• When should I start looking for my wedding dress?

    02:27:01 am on March 7, 2010 | by bianca |
    Tags: , ,

    I’m getting married May 2, 2009. When would be a good time to start looking, shopping, and buying my wedding dress? The wedding date is a little over 7 months away. Should I start now?

     

Answers

  • basketcase88 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    Absolutely you should start now, if you want to have the best selection of gowns available to you to order. I’m a bridal consultant, and have waited up to 8 months for a special ordered dress to arrive in my store in the past. You have to remember, if you want a particular dress in a particular color and particular size, and the designer doesn’t have one already in production, they will have to make it for you. You will also need to allow time for alterations, at the very least, most gowns need to be hemmed. If there’s trim on the hem, the dress is hemmed by detaching the skirt from the bodice, taking the fabric up at the waistline, and then re-attaching the skirt. Make appointments with bridal salons, and start looking.

    When you go to look, some suggestions I give my brides to be are:
    1. Know roughly your price range. I don’t want to bring you out a $5000 gown when all you can spend is $1000. Also, plan on alterations and accessories as well.
    2. Know roughly what you’re looking for, and have an idea of how formal your wedding will be. It really helps the consultant if you can bring in pictures of what you like (and don’t like). Just print them from the internet or cut them out of bridal magazines. I can tell usually by looking at a woman what style of dress will be most flattering to her.
    edit: But don’t be afraid to try on a dress the consultant brings you. I’ve had more brides buy the dress that they think looks awful on the hanger, but when they put it on, they know it’s it. Remember, those of us who sell these dresses have been doing it for awhile, we know bodies, we know how to dress them, and we can get a good sense of what will look good on you rather quickly.
    3. Wear a strapless bra. If you need control in the tummy area, Spanx are wonderful as well. The closer you can see what the dress will really look like on you, the better you’re able to judge if it’s THE dress or not. So wear the undergarments that you plan on wearing under the dress. You might have to make adjustments to them, depending on the style of your dress, but if you already know you’re going to need something to hold in your tummy, you might as well be wearing it. If you know you’re going to wear a particular shoe (ballet flats/stilletto heels) then have them with you as well.
    4. Don’t bring too many friends for opinions, this is very much a case where too many cooks can spoil the soup. The more opinions you have, the harder it will be to come to a concencus. I love it when a bride brings in her mother and maid of honor, and that’s it.
    5. Check with the salon first, but most will allow you to bring a digital camera so that you can have someone take pictures of you in the dresses. Sometimes it’s easier to make a decision this way.

    Good luck on finding your dress!

  • MrsMeow 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    yes yes yes yes yes yes, the bridal shops i have visited recommened the perfect time to be 8 months away.

  • Z_Z_TOP 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    i would because you could start trying on the styles that you liek because there are alot that your gonna like and you have to chose and its very hard to choose

    SO YES
    I DID

  • express 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    ASAP. that way you can spread out your options if you see a dress better than what you like.

  • dancerxo0 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    ASAP.
    you have to look for one, which can take time.
    then you have the alterations, which can take forever.
    start right now.

  • ~~the_ultimate_farmer_girl~~ 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    I would start NOW!! It can take a couple months to get the dress in if you have to order it, and then alterations can take another month or two. It’s better to have it too soon than a week before your wedding stessing out about the dress not being ready. Wedding dress shopping is the most fun part of wedding planning.

  • SChi25 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    You should definitely start now.

    Most designers need at least three months just to order the dress. Then you have to think about alterations in addition to that. Most brides need at least 1-2 alteration fittings before the dress is perfect. Keep in mind that some designers need up to 6 months to order the dress, so start looking now!

    Some advice:

    Try on every style out there, even if you think you hate it. You’d be surprised at how you’ll look in things. Trying on wedding gowns is SO different from trying on regular clothes. They’re construction so much better, and therefore, look much better on you. This was the biggest surprise to me. I ended up trying every single style on out there, from ball gowns to sexy sheaths, and I’m happy I did because you only do this once.

    After your first few stores, start to narrow down what style you like best, and what suits your body type and wedding style. Then only try on dresses in that style to really narrow everything down.

    Some places will let you take pictures of you in the dresses, and some won’t. Bring a camera, and always ask. If they don’t let you, and the sales associate slips out for a bit, go ahead and sneak a picture. I’ve done it on a few occasions, and it didn’t hurt anyone :)

    Good luck! Have fun with it.

  • pearl 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    no later than 6 months from the wedding, so yes start shopping now

  • raat 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    pffffff ………..you got a lot of time Chill out!!!

    IM KIDDING , you should go buy one now you lazy cow !

    go go go go g!!

    Take Care.

  • Amie87 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    Honestly you should have started already depending on the dress you get it may take 6 months to come in after being ordered. So I’d get looking for a dress ASAP.

  • joynpain829 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    NOW!

  • devilishangel 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    I would start looking now. Don’t buy anything yet though. Designers usually come out with new lines in the spring (Feb/March). You might want to wait to buy until then…you don’t want to buy now and 3 months later find one that you absolutely have to have…

  • Jessica 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    My wedding is next July and I bought my dress a month ago so go for it girl!! Just think, you have to wait probably 4 months for it to get in and that is if everything goes smoothly, plus alterations.

  • Ms. Bride 09 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    girl you need to start asap. my wedding is in june of 2009 and i went last week saturday for my dress and they told me my dress will take 3 month to get here and 2 mont for alteration. so i suggest you go now

  • peasofcake 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    That’s so funny! I was planning to get married that day because it would have been me and my fiancee’s 6 year anniversary to the day. But, neither of us wanted to wait that long (we’ve been together over 5 years), so we decided on this December 13, 2008. It is best to give yourself some time, but my wedding is less than 3 months away and I just bought my dress the day before yesterday. I bought it off the rack at David’s Bridal and am going to have it altered. So don’t panic if you don’t find your dress RIGHT AWAY.

  • desiree b 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    Yes start now. It takes time to find your perfect dress. Your dress has to fit in with your wedding setting, formality, theme and compliment your figure type. This means you will need to do some research and shop around before picking the dress that’s right for you. If you start now you will be sure to find a dress that will make you look like the picture perfect bride.

    Need some guidance then go to…

  • adherentofgod 2:27 am on March 7, 2010 |

    It’s nice to start now just for reviewing some prices of the things you’ll need and the place you are gonna use, but don’t start buying anything right now.

Answer This Question