That Perfect Wedding Dress

Congratulations on your engagement! Now that it’s time to get down to business and start working out all the details for your wedding you’ll find that your local bridal boutique can be your closest ally when it comes to the most important task: picking your dress.

To begin with, call the boutique ahead of time to find out if you’ll need to make an appointment. It’s also a good idea to plan your visit during the week, if you can; that way the shop is less likely to be busy.

Before your appointment it is best to envision your perfect dress by imagining your venue, and then place yourself in that picture. Now you’ll be able to get an idea of what will suit the needs of the space, time of day, and time of year best. For example, a large , formal wedding in a cathedral will require a more elaborate gown than a small home ceremony; while a long train maybe a liability at an outdoor ceremony.

Set the appointment once you know what your style, needs, and budget are.

Taking someone with you is a good idea, but make sure you pick someone who will support you in your choices. Having too many friends with their own opinions can make decision making difficult, so find one or two people you can trust and invite them along.

You’ll want to be comfortable so, you should wear or bring a strapless bra, and any have a pair of heels along with comfortable shoes and clothes for a quick change.

Also, as a courtesy, avoid wearing make-up or any deodorant, as it could mark the dress that you are trying on.

Once you decide on the dress, you don’t want any extra surprises so make sure you find out what the deposit and delivery expectations will be. Ask for a written estimate for any alterations that will be required, as this can increase the price quite a bit.

You can finally relax! You’ve found your perfect gown and now it’s time to focus on all the other things that need to be done.

By the way, the bridal boutique will have connections in the wedding industry so be sure to ask for their recommendations.

 

By Sarah Stevens from Laska Bridal

 

Tips Overview:

Appointments: Make sure you call ahead to see if you’ll need an appointment, and try to make one during the week as it tends to be less busy.

Who to come with: Try to bring only one or two people with you that you trust and that will support you in your decisions.

What to have in mind: Imagine your self in your perfect dress at your venue; this will give you an idea of the style to fit your theme, location, time of day and time of year. This will also keep you from becoming overwhelmed. You don't want to try on too many dresses or you may become confused.

What to have with you: When coming to your appointment try to wear something comfortable that will be easy to change in and out of. You should always bring a strapless bar and a pair of heels to give you a better vision of how the dress will fit on your wedding day. You should also avoid wearing any make-up or deodorant, because it may mark up the dress you are trying on.

Concerns: Don’t be afraid to share any concerns you may have with the sales associate. They can help with any concerns you may have with body, sizing, measurements, and undergarments.

Budget: Be specific about your budget for your wedding gown.

Deposits: Be prepared to pay a deposit for your wedding gown when you order. This may be 50%-60% of the total cost of the dress. Some stores will also require a signed contract  to conform the order and the measurements taken at the date of the order.

Delivery: The industry standard is about 5-7 months for delivery, so be sure to get out there and order your dress as soon as you can.

Alterations: Be sure to ask for an estimate on alterations, as this will increase the price of the dress and should be worked into your budget.

Changes: This is very important: if there is any weight loss, changes in size (for you or your bridal party)  notify the merchant as soon as possible as this will affect the fit of your dress once it has been delivered.