You got engaged! Congratulations! Now what? There’s so much to look forward to, and so many decisions to make. One of the biggest decisions is the dress — your dress! Here are seven tips to help you find the dress of your dreams.
1. Know what you’re looking for. When you go look at dresses, it’s important to know where and when you’re getting married. Your venue will influence your dress. You won’t want some extravagant ball gown for an intimate beach wedding. It’s also important to look at pictures so you can give examples of what you are looking for. It’s okay to not know exactly what you’re looking for, but it’s also good to have a basic understanding of what you do and don’t like. This is the one time when your opinion matters the most.
2. Know your budget. This is a big one. You have to know how much you are willing to spend on your dress, and it’s important to share it with your dress consultant. They’ll be able to help you find dresses that fit your budget. They’ll also be able to steer you clear of dresses that are outside of your budget. While it may be fun to play dress-up in dresses outside of your budget, you run the risk of falling in love with that dress. So think twice before saying, “I’ll just try it on for fun.”
3. Don’t cheap out. It’s okay if you don’t want to spend a ton of money on your dress. There are plenty of inexpensive and reasonable options. That option should not include a Chinese knockoff site. That saying of “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” could not be more accurate. If you buy your dress from a knockoff site, you could end up severely disappointed. It could be the wrong color, or it might not fit you. And if you’re the one girl who’s dress came in from the knockoff site and it was absolutely perfect, Congratulations. I’m thrilled for you. But, for every one of you, there are at least 10 girls who end up with a green dress.
4. Order in a timely fashion. Most stores used to say you were safe ordering six to nine months before your big day. Recently stores have started recommending eight months to a year before your wedding, because manufacturing has slowed down. Most dresses are manufactured in China so you have to consider shipping times and you’ll want to leave plenty of time for any alterations that may need to be done to your gown. Purchasing your wedding gown early will be a timely check off the list, and it will be one less headache as your wedding day approaches.
5. be open to options. So, let’s say you’re reading this and your wedding is less than six months away. Completely ignore the last point and take a deep breath, and maybe a shot of tequila. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Back now? Okay. There are still plenty of options. There are lines that keep popular styles in stock and they can be shipped within a week. Most stores will also let you purchase a sample gown off the rack. The thing is you might have to give a little on your dream dress. I’m not saying you can’t have it, I’m just saying you might have given up your dream of a 30-foot-train. But, trust me; you’d rather have a shorter train than be a naked bride.
6. Don’t sweat the small stuff (or the slightly bigger stuff). Wedding dresses are a funny game. You’re likely going to pay more for a dress than you ever have in your life, and the dress might be a larger size than you have ever worn. Don’t worry about the numbers. Look at yourself in your dress and focus on how beautiful you look. Imagine the moment when the love of your life sees you in this dress and it really sinks in that you are spending the rest of your life with this person. See, there are significantly more important things than a number.
7. Stop looking! No seriously, once you find your dress and a payment has been made, stop looking. When you decided to spend the rest of your life with your fiancé, did you keep looking for other options? (If you just answered yes, you might want to take a moment to seriously reconsider your life choices. It’s only a suggestion.) You fell in love with your dress for a reason. Remind yourself of why you love your dress, and stop looking at other dresses.
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