJ. Carly (Photo below) found her dream dress with the help of their experienced consultants!
2. If you have a certain designer in mind, ask right away if the bridal shop carries them in stock. This will help set expectations for both you and the store from the start of your appointment. It will also help the professionals understand what type of look you are going for. If they happen to not carry that specific designer, they may know of another designer with a similar style.
3. This next tip is a bit unnerving, but I feel it makes or breaks any wedding dress appointment. Try to bring only 2-3 people max to your appointment. I know, I know. How could you limit your number to so little? As amazing as it is to have your entire girl gang by your side, when there are too many opinions the bride’s voice oftentimes gets lost, and it ends up tarnishes the experience. For that reason, choose your guests wisely and utilize Facetime as an awesome alternative to not having everyone there.
4. I encourage brides to scroll through bridal magazines, Pinterest, Instagram, or any visual source that will give them an idea of the type of dresses they admire. I know there are some brides who have a clear image of what they want from the start, but there are others who walk into an appointment completely lost in what direction to go. You never know what style or fit will look best until you’re physically in the store and able try it on, but it’s helpful to get educated ahead of time on the different styles and designers available.
5. Keep an open mind. Saying YES to the perfect dress is a big decision. Between the photos and lifelong memories, you want to be wearing something that you both love and feel confident in. Many brides walk into a wedding dress appointment with a certain expectation. For example, “I’m going to wear a mermaid fit.” But once you get it on, you may not love how it looks. Having too narrow of expectations may lead to disappoint and discouragement, which is why it’s important to remain flexible.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started today and book your first appointment! If you’re anything like me, shopping for a wedding dress was one of the moments I was most looking forward to after becoming a fiancé. It might not always be glamorous or fun if it takes some time to find the perfect one, but if you take these helpful tips into consideration and remain optimistic, the right dress will come.
All my love,
Sasha
Photo by: Red Bank Studios