the ultimate guide to wedding dress shopping

Engaged & ready to follow the steps of preparing for the wedding? This is probably one of the most exciting parts, spending the day with your besties to find the ultimate dress that is going to make you look incredibly stunning!
Everyone is on their own journey & will do this very differently. Some girls might not even be engaged & they've chosen their wedding dress! Choose your own adventure!
Here's a few things worth noting for a day of wedding dress shopping.

set a budget

​It's worth thinking about this before you head out, I know we all love to splurge but there's no point trying on dresses that you know you won't be able to afford.
Set a budget, do some research & find out the bridal stores with the prices that suit for your budget. Ring around to find out which labels & boutiques you are interested in.
​

be open minded

This one goes without saying, if you are open minded about every potential style it will make the process a lot easier for you. Ladies working in the boutique bridal stores will know what they are doing, they will have a pretty good idea on what will suit your shape, size & look. I know you may not agree with them but you could always try everything on & see. You might try something on that you really don't like on the rack, but once its on it could be completely different & make you fee la million dollars! Keep an open mind you may find your dream dress without even knowing it would be.
​

do your research

Wedding dresses are everywhere, all over Pinterest, instagram & on every other social media platfor you can imagine. It is so easy to make a board on Pinterest & pin all your favourite styles in there. Take some photos or rip some pages from magazines to take with you to the appointments so they know what kind of style you are after. Explore everything so you are prepared for what could possibly be in the bridal stores when you arrive.
​

know your wedding theme

Before you start shopping you need to decide what kind of theme you are going with, whether you want a casual garden party or a formal romantic affair. Always think about the venue & the theme when browsing for gowns, you would hate for your dress to clash with the overall theme. Also remember to think about the fabrics whether you want silk, taffeta, velvet or lace? The list is endless there is so many different fabrics to choose from so keep this one in mind too!
​

the bride tribe

This is so important for your own sanity. Keep the entourage small so that there isn't a huge amount of contrasting opinions, I'm sure your friends will probably have similar taste to you anyway but just be mindful of this. You want your decision to be as easy as possible & you want your tribe to help you not hinder you. Having too many opinions could cloud your judgement on things, narrow the group down to the two or three peoples opinions that matter most to you.
​

bring the right undergarments

Make sure you wear a nude bra & G-string, you could also bring high waist shaping undies just in case. Just be over prepared so you can try on everything. You don't want that leopard bra & bright pink G-string getting in the way of what it would like without them. You need clear judgment and a blank canvas to see exactly what it would be like.
​

ask to take photos

Not everywhere will let you take photos as they don't want their designs copied by another dressmaker for less $$. You can always ask if they will allow you, if you find one you really are in love with. This might help so that as you continue shopping & tried on the 10th dress you will don't forget what the first one looked like.
​

make an appointment

Booking an appointment is a must, some dresses might not be on display for you to browse through in the bridal store. You want the full experience so you need to inform the stores when you are coming. Most stores are by appointment only anyway so thats a must! Some boutiques may charge a fee but if you purchase a dress its redeemable.
When booking appointments start with the most cost effective & work your way up!
​

remember what the day is about

​Just remember, at the end of the day, your wedding day is not all about the dress. 
It is one part of the process & you need to choose something that you feel comfortable in yourself & know you are going to be happy with. The only thing you need to get married is actually just the celebrant and your partner, so just remember everything else is an added bonus! Don't cause yourself unnecessary stress & high emotions if you can't find the perfect dress first go!
​

Love always Kaylah x x
Instagram~ love.at.first.blog

ENQUIRE HERE