Selecting a wedding dress may seem simple, but when you are in a store filled with dresses that all have different styles, it can be a little bit overwhelming. With your maid of honor and a close family member at your side, usually your mother or sister, a wedding dress shop may not be as intimidating, and by following these five easy steps, we are confident you will find the perfect dress for your wedding day in a your local bridal shop.
Step One – Research Wedding Dresses You May Want to Try On
Looking online or through some bridal magazines will give you an idea of the kind of wedding dresses you may want to try on. If you want a specific designer, make sure to write down their name or save the photo to your phone. Doing a little bit of research online before going dress shopping will ease the feeling of being overwhelmed when you get to the shop.
Step Two – Research Prices for Dresses You Like
Price is an important factor, and this can vary from store to store. In order to get prices on dresses, it is always easiest to go to the designers website and see if the price is on there. This will help you stay within your budget so you aren’t trying on dresses you will never be able to afford. It is important to stick to your budget, especially when it comes to the dress.
Step Three – Research Shops in Your Area
Most shops will have social pages that provide reviews from other people who have shopped there. You can also see photos of the shop, or visit before making an appointment to make sure that this is the shop for you. Pay attention to reviews that talk about the service and reliability of the people who take care of hemming and taking in dresses as you may need to have something on the dress altered. A dress boutique with high ratings and happy clientele is definitely the place you want to shop.
Step Four – Make an Appointment at the Shop You Want to Buy From
With every bridal shop, you must make an appointment. Make sure to tell whomever you are bringing with you the date, time and location if you will not all be traveling together. Appointments are important to keep as some bridal shops take bookings weeks in advance, depending on how popular the store is.
When you are making the phone call, you can also tell the person booking the appointment if you have any specific dresses you would like to try on. This will give them time before your appointment to pull the dresses so you are not stuck waiting around for them to find them. Plan to arrive about fifteen minutes before your appointment and browse around a bit while you wait; you may find a dress to try on that you hadn’t considered before.
Step Five – Take Advice from the Salesperson but Listen to Your Heart
The salespeople at bridal boutiques usually aren’t that pushy about sales, however if you do not like a gown you are trying on, you have to be honest. The salesperson is there to help you find the dress that is right for you but it is always alright to accept some advice. They may even find a dress you love that you wouldn’t have looked at before. Make sure you absolutely love your dress before confirming that this is ‘the one’ because you will be looking at the photos for years to come!
For me, it was the hardest thing to do. Each place I went had dresses in my price range and they looked great on me 🙂
I think if I was going to buy in a local shop, I would skip the online price research. Only because I know it would be cheaper, but to buy local that is besides the point.