So you’re engaged! Congrats! Now comes the fun part (or the stressful part, depending on who you ask): finding the dress. It’s arguably the most exciting shopping trip of your life, but it can also feel totally overwhelming. Between the endless styles, varying opinions from your squad, and the pressure to look perfect, it’s easy to lose your cool.
But bridal dress shopping should be a blast, not a burden, and we’re here to help that be the case. Here are five key things to remember before hitting the boutiques.
Mind Your Budget
If you have a budget for your gown, respect it. First and foremost, let your stylist know your price range, because then they can show you dresses exclusively within it.
And secondly, remember that the price tag on the dress is almost certainly not the final cost. You’ll have to accessorize your bridal look with shoes and jewelry. Plus, let’s not forget about alterations. Between optional style alterations (like adding sleeves) and fit adjustments, this work can cost hundreds of dollars or more. So if you have a $2,000 dress budget, your dress should probably cost no more than $1,000, or it should fit perfectly off the rack.
Limit Your Entourage
We all love our besties, but bringing your entire contact list to your appointment is a recipe for disaster. Too many opinions will just confuse you and drown out your own voice. Plus, most boutiques can only accommodate a limited number of guests.
Bring a small, supportive crew—maybe your mom and your maid of honor. Choose people whose style you trust and who know what makes you feel confident.
Keep an Open Mind
Dresses look completely different on a hanger (and on a model) than they do on your actual body. A style you thought you hated might hug your curves in all the right ways.
Trust your stylist. They see dresses on real bodies every single day and might pull a wildcard that ends up being “the one.” Give everything a chance. You might surprise yourself and find something way better than what you imagined.
Remember Your Comfort
You’re going to be in this dress for hours—standing, sitting, dancing, etc. If you can’t breathe, lift your arms, or walk without tripping, you’re going to be miserable. No dress is beautiful enough to suffer in for eight hours straight.
When you try on a gown, move around in it. Sit down, raise your arms, and do a little dance. Make sure nothing is scratching, pinching, or digging into your skin. You want to focus on having the time of your life, not on how much your ribs hurt.
Trust Your Gut
At the end of the day, this is your dress. Not your mom’s, not your stylist’s, and not your Instagram followers’. If you put on a dress and don’t want to take it off, that’s a pretty good sign. You should feel like the best version of yourself.
Don’t let anyone talk you out of a dress you love, or into a dress you’re just meh about. When you find the right one, you’ll know. Trust that feeling. It’s your day, your vibe, and your moment to shine.
Ready to Say Yes?
Finding your dream dress is a journey, and it should be nothing but fun and exciting. By remembering these things when you go bridal dress shopping, you can better enjoy the process and end up with a gown you truly love!
