Steps to Help You Choose Your Dream Wedding Dress

Your wedding day is one of the most magical moments you’ll ever experience, and finding your dream wedding dress is an essential part of making it perfect. With so many options available, the process can seem overwhelming at first. But fear not!

In this article, we’ll guide you through 7 steps to help you select your dream wedding dress, ensuring you feel confident, beautiful and radiant on your special day. Let’s dive in.

Start Early

Trust us, there’s no such thing as being too prepared. We recommend allowing yourself around 10 months before your wedding date to find your dress. This gives you time to visit all the wedding dress shops you’re interested in and explore all your options without having to rush to make that all-important final decision.

Before booking any appointments, start your search online or with bridal magazines. This can be a great source of inspiration to narrow down what you’re looking for, and help you keep up to date on all the latest styles and trends that are released every season.

Consider the Time and Place of Your Wedding

Knowing what the time and place of your wedding will be can go a long way in helping to streamline your search and avoid wasting your time. If you’re planning a wedding (destination wedding) on the beach, then you can probably rule out a dramatic ball gown with a flowing train and detailed embellishments. If you’re getting married in a church, you’ll probably want to avoid anything too casual or non-traditional.

When it comes to the weather, the majority of fabrics are suitable year-round, especially if the majority of your wedding will be taking place indoors. However, fabrics like linen and organdy are more suited to warmer weather and white velvet and brocade and more suited to the wintertime.

Set a Budget

Wedding dresses come in a wide variety of prices, so it’s important that you establish a budget before you begin your search. Be realistic and don’t forget to consider all the other expenses in your wedding budget, as well as all the extra costs that can come on top of the initial price of your wedding dress including alterations, accessories, undergarments and hair and makeup.

By setting a clearly defined budget from the get-go, you’ll narrow down your options quickly and help yourself make a choice that aligns with your financial plan.

Bring Backup

When selecting who to invite wedding dress shopping with you, pick carefully. Try to bring people whose opinions you value the most and will give you helpful advice that you can trust. For most brides, this tends to be their mum, sister or best friend.

It might be hard, but try not to invite too many people. Not only will there be too many conflicting opinions that will make the experience more stressful than it needs to be, but you still want your wedding dress to be a surprise for the majority of your guests and not just your partner.

Work With the Experts

When you visit a bridal boutique, make the most of the experienced consultants who work there and can help guide you through the process. These experts have an in-depth knowledge of wedding dress styles, fabrics, alterations and more, and if you share your vision with them they’ll be able to suggest dresses that will fit your body shape and sense of style.

Trust their expertise and give their recommendations a go, even if it doesn’t seem like your personal style at first. Time and time again, bridal gown consultants surprise their customers with unexpected recommendations that end up being the perfect dress for the occasion.

Focus on Comfort and Fit

Remember, the right wedding dress isn’t just about how it looks. You’re going to be wearing your dress for a long time, so you need something comfortable and well-fitting as well. When trying on dresses, pay attention to how they feel and walk, sit and move around to give it a proper test.

Take into consideration the weight of the fabric, the support of the bodice and any potential restrictions that might affect your mobility. The right wedding dress will allow you to fully enjoy your big day without any discomfort or pain.

Stay True to Yourself

Most importantly, remember to trust your instincts. You know yourself better than anybody else does, and only you can decide what’s right for you and what you’ll feel most beautiful in. When trying on dresses, make sure to take your time, stand in front of a large mirror and visualise yourself walking down the aisle in that very dress.

It’s your day after all, and you deserve to feel confident and on top of the world. Chances are, when you find the right dress you’ll know it’s the one right away. When that magical moment finally happens, trust your instincts and embrace the moment.