While some brides have a clear idea of what they want to wear for their wedding day, others like to explore their options; after all, there are so many gorgeous designs out there created by famous designers. Plus, most of them believe that the only way to know what they truly want is to see all the possibilities first.
If you are among those who’d rather shop for your wedding dress instead of having one custom-made, it’s important to be prepared for the task. First of all, the selection can prove overwhelming at the bridal shop. Secondly, it’s often quite time-consuming, so it’s important to adopt an organized approach. This way, you’ll be able to go about the task faster and in a less stressful way.
Speaking of an organized approach to shopping for a wedding dress, here are some essential nuggets of wisdom to help you out.
1. Know what looks good on you and make selection faster.
The best way to know what will look good on you is by having a proper assessment of your body. Identify your shape and the aspects of your physique that you want to draw attention to or from.
There are body and dress guides available online that you can use. These will provide you with some ideas on wedding dress designs that will flatter your height and shape.
It’s always helpful to know what to work with. This will make all the other variables to take into consideration much easier to approach.
2. It’s still about what you want.
Even if you’re working with a dress guide, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should settle for whatever’s just available. If there are unique details or embellishments that you wish to be present in your dress, write them down.
A lot of bridal shops can modify dresses so clients can get what they desire for their wedding dress. They’ll work closely with you so all the little things you want to be added or subtracted from the dress will suit your liking.
Also, if a lot of people have their own ideas about what you should wear. Take those into account but ultimately go for what makes you happy.
3. Be realistic with your budget and avoid getting disappointed.
Do not shop outside of your established budget because you might just be setting yourself up for heartbreak. Find the best dress within your limits – this is the smartest approach.
Now, if you simply can’t find one that meets your requirements, come up with ways to increase your budget, or perhaps scour bridal shops that offer dresses at discounted prices. And, maybe, you should start to consider having the dress made since you already know the design you want. At times, having a dress can be quite an economical option because you can choose lower-cost materials.
4. It’s quite possible to find the perfect dress right away.
Be open to the idea of luck or falling in love at first sight with a dress. If in your search you automatically find the dress that looks great on you, fits your budget and makes you happy wearing it – that’s your winner.
Sure, there are other possibilities out there, but there’s nothing wrong with missing out on those since you’re already happy with what you have at the moment. What’s likely to happen if you decide to continue searching despite that magical find is, you’ll compare every dress you try to it and find that even the most expensive designer wedding dress doesn’t stand a chance against it.
5. Propriety’s the word.
Say, you have a sexy personality, and you want a revealing dress for your wedding day – you should be allowed to do whatever you want, right? After all, it’s the day for your wants to be fulfilled.
However, it would be to your advantage to still remember and uphold the values of decency and propriety. Your wedding is an event where people who matter to you and your spouse will be coming together to witness a blessed union. It would be nice to take their comfort into consideration.
Besides, a little compromise wouldn’t hurt, and wouldn’t it be best to create a memory for everyone of a beautiful, radiant bride than of mere physical assets on display?
6. Alterations can transform a good dress into the perfect one.
When shopping for dresses, always focus on the fit. You want a dress that flatters your body in the best way possible. Even an off the runway and expensive Carolina Herrera wedding dress can use some tweaks for a better fit. Bear in mind that most off the rack wedding dresses were created based on a particular body type.
Have the dress altered if it’s loose or too long in certain areas, or if you want a more modest neckline. Make it yours. The best bridal shops have highly skilled seamstresses that can carry out the necessary alterations.
Once the adjustments and other fine-tuning are made, not only will the dress look better on you, you’ll also feel more comfortable wearing it, which is essential for a long day of celebration.
7. Trust the experts.
When dress shopping is taking longer than usual, seek the advice of experts. Typically, bridal shops have their consultants, and they can help in leading you to the perfect dress for you.
Be open to their suggestions. They have been in the industry for a long time and are well aware of the different factors that make wedding dresses perfect for clients. Actually, it’s their job to make sure that clients look their absolute best no matter the budget that’s been set or other concerns they may have.
The moment you feel stuck, reach out to the pros – they’d be happy to help out.
The task of finding your perfect wedding dress can indeed be quite daunting and stressful to take on so. Hopefully, all the nuggets of wisdom shared above help you in the selection process. But, do remember that you’re the most important variable here. You’re the one who’ll bring true value to the dress – you wear the dress, the dress does not wear you.