The wedding dress is a truly important part of any bride’s day and purchasing one is an incredibly exciting time.
So after my experience shopping for my wedding dress, here are are some practical tips that I think might helpful.
Do not leave the purchase too late; Leave yourself enough time to save for a deposit and for alterations, start looking, if possible, around 16-18 months before the big day or as soon as you set a date.
Think about the colour and tone of the dress, chose one that suits you to make your skin glow and complement your hair colour.
The dress should make you feel totally relaxed when wearing it and not too heavy for you.
Take your wedding shoes with you or shoes with similar height to what you will be wearing on the big day.
Choose a reputable shop or designer you feel confident with and consider a local shop. It’s so much easier when going for fittings and paying deposits etc.
Consider your overall ‘look’ and think about your hair style, jewellery, head pieces etc when trying on and think about whether you will need a shrug, fur coat, umbrella, or veil.
The season, location and time of your wedding should be considered when choosing your dress.
Try on every style available so you know what suits you and what doesn’t, even the styles you don’t like on the hanger or in a magazine can look very different when tried on.
Listen to and take the advice from the bridal shop assistants, they are after all the experts.
Don’t settle on the first dress you try on, it’s not ‘always’ the one, trust me!
Don’t get hung up on bridal magazines and the latest trends and styles. Your dress should be about you and your style; a wedding dress should be timeless.
Lastly, just enjoy the moment; it’s the best shopping trip ever!!
Happy planning
Catherine x
(Image courtesy of Neal Laver Photography)