Wedding Dresses 101: Finding The Wedding Dress That Was Made For You
Your wedding day is your time to shine.
The one day when all eyes are on you at every moment.
You want to find the most perfect wedding dress, right? The thing is, you can't just go into the nearest wedding dress store and grab the first gown off the rack that you see.
Finding your dream dress is going to take some time and effort.
Are you ready for your search? Read on to learn our top tips for finding the wedding dress that was made just for you.
Start Early When searching for the perfect wedding gown, timing is everything! You should start your search in the very beginning stages of your wedding planning - generally about 8 to 11 months before your wedding - to allow plenty of time to look at all the different styles and different dresses at various locations.
If you don't know what you want in terms of style, you may want to go to a few wedding showcases or fashion shows before the search begins to get an idea of the style elements you're looking for.
Most bridal salons do not accept walk-ins, so it's suggested that you make an appointment before attempting to go shopping.
It is common to bring your mom, sister or a couple of bridesmaids to get a second opinion as you search; however, keep in mind that weekends are the busiest times for wedding dress shopping.
If you are looking for a less hectic experience, go on a weekday.
Sizing Unfortunately, most bridal stores don't carry every single size of every single dress that they sell; you may end up trying on many, many dresses that are not your size.
Once you decide on a dress, the store will take your measurements and order the style in the correct size.
Bridal sizes generally run one to two sizes smaller than your normal clothing, so don't panic if you have to order a larger size than normal.
Each manufacturer has its own sizing chart to help with finding your right size, and your salesperson should be able to help out too.
Whatever you do, don't order a dress that's too small with the hope that it will "motivate" you to lose weight before the wedding.
Order what your size is now, and if you lose weight you can get it altered (you definitely won't mind spending the extra money if you're making your dress smaller).
You can always make your dress smaller, but it's really hard to make a wedding dress larger.
Alterations Whenever possible, it is better to have wedding dress alterations done by the store where you bought it.
Wherever you have the dress altered, bring all undergarments (slip, bra, etc.
) and the shoes you will be wearing on your wedding day to ensure your dress is the proper length and fit.
If your gown has a train, ask your tailor to add a bustle, allowing you to dance more easily at the reception.
Request and designate one of your friends or family members as the individual to bustle your dress before the reception.
This person should attend your last fitting so s/he knows exactly how to do it.
You should get your dress altered as close to your wedding day as possible, but don't leave it for the last minute in case there are final changes.
Most tailors will require 4 to 6 weeks turnaround time to make sure all your alterations are completed.
Accessories Last, but not least, you may want to accessorize your dress on the big day, but be mindful with your choices, especially if your dress is already intricately detailed.
Your accessories should complement your dress, not overshadow it.
Remember to take the location, season, and formality of your wedding into account when you accessorize.
Most of all, remember that your perfect wedding dress will make you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
You may have to try on 100 different dresses, but when you put it on you'll know you found the perfect dress.
The one day when all eyes are on you at every moment.
You want to find the most perfect wedding dress, right? The thing is, you can't just go into the nearest wedding dress store and grab the first gown off the rack that you see.
Finding your dream dress is going to take some time and effort.
Are you ready for your search? Read on to learn our top tips for finding the wedding dress that was made just for you.
Start Early When searching for the perfect wedding gown, timing is everything! You should start your search in the very beginning stages of your wedding planning - generally about 8 to 11 months before your wedding - to allow plenty of time to look at all the different styles and different dresses at various locations.
If you don't know what you want in terms of style, you may want to go to a few wedding showcases or fashion shows before the search begins to get an idea of the style elements you're looking for.
Most bridal salons do not accept walk-ins, so it's suggested that you make an appointment before attempting to go shopping.
It is common to bring your mom, sister or a couple of bridesmaids to get a second opinion as you search; however, keep in mind that weekends are the busiest times for wedding dress shopping.
If you are looking for a less hectic experience, go on a weekday.
Sizing Unfortunately, most bridal stores don't carry every single size of every single dress that they sell; you may end up trying on many, many dresses that are not your size.
Once you decide on a dress, the store will take your measurements and order the style in the correct size.
Bridal sizes generally run one to two sizes smaller than your normal clothing, so don't panic if you have to order a larger size than normal.
Each manufacturer has its own sizing chart to help with finding your right size, and your salesperson should be able to help out too.
Whatever you do, don't order a dress that's too small with the hope that it will "motivate" you to lose weight before the wedding.
Order what your size is now, and if you lose weight you can get it altered (you definitely won't mind spending the extra money if you're making your dress smaller).
You can always make your dress smaller, but it's really hard to make a wedding dress larger.
Alterations Whenever possible, it is better to have wedding dress alterations done by the store where you bought it.
Wherever you have the dress altered, bring all undergarments (slip, bra, etc.
) and the shoes you will be wearing on your wedding day to ensure your dress is the proper length and fit.
If your gown has a train, ask your tailor to add a bustle, allowing you to dance more easily at the reception.
Request and designate one of your friends or family members as the individual to bustle your dress before the reception.
This person should attend your last fitting so s/he knows exactly how to do it.
You should get your dress altered as close to your wedding day as possible, but don't leave it for the last minute in case there are final changes.
Most tailors will require 4 to 6 weeks turnaround time to make sure all your alterations are completed.
Accessories Last, but not least, you may want to accessorize your dress on the big day, but be mindful with your choices, especially if your dress is already intricately detailed.
Your accessories should complement your dress, not overshadow it.
Remember to take the location, season, and formality of your wedding into account when you accessorize.
Most of all, remember that your perfect wedding dress will make you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
You may have to try on 100 different dresses, but when you put it on you'll know you found the perfect dress.