How To Prepare For Dress Shopping
You’ve got the ring, you’ve set the date, and now it’s time to find The One.
Okay, you’ve found the person you’re going to marry, we’re talking about the other one.
Finding your dress can be a huge moment, and the truth is it’s hard to know what to expect before you ever step foot into a bridal store,
so here are our top tips to prepare for your Bridal shopping experience!
BOOK EARLY
First things first, most Bridal Boutiques are appointment only, so make sure you book early. Appointment-only is industry practice, to ensure that every bride who walks through the door gets her own stylist and space to find the one. Remember that appointments for ‘prime times’ can book up very quickly, so schedule early if you can. Here at Revelle, we pride ourselves on having three beautiful, private bridal suites to ensure each bride can enjoy her moment. We operate appointment-only to ensure everyone gets all the time they need to find their gown without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. For an initial bridal consultation we allocate ninety minutes from walking through the door to heading back out, and for most brides that can be the quickest hour and a half of their life!
DO YOUR RESEARCH
An important thing to consider before booking is doing your research. Different stores have different styles to offer, and some stores can be more niche than others. Figure out an idea of the styles you might be looking for, and the one’s you’re definitely not, and then research each boutique to see how their collections align with what you think you’re trying to find. The last thing you want is to be disappointed if you arrive at your appointment and that store has a completely different vibe to what you’re imagining. Most bridal boutiques list the designers they carry on their website, allowing you to look into different styles. We also list our gowns on our Pinterest page, allowing you to ‘pre-pin’ your top picks.
PICK THE RIGHT GUESTS
After you’ve found bridal boutiques that fit in with your style and budget, you should schedule in your appointments and invite the people who you want there for your ‘Yes’ moment. If you know that their opinion is something you value and need to help you know you’ve found ‘the one’, be sure to have them with you. Don’t be afraid to be picky about your guests. Wedding dress shopping can be a vulnerable and emotional moment, so bring the people who support you and know you best. If someone can’t make it in person, check with your Bridal Boutique about virtually bringing them in! Here at Revelle we offer complimentary wifi and can set up zoom calls for you to share your experience with your guests near and very-very far.
DON'T OVER DO IT
Don’t schedule too many appointments in one day. Bridal Gown shopping can be more of a process than a regular retail therapy session, and if your last appointment of the day is your fourth or fifth since you woke up that morning, you might feel a little overwhelmed and exhausted. If you’ve already tried on twenty or thirty dresses in one day, chances are you could feel tired even if you’re at the space with the dresses you’re most excited for. Space out your day and be sure to schedule in a lunch break so you can relax.
EXPECT TO SAY YES
Go to each appointment with the expectation you might buy. As much as we’re big advocates for ‘the process’ of bridal shopping, we understand that sometimes a bride can try on her very first dress in her very first appointment and find that it’s the one. It happens more often than you think. Sometimes it’s down to the way you’ve booked your appointments (did you start with the store that most fits your vibe?) or just that your intuition has drawn you to your perfect gown. If you go in with the mindset that you can’t buy that day, it can sometimes throw you off, and can also mean that you don’t get a chance to take advantage of the different promotions boutiques offer. You certainly don’t have to buy at the first appointment, but don’t be afraid to!
WEAR NUDE UNDERGARMENTS
When you get dressed the morning of your bridal appointment, try not to reach for anything too colourful, try and wear skin-toned underwear. Generally you won’t need to wear a bra with most bridal gowns when trying on, but keep in mind that most bridal gowns are ivory, which means that your favourite bright pink underwear might show through and throw you off. Our recommendation would usually be seamless underwear in your skin-tone. If you want to wear shapewear, we would suggest bringing it with you, but don’t make it your only underwear, so you have the option to try gowns with and without!
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
Try to go into each boutique with an open mind! It’s not uncommon to fall in love with something unexpected - so many great love stories start with something surprising - so don’t be afraid to try a wild card here and there.
Lastly, remember that this experience should be fun! It can be nerve-wracking to imagine walking into a Bridal Boutique, but this is a happy experience. So, take a deep breath and enjoy it all babe!
Photography credits:
Revelle Bridal
Agatha Rowland Photography
Illuma Creative
Laura Kelly
