We know wedding dress shopping can be both exciting and stressful. To help alleviate some of the anxiety, The Dress Shop Managing Partner Jessica Brooks has five things for you to keep in mind when searching for the perfect wedding dress.
1. Know our style
Prepare for your first dress shopping experience by spending time in advance looking at wedding dresses.
"We really love when brides come in with a Pinterest board that we can flip through and see the styles [of gowns] that they are liking," Brooks suggests.
2. Keep an open-mind
While it's important to have an idea of what you think you will like, it's also good to be open-minded; for the first time trying on gowns, The Dress Shop recommends trying on at least one of each style of dress.
"A bride might think that she wants a sexy thin sheath dress, but when she tries on a ball gown, she may absolutely fall in love with the style," said Brooks. "It might be something that she's never expected to wear."
3. Beware of 'sticker shock'
Research the price of dresses and know your budget before you start dress shopping. You can even call bridal salons in advance for their store's price range.
"Nothing can ruin a bride's day like finding a dress that she's absolutely in love with and realizing it's completely out of her budget," said Brooks. "It's good to have realistic expectations as to the cost of dresses."
4. Plan your “guest list” with care
If possible, try to limit your group to four guests. Most salons can accommodate four guests with no problem, and this is usually a manageable number for you as well.
“We recommend that a bride bring all of the important decision makers with her to her appointment – a mom, best friend, etc.” Brooks says. “However, too many people can be very stressful to a bride – each additional person a bride invites brings more opinions and confusion. A bride really wants to bring her ‘cheerleaders and fan club’ to the appointment, and leave everyone else at home.”
5. Timeline
It's ideal to shop for a wedding dress at least one year out. A dress can take six to eight months to come in after purchasing it. After the dress comes in, alterations can take from one to two months.
“The dress isn't manufactured until the bride orders it," said Brooks. "Our dresses are hand-beaded and there's a lot of work involved, so they do take a while to be made."
If you are running on a tighter timeline, don’t stress. Some bridal designers offer in-stock options that the bridal salon can get in quickly; you will need to contact the bridal salon to see if their designers offer these options. Additionally, some salons might offer a selection of gowns on a “sale rack”.
"The Dress Shop offers almost 100 gowns on our sale rack, priced between $99 and $999, which is nice for that girl on a budget or bride that has a tight timeline," Brooks said.
After you've found the perfect dress
It's time to think about the following...
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Veils, headpieces and custom jewelry: Like bridal gowns, a lot of these items are custom made for you, and can take a few months to come in.
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Shoes and undergarments: You will need to bring the exact items you plan to wear on your wedding day to your alterations appointment.
"The dress is custom altered for the height of the bride in her wedding shoes," said Brooks. "It is also custom altered for the exact undergarments that she'll be wearing on her wedding day."
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Bridesmaids Dresses: Their dresses can take almost just as long as bridal gowns. Alterations usually take a month.
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Mother of the Bride / Groom Dresses: Choosing a gown from a bridal salon or specialty shop allows mothers, grandmothers, and any other important women to really customize the perfect dress that they will love.
"This is a big day for Mom as well! When she orders from us, she can custom order her gown in the color she loves, and we’ll have it specially made for her. We focus on gowns that minimize mom's problem areas, and maximize her figure and make her look and feel great," said Brooks.
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Tuxedos or Suits: Remember, it’s not just the groom and groomsmen who will need tuxedos. Fathers, ushers, ring bearers, and other important men will also need them. A major benefit of ordering tuxedos from the same shop as a wedding dress is the ability to custom match.
"Our brides can say yes to the dress while she's looking at the tuxedo her groom will be wearing, which helps her be able to really envision her wedding day," Brooks said. "We can also do an exact match between tuxedos for the groomsmen and the colors of the bridesmaids dresses."
Plus, the more you buy at a singular shop, the better the discount!
The Dress Shop is located at 4210 E. Grand River Avenue in Howell, MI. Hours of operation are Sundays and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information on The Dress Shop, click here.
To enter for the chance to win a $50 gift certificate to The Dress Shop, click here.
For more Wedding Week on Modern Family, click here.
