7 Tips for Stress Free Wedding Dress Shopping

Stress Free Wedding Dress Shopping

For most brides-to-be, “wedding dress shopping” and “stress” go hand-in-hand. However, these two terms don’t have to be married (get it?). Shopping for a wedding gown should make you feel excited to get married, not make you want to sob in the dressing room. It should be one of the most fun and memorable experiences of your life. To help you be a less stressed-out bride, we’ve put together a few things you can do to prepare for your bridal appointment to help with a stress free wedding dress shopping experience.  

1. Pare it down to a specific style

Going into your appointment with a good idea of what gown you want in terms of cut, design, etc. can save you a significant amount of time. It doesn’t have to be only one style, but it helps to pare it down to two to three styles so your stylist has something to work with. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, they will have to pull out gown after gown until you find a style you like – this process can take ages. 

Use Pinterest for inspiration or browse through bridal blogs until you find dress styles that wow you. Save the photos on your phone or add them to your inspiration board, and then show them to your stylist to speed up the shopping process. 

2. Keep an open mind

When most brides-to-be walk into their appointments, they’re dead-set on a particular style. But most of the time, they end up with a dress that’s nowhere near what they initially wanted. 

Don’t worry if you’re drawn to a style you wouldn’t normally pick. While it’s important to know what you want, you shouldn’t completely close yourself off to other options. Even if you have your heart set on a specific style, the moment you try it on, it may not be suitable for your body type. Remember to trust your stylist. They have years’ worth of experience with stress free wedding dress shopping and can give you valuable advice on what wedding gowns will suit you. 

3. Start wedding dress shopping early

Don’t cut it too close to your wedding day, otherwise, you might not walk down the aisle in your dream dress! For made-to-order wedding gowns, a good time to start shopping is between 8 to 10 months before you walk down the aisle. The reason why’s such a time-consuming process is that some materials and fabrics still need to be sourced from around the world. Plus, some dresses still need to be embroidered and beaded by hand – this can take weeks to complete. 

Bear in mind that when the dress arrives, it won’t be “wedding-day-ready”. It will still need some alterations, which can take another 2 to 4 months – and that’s just the first round of alterations. You’ll have to go to two more fittings in the lead-up to your wedding day to give it that perfect fit. 

So save yourself some stress and order your dress ASAP. Ideally, your wedding dress should be in its final form a month before your big day. 

4. Set a budget

One of the things that can break a bride-to-be’s heart is finding out that The Dress is way over her budget. To save yourself from stress and disappointment, be sure to set a budget before you go wedding gown shopping. Once you’ve set your budget, you can start searching for shops that carry gowns within your price range. If you aren’t familiar with wedding gown prices, you can refer to bridal sites or consult a professional wedding planner. 

By sticking to your budget, you will feel more comfortable saying yes to your dress and be less stressed about your bill, knowing that you won’t go into debt buying it. 

5. Be careful who you bring

When most brides-to-be go wedding dress shopping, they bring along their best friends, bridal party, and family members. While it has the potential to be a good bonding experience, it can be a bad idea if you’ve invited the wrong crowd. 

Since shopping for your wedding dress is a special moment, you’ll want to be surrounded by positive people, not critics. They should be able to express their thoughts on your wedding gown without being downright rude. Even if they have varying opinions on the gowns you try on, they shouldn’t expect their opinions to outshine yours. After all, your goal is to find a gown that you want, not what other people would want for you. 

6. Dress for your appointment

Showing up to your appointment with the right things can make the process go smoother. Bring the underwear you plan to wear on your wedding day so you can see how it sits underneath each dress you try on. The silhouette should be seamless, meaning your underwear shouldn’t show through the fabric of your gown. When in doubt, opt for the most basic, all-nude underwear and some shapewear. 

If you’ve already bought your wedding shoes, bring them with you, as well. This way, you’ll have a clearer visual of your wedding look. (Don’t worry if you haven’t chosen your shoes yet – your consultant can lend you a pair!).

Pack any accessories you plan to wear on your wedding day, such as your engagement ring or sentimental pieces (e.g. your late grandmother’s old bracelet or brooch). This will show you whether or not every element in your wedding attire goes together. 

7. Know that it’s OK to take your time

You don’t have to find The Dress at the end of your appointment, so don’t be disappointed if you walk out of the store empty-handed. Remember, your wedding dress is one of the most special things you’ll wear, so it shouldn’t be chosen on a whim. If you’re only 99% happy with a particular dress, don’t feel pressured to order it. 

It’s OK to take your time. You should only say “yes” to the dress you truly love. 

Say “yes” to the dress and “no” to stress!

You shouldn’t let stress take away from this once-in-a-lifetime experience. So the next time you have an appointment, make sure to follow these tips for stress free wedding dress shopping to feel less stressed or even stress-free. 

At Weddings & Events by Raina, we believe that your whole wedding journey – not just the wedding day – should be enjoyable. To allow you to focus on wedding gown shopping, we provide all-inclusive wedding planning services in the greater Nashville area. Get in touch with us today for a stress-free lead-up to your nuptials.