The Perfect Wedding Dress

Nine to Twelve Months before the Wedding

First, brides should make sure they do their research. Start looking through wedding magazines nine to twelve months before the wedding date and pull out pictures that are eye-catching. Search the web to find out what bridal boutiques and department stores carry those dresses. Look for sample sales and trunk shows while searching the internet.
Brides should book about three appointments to begin. Try to go to different types of stores such as a small boutique, a showroom, and a department store. Make sure to call ahead to see if reservations are required. Trying out different bridal salons allows brides to see a little bit of everything.

Tips to Remember during the Appointments

Keep an open mind about designers. Concentrate more on the silhouette of the dresses. Also, brides should let their consultants know what type of embellishments they like such as lace and beading. One thing to keep in mind is the time of year that the wedding is taking place. A winter wedding dress will probably look much different than a summery, beach wedding dress.
If a bride is planning on wearing a shaping undergarment such as Spanx, she should bring it with her to the appointment. She’ll want to see what the dress looks like with the proper undergarments. This also means that brides should bring a strapless bra and wear light colored underwear.
Don’t bring the whole family to the appointment. Brides sometimes make the mistake of bringing eight people to the appointment and then the different opinions become confusing. Brides should bring two or, at most, three trusted friends or family members with them. If a bride’s best friend’s style is completely opposite of hers, then she should keep this in mind during the appointment. She’s probably not going to like the same style wedding dress.
Try on a couple gowns that the stylist suggests. This is what she does for a living, so she probably knows what will look good on a bride’s specific body type. If a bride doesn’t love the wedding dresses that the stylist pulls for her, she should respectfully say that it isn’t her style.

Six Months before the Wedding

Attempt to purchase the wedding dress six months before the wedding. Brides need to allow time for shipping and fittings which can take longer if the gown has intricate beading or a long, bustled skirt. If a bride doesn’t have six months left before the wedding, she should tell the consultant this information. She may be able to work around it with some or all of the wedding dresses.
Lastly, keep the details of the wedding dress a secret. Many brides become so excited about their important purchase that they tell all their friends and family members about it. Let it be a surprise on the wedding day.