Wedding Dresses

Buying a wedding dress is the most lengthy process of the wedding planning. You should start this process as soon as you set your date, as there is a series of fittings and ordering timelines that you will need to make allowances for.  Here are some tips to help you find that perfect dress.

• Get a feel for what you want from bridal magazines first. You may already know what you want, but if you don’t flip through the photos and see if anything catches your eye.  Tear out the pages of the ones that do and take them with you the first few times you go looking.  On this trip, set up appointments with the bridal salons that you like. 
• Spend one day with or without company just looking at the styles in the shops in your area.  Don’t bring your money, this is just a research gathering phase of the process.  Try a few styles on that you like, and keep note of the store and designer as well as the price.  On this trip, set up appointments with the bridal salons that you like. 
• Space your appointments out over a few trips. If you try to cram it all in one day, not only will you be exhausted, but by the end of the day you will be so tired of looking at dresses that you may just buy something to finish the chore. Take your time with this one.
• When you are ready to buy the dress, which actually means ordering it, take ONE person with you to your appointments.  Your mom will be good for this as she will be honest with you and will want to share this day with you anyway.  Don’t bring a busload of people. We all have different opinions on styles and preferences, and you will end up with a headache at the end of the day, guaranteed.
• Bring the shoes that you plan to wear on that day.  You may not have these yet, but if you don’t, bring shoes that will be about the same height as the ones you intend to wear that day.  The same goes for underclothing.  If you will be wearing a push up bra, corset, or shaper that will alter your shape in the dress, you need to try it on with the dress as it WILL affect how the dress fits in the end.
• Avoid times like Saturdays, Pre-Christmas, etc. times like that will be very busy, and your consultant may not have the time you need.
• Even if you have your heart set on a certain style, try many different ones on.  You will be surprised at what looks and feels best on you, and it may not be the big princess one you have dreamed about.

Questions to ask

• Ask about alterations.  Ask how much it will cost, and how long it will take.  Get their answer in writing.  You don’t have to have your alterations done where you bought the dress, but if it is reasonable, you may as well.  If they don’t give you a written estimate, find someone else to alter the dress.
• Ask about payment plans, and never leave a deposit of more than 50%. If something goes wrong, you don’t want them to have more money than necessary.
• Get a refund policy in writing, this one is pretty self-explanatory.  With this, you also want your deposit to be refundable, AND get that in writing.
• Find out how long it will take from order to the last fitting.  Again, you want this in writing. If something goes wrong, they will not be able to wiggle themselves out of it.