Weddingbee Blog

So, as I’ve said before, dress shopping was a huge ordeal for me. Most of it was frustrating, and disappointing, and unpleasant. But, what I took away from the experience (besides a dress that I actually like) was a lot of knowledge, knowledge I wish I’d had from the beginning.

So, for those of you who are just starting to shop for dresses, here are my tips:

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1. Do your research. Go online or check magazines to find photos of dresses that you like, and bring them along to show your sales associate.
2. Know your budget. And be honest with your sales associate. If your budget is $2,000, make it clear that you can’t go above it. Maybe, to be on the safe side, low-ball it a bit and tell them your budget is $1500. There’s no point in trying on a dress you can’t afford. You risk falling in love with it and then either blowing your budget on it, or pining away for it the rest of your life. Either way, you’re miserable. Also, keep in mind that alterations cost several hundred bucks.
3. Wear modest underwear. You will be shoved into a dressing room with a stranger, who will be dressing and undressing you. It’s probably not the best time to be going commando. I wore flesh-colored shapewear shorts whenever I went shopping, so that nobody would get an eyeful of my goodies.
4. Wear a good bra. Some shops provided me with nice longline strapless bra for trying on dresses, but most of them didn’t. In those cases, I wore a regular strapless bra. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing. I wouldn’t recommend spending a lot of money on a good longline bra before you buy your dress, but if you have a decent one already, it won’t hurt to wear it.
5. Bring cute shoes. Most shops have some shoes lying around, but it’s much more fun to try on your dress with shoes you actually like. They don’t have to be your actual wedding shoes, but if they’re around the same heel height as the shoes you plan to buy, it can be very helpful.
6. Try on everything, even if you think you won’t like it. I wanted a simple, sleeveless, Grecian-inspired empire waist dress, and they looked awful on me. But strapless dresses with a natural waist and A-line skirt worked wonders for my bod. If I hadn’t been willing to try on what I thought I wasn’t interested in, I never would’ve found what worked.
7. Keep comfort in mind. You will be wearing this dress for hours. And hours. And hours. Make sure you’re willing to commit to that tight-fitting corset, or those layers of scratchy crinoline.
8. Don’t be afraid to go shopping alone. The first few times I went shopping, I brought people: my friends, my mom. They were helpful and supportive, but their opinions differed from mine fairly significantly at times. While I appreciate the feedback, the only person I need to please is myself. When I started shopping alone, I didn’t have other opinions to consider and I was able to make the decision by myself.
9. Take photos if you can. If you go shopping with friends, have them take photos. If you’re alone, ask the sales associate to take pics. Sometimes your mirror reflection will look fabulous but the camera will show you something that you didn’t see in the mirror.
10. Step off the platform. Most wedding gown shops have a platform on which you stand to try on dresses. When you stand on it, you look tall and statuesque. But if you are like me (not tall, not statuesque), it’s a slap in the face when you step off the platform to realize that you look kind of stumpy in the dress. You won’t be standing on an 8-inch platform on your wedding day, so make sure that you know what you look like standing on the floor.
11. Bring accessories. Try on a veil or headpiece to get the whole effect. Or bring some fun jewelry along.
12. Before shopping, fix your hair and makeup. This is actually one of my tips for everyday clothes shopping as well. I could try on a dress that fits me like a glove, but if I see a makeup-free face and messy hair in the mirror, I think I look like crap no matter what. I’m not saying to spend hours primping, but for your own sake, brush your hair and put on some lip gloss!
13. Don’t get depressed about size. Wedding gowns run small, and typically, you’ll wear a wedding gown that’s a size or two bigger than your regular clothing size. It’s really daunting when you realize the size of the dress that fits you, but it’s only a number. Don’t let it get to you.
14. Don’t be pressured. Not by salespeople, not by your friends and family. This is your dress, for your wedding, so don’t let anyone force you into buying something you don’t feel good about.
15. Don’t settle. I did. I was frustrated with dress shopping so I bought the first dress that was flattering on my body. And I regretted it a few weeks later. Had I just been more patient, I would’ve eventually found the right dress. Now I had to deal with the annoyance of a return. Ugh.
16. But, don’t necessarily hold out for “the one.”  You may not find the dress that makes your mother cry, the dress that takes your breath away. But if you find the dress that makes you happy, that’s enough.
17. Sleep on it. Don’t be impulsive. Even if you find the dress that you absolutely love, can’t live without, give it a few days before you buy it. You may change your mind.

Do you have any dress shopping advice that you’d like to share?