Wedding Dress Shopping Tips!
So You’re Getting Married
Hey Bride! Now what?
It was the Spring of 2021 when I started wedding dress shopping. A year later I was walking down the aisle in the dress of my dreams. And I can’t believe that was already almost a year ago now!
Though it seems miraculous, shopping for a wedding dress can be a process.
So read on for some tips that will help you find your wedding dress!
Many women dream of the dress they’ll wear on their wedding day.
Maybe it’s imagining how it feels to put on “the one” and just know. Hoping their partner will look at them as someone they’re proud to stand next to.
But how do you know it’s the one? Where do you begin!
Overall I had a really positive experience with wedding dress shopping. I went a few places over the course of a few weeks, and then when deciding between two dresses I picked the one I could see myself in the most.
Nevertheless, I could see how it can becomes stressful. It’s a big decision, isn’t it? You want it to be perfect. Even after I decided on my dress, and paid for it, I had thoughts months later that it may not be as special as I thought. It was absolutely too late to change my mind. And I’m so glad I didn’t.
When I had my first fitting 9 months after committing to the gown, I was beaming. It really was perfect.. it was made for me.
So I thought I would share a little more about my journey to finding my dress including:
Where to shop
When to buy a dress
Who to bring
How to pick the right style
When you know it’ the one
And I’ll share some of my favorites that I tried along the way too :)
Where To Shop
Living in New York City there are so many designers and wedding boutiques to choose from. From Kleinfeld’s, Monique Lhuillier, Mark Ingram are just a few of the places I planned on going. The gowns are gorgeous and service is top notch.
But at the time my mom was recovering from a knee replacement surgery and getting around in New York would have been tough. We opted for boutiques in the suburbs of Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey that we could access by car.
We’d always visit a few in one day to be efficient. I spent 3 days in total looking at dresses before I made a decision.
I ultimately found my dress at a boutique in North New Jersey, called Seng Couture. Though the interior may not be as beautiful or inspiring as other boutiques, the women were helpful and efficient. The price range of dresses was more reasonable and the custom tailoring was a huge sell for me.
Plus recommendations matter. I wanted to know I could trust the shop I got my dress from to avoid a disaster because I’ve heard a few horror stories from friends. One of my friends bought her dress at Seng and had a great experience, so we decided to check it out.
Here are all the other wedding boutiques that I went to in the tri-state area!
Looking for a cute bridal boutique with an ambiance and designer options?
Looking for a more affordable price range?
My recommended bridal boutiques:
Halfpenny London *literally in the UK but a girl can dream, I’ve followed their gorgeous gowns for years
When to shop for the dress?
Give yourself 9 months to a year to find a gown, as it could take time to place an order in your measurements and tailor the if necessary. This is common as your measurements may have changed!
There are ALWAYS options to get dresses on a shorter time frame. But here is a standard timeline based on my experience.
Who to bring with you?
A smaller group is better in my opinion. Bring someone who will be supportive of you.
Personally, I didn’t care to go with anyone who would be “brutally honest” and shove their opinions at me. I just wanted to feel excited and happy trying styles on, and share that experience with the ones I love. I knew ultimately I could make the decision that was right for me, and I wanted to go with my own gut instinct.
Because I was shopping post Covid, I could only ever bring 2 guests at a time. I usually brought my Mom who was so excited to be a part of the experience. I also brought my sister and Maid of Honor Lauren along for most appointments. The day I found my dress was with my Mom and my Mother In Law, who doesn’t have any daughters and was so happy to be included. Overall it was perfect to look with them, and then share pictures with my Grandma.
Often times I had to wear a mask, only taking it off for photos of the special gowns. Thankfully that’s not a rule most brides will encounter right now!
To share or not share?
I shared pictures of my dress with friends and family, but I kept it a secret from the following:
My groom (duh)
My dad and brother
My bridesmaids
It was so fun to do a reveal with them.
Picking the right style?
There is a huge range to choose from, and I recommend trying on a ton of different styles to know what you like! Even the unexpected ones… sometimes you will be surprised!
My advice is go with what feels comfortable, and most flattering for your figure. Worried about how you’ll look? Don’t hide, just find a dress that highlights what you got and love about yourself!
Many people diet before their wedding. But the stress of needing to “fit into a tight dress” was not something I wanted weighing over me.
Time and time again I felt most beautiful in an A-line gown. Tight on top, loose on the bottom.
How many appointments will there be?
I found and ordered my dress in May 2021
It arrived to the store January 2022
I did a first fitting in April 2022
I did a last fitting in May 2022 and took my dress hope
Was married June 10th, 2022
Details of My Wedding Gown
When I put on this dress… it just felt good.
The material was so light, but intricately detailed with applique flowers, shimmering sequins, and no uncomfortable structured boning. After putting it on, the owners of the boutique told me to stand outside in the daylight so I would see how the sun reflected off the sequins when they caught the light just right. I felt crazy at first on the side of a busy road…. but it really did convince me.
The floral details were impeccable, and so right for our garden ceremony.
Creating a custom gown
We did quite a bit of tailoring, and this came at an increased cost. But the dress itself was under budget, and the results were amazing! Here is just some of the work:
Replaced thin rhinestone spaghetti straps with thick lace straps
Reshaped the front into a wide V formation
Built a deep swoop neck back versus a V shape, which still showed off some skin but felt better constructed
Added lining across the top of the dress (some had beige)
Replaced the all over beige lining of the skirt with ivory. This popped more against my tan skin
Hemmed the front of the gown
It was the gown of my dreams. On the day I got married, I knew I made the right choice.
Good luck, Brides!
It’s such a fun experience and I hope you enjoy the ride. Soak it up! Stay calm. It will all work out :)
Xx Gab
Helpful recommendations to finding the right gown and enjoying the process of finding your wedding dress!