How to shop for a wedding dress, without the stress
When I went shopping for my wedding dress, I discovered that although it was fun combing through racks of gorgeous gowns, it was also really hard choosing a dress that would live forever in wedding photos.
I’m a really indecisive person, so finding the one was a bit stressful. Not only were there too many styles to choose from, but I was scared that I would regret my choice. (And, let’s be honest: I really wanted to find a gown that would make my then-fiancé’s jaw drop.)
To make your experience a little easier, I talked to a couple of wedding experts about how to find your dream gown. Here are their tips:
Check out trunk shows
Trunk shows are a bridal salon’s secret weapon: for a couple of days, they display a designer’s entire collection for the season and usually include a small discount (around 10%) on the dresses. Because salons only select a few gowns from a designer’s collection to fill their stores, trunk shows give brides the opportunity to check out dresses they wouldn’t normally see. “If you’re looking for something a little different, those pieces will be included in the trunk show,” says Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay’s Jessica Mulroney, “and sometimes you can discover a designer which you didn’t necessarily know about before.
Read the fine print
When it comes to purchase time, do yourself a favour and read the contract carefully before you sign on the dotted line. Vanessa Dineen, co-owner and managing director of Toronto bridal salon Sash & Bustle, says brides should look at the dress delivery date so you can plan your wedding around that time. It’s also important to look at the refund policy because in most cases the deposit is non-refundable. “If you do end up changing your mind after you’ve made the purchase, even if your deposit is non-refundable, make sure that you’re able to get out of the contract somehow,” says Dineen. “There should be some type of understanding where if you do change your mind, that the store keeps the dress and you’re able to get some of that money back. You don’t want to pay another thousand dollars for something you’re not going to end up wearing.”
Shop on a weekday
According to Mulroney, most brides tend to go wedding dress shopping on a weekend or after work, resulting in a busy, bustling salon. However, “if you do have the ability to come during the day during the week, that’s when the store is quietest, and is usually the best time,” she says. However, even though you’ll have a more intimate experience shopping during work hours, the downside is that you might not be able to get your family and loved ones together.
Buy your true size
If you’re trying to lose weight for your wedding, don’t buy a size smaller than you are when you first try it on. “You should always buy the size that fits you, because you don’t want to put that kind of pressure on yourself,” says Mulroney. Gowns can always be taken in if you do lose weight.
Wear nude (underwear, that is)
It can be easy to forget about your unmentionables when you’re focused on the dress, but your undies can sometimes make or break your shopping experience. Dineen recommends wearing nude seamless underwear and a strapless bra to the salon. “Some people get distracted by seeing red or black underwear [under a white dress] so wearing nude can make it easier for some people to see the whole look,” she says.
Bring accessories you know you want to wear
When it comes to accessories, the bridal school of thought is that they should be chosen after the dress is purchased. However, when it comes to your grandmother’s necklace that you know you want to wear on your big day, Dineen recommends bringing it to the appointment. “If you have something that has a meaningful value or something you know you want to wear on your wedding day for sure, like if it’s a family heirloom, bring it because you might want to see how it works with the neckline, for example,” she says.
Don’t be label conscious
Sex and the City’s Anthony may have said, “You want wedding, go Wang” (as in, Vera), but don’t limit yourself to the designers you know. “There are a lot of designers that people have never heard of but that have been doing bridal for a really long time so they understand fit,” says Mulroney. Just because you’ve heard of a famous designer, it doesn’t mean they know how to make a wedding dress. Similarly, Mulroney says: “Just because you haven’t heard of [the designer], doesn’t mean they’re not great.” Ask your bridal consultant for recommendations and do your research. You may find a fantastic label you’ve never heard of who has a style you love.
Customize, customize, customize
So you’ve made your Pinterest board and you’ve narrowed down your top three dresses. But when you see your favourite gown in person, it doesn’t look how you thought it would. Don’t panic – get it customized. “I think that when a bride is shopping, they should keep an open mind because dresses aren’t always made exactly the way a bride would want it,” says Dineen. Gowns can usually be customized, so that big flower appliqué you hate can be removed, trains can be added and straps can magically appear.
“Try not to let the small details discourage [you] from trying on a dress and pay more attention in the beginning to the overall look and those little things we can change and adjust later,” says Dineen.
To make your experience a little easier, I talked to a couple of wedding experts about how to find your dream gown. Here are their tips:
Check out trunk shows
Trunk shows are a bridal salon’s secret weapon: for a couple of days, they display a designer’s entire collection for the season and usually include a small discount (around 10%) on the dresses. Because salons only select a few gowns from a designer’s collection to fill their stores, trunk shows give brides the opportunity to check out dresses they wouldn’t normally see. “If you’re looking for something a little different, those pieces will be included in the trunk show,” says Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay’s Jessica Mulroney, “and sometimes you can discover a designer which you didn’t necessarily know about before.
Read the fine print
When it comes to purchase time, do yourself a favour and read the contract carefully before you sign on the dotted line. Vanessa Dineen, co-owner and managing director of Toronto bridal salon Sash & Bustle, says brides should look at the dress delivery date so you can plan your wedding around that time. It’s also important to look at the refund policy because in most cases the deposit is non-refundable. “If you do end up changing your mind after you’ve made the purchase, even if your deposit is non-refundable, make sure that you’re able to get out of the contract somehow,” says Dineen. “There should be some type of understanding where if you do change your mind, that the store keeps the dress and you’re able to get some of that money back. You don’t want to pay another thousand dollars for something you’re not going to end up wearing.”
Shop on a weekday
According to Mulroney, most brides tend to go wedding dress shopping on a weekend or after work, resulting in a busy, bustling salon. However, “if you do have the ability to come during the day during the week, that’s when the store is quietest, and is usually the best time,” she says. However, even though you’ll have a more intimate experience shopping during work hours, the downside is that you might not be able to get your family and loved ones together.
Buy your true size
If you’re trying to lose weight for your wedding, don’t buy a size smaller than you are when you first try it on. “You should always buy the size that fits you, because you don’t want to put that kind of pressure on yourself,” says Mulroney. Gowns can always be taken in if you do lose weight.
Wear nude (underwear, that is)
It can be easy to forget about your unmentionables when you’re focused on the dress, but your undies can sometimes make or break your shopping experience. Dineen recommends wearing nude seamless underwear and a strapless bra to the salon. “Some people get distracted by seeing red or black underwear [under a white dress] so wearing nude can make it easier for some people to see the whole look,” she says.
Bring accessories you know you want to wear
When it comes to accessories, the bridal school of thought is that they should be chosen after the dress is purchased. However, when it comes to your grandmother’s necklace that you know you want to wear on your big day, Dineen recommends bringing it to the appointment. “If you have something that has a meaningful value or something you know you want to wear on your wedding day for sure, like if it’s a family heirloom, bring it because you might want to see how it works with the neckline, for example,” she says.
Don’t be label conscious
Sex and the City’s Anthony may have said, “You want wedding, go Wang” (as in, Vera), but don’t limit yourself to the designers you know. “There are a lot of designers that people have never heard of but that have been doing bridal for a really long time so they understand fit,” says Mulroney. Just because you’ve heard of a famous designer, it doesn’t mean they know how to make a wedding dress. Similarly, Mulroney says: “Just because you haven’t heard of [the designer], doesn’t mean they’re not great.” Ask your bridal consultant for recommendations and do your research. You may find a fantastic label you’ve never heard of who has a style you love.
Customize, customize, customize
So you’ve made your Pinterest board and you've narrowed down your top three dresses. But when you see your favourite gown in person, it doesn’t look how you thought it would. Don’t panic – get it customized. “I think that when a bride is shopping, they should keep an open mind because dresses aren’t always made exactly the way a bride would want it,” says Dineen. Gowns can usually be customized, so that big flower appliqué you hate can be removed, trains can be added and straps can magically appear.
“Try not to let the small details discourage [you] from trying on a dress and pay more attention in the beginning to the overall look and those little things we can change and adjust later,” says Dineen.){kind=link}