You’ve got the ring, you hopefully have the date, now all you need is the perfect wedding dress (plus, you know, everything else that a wedding entails).
Whether you’ve been looking forward to this day since you were a little girl or you don’t even know the difference between A-line and mermaid gowns, find a wedding dress is a stressful experience.
Many of us think we know what we want when it comes to a dress, but the truth is there’s just so much to consider and so many options.
If you’re feeling a little anxious about your wedding dress shopping experience, here are few tips to get you ready to find the gown of your dreams.
Give Yourself Time
It’s never too early to start looking for wedding dresses. In fact, book an appointment the day after you get engaged if you really want to be on top of things.
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Most people have roughly a year-long engagement, which is actually just the right amount of time to find a dress. Wedding dresses usually have to be ordered, which can take months, and nearly every dress needs alternations (which can also take a while).
You don’t want to be in a position where you’re worried about your dress arriving or you’re forced to buy something just because you don’t have time.
Now, if you’re planning on having a short engagement, understand your shopping experience will be a tad more stressful.
Best case scenario, you’ll probably have to pay extra for expedited shipping or rushed alterations. Worst case, you may not be able to buy the dress of your dreams at all.
Now, this doesn’t mean you should length your engagement just because of a dress, but it is something to keep in mind.
Try Them All On
Even if you know the exact dress you want, don’t limit yourself when you go in to try dresses.
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If you’re sure you don’t want sleeves, still try on gowns with sleeves. If you’re anti ballgown, give a ballgown a whirl. Countless brides have walked out of a bridal salon with a gown they never thought they’d buy.
Of course, there’s a chance you’ll end up buying the dress you originally wanted, but at least you’ll know for sure.
Don’t Feel Obligated to Include Everyone
We’ve all watched Say Yes to the Dress and cringed when the mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, best friend, or partner disses on the gown the bride loves.
Listen, as much as you might feel like you need to include every member of your family in your shopping experience, the truth is the only person whose opinion matters is yours.
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If you really value your mother’s opinion and want her there, bring her along! If you want your future spouse to have a say, bring them along. But if you don’t want grandma there, don’t bring grandma.
You’re Not There to Please the Salesperson
Do not feel like you owe the salesperson anything. I repeat — you do not owe the salesperson anything.
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Wedding salespeople will try to convince you to buy a dress because, DUH, they more than likely want the commission, but you have zero obligation to buy anything.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent one hour with them or eight hours with them, you can walk away without buying a dress and it is totally OK.
