You know the perfect dress exists. You see it in your mind’s eye.
Speaking of eyes, everyone will be staring at you on your wedding day! Which means it’s never been more important to find the wedding dress of your dreams.
So, where to begin?
We’re here to share it all. We’ve rounded up tips from bridal experts on how to find the perfect wedding dress.
Combine these tips with your vision, and this is our prediction: When you appear, jaws will drop and emotions stir. You’re going to look absolutely stunning in your wedding gown.
Let’s go.
Experts Say: “First, you need a budget.”
Before you begin your search, it’s important to set a budget. Don’t forget to include things like alterations, accessories, dry cleaning, and any other dress preservation related costs.
Experts Say: “Start looking for your wedding dress, ASAP.”
Finding the wedding dress of your dreams is kind of like finding the man of your dreams…. don’t settle!
Familiarize yourself with what you like—the exact characteristics you look for in a dress. Things like how it makes you feel, the overall tone, mood, and vibe it sets.
Make sure the dress fits in with the theme of your wedding as well. The perfect wedding gown should align seamlessly with the other elements you’re pulling into your big day.
Learn the names of all the different styles and dress silhouettes, and study which ones you think will look most flattering on you.
Gather pics of dresses you love: From Pinterest boards to physically clipping gorgeous gowns from bridal magazines, have at it.
Experts Say: “You need to actually try on different wedding dresses to find the perfect one.”
We’ve all had the experience when online shopping (probably more than we’d like to admit!) where we see something look absolutely incredible on a model. We buy it, it arrives, we try it on and… nope!
The same goes for wedding dresses. What looks great on a model in a magazine or a website may not work the same on you. This is why actually trying on dresses is so important.
Here are some of the top tip’s experts recommend when hitting up the boutiques to try the wedding dresses on:
- Bring a small supportive group—bridesmaids or close family are perfect
- Wear appropriate undergarments… you’re going to be in and out of dresses and will likely need help changing so wear undergarments you’re comfortable being seen in
- Be open minded—the dress you might not have considered may end up being the one
- Encourage your posse to take pics and video clips of you in the different dress options
- Focus on comfort—don’t settle for fabric that irritates your skin
- Make sure the top-contenders allow you to move in the way you want to move on your wedding day, there’s probably going to be a lot of dancing and hugging
- Go with your gut and trust your instincts
As you try on your gown, don’t forget the overall vision and theme of your big day.
Make sure that the dress you choose plays it up nicely, and think about how you might pair it with accessories. Go over various wedding day hair and makeup options, based on the style of dress.
Don’t forget your bridesmaids, either. Their dresses are almost as important as yours.
Experts Say: “Don’t forget about dress alterations or customization.”
If you find something you absolutely love—that’s almost perfect, it just requires a few minor tweaks—ask if it can be customized. The dress should be made to fit you, not the other way around.
Sometimes by nipping in the waist or adding flutter sleeves, an almost perfect gown is rendered perfect.
Experts Say: “Consider two wedding dresses.”
For the bride that just can’t decide, or the bride who has a vision of a beautiful princess dress with a long train and also a vision of dropping it like it’s hot on the dance floor, the solution may be two dresses: One for the ceremony, and one for the reception.
It’s your wedding after all.
Experts Say: “Don’t forget to factor in comfort.”
It’s true. You’re going to be wearing the dress all day and the last thing you want is for your big day to be ruined by something that’s pinching, hindering your movements, or making you itch.
Make sure the fabric doesn’t irritate your skin, and the dress you choose aligns with the season. Especially if you’re having the wedding outdoors.
Conclusion:
Of all the things the experts emphasize, one thing they agree is the most important is this: The perfect dress is a dress you love. A dress that makes you feel radiant, gorgeous and confident.
Follow these tips. And when you find it, you’ll know.
