 Choosing
a wedding gown is probably one of the best parts of planning your
wedding. Below you'll find tips and ideas from local wedding
professionals to help you find the perfect gown! Plus, at
the end of this article, you'll find links to other web sites
where you can find bridesmaid and mother of the bride gowns too! |
Order Your
Dress at Least 6 Months In Advance -
It usually takes at least 12 weeks for a dress to come in from the
manufacturer and to have alterations done. If you’re in love with a
certain dress you may want to order your dress sooner because
sometimes the manufacturer will discontinue a particular dress and
they can’t notify each shop in advance to let them know a dress will
be discontinued. On the other hand, one bride from a recent
AtlanticCityWeddings.com spotlight recommends not ordering too far in
advance because you may spend a lot of time second-guessing your
choice, especially if you see a dress you like more after you’ve
ordered your dress.
Shop Midweek
vs. Weekends -
Most brides-to-be shop for their gowns on the weekends so it is usually
to your benefit to shop mid-week if you can. This will give you more
personalized attention when trying on dresses.
Bring
Pictures of Dress Styles You Like from the Bridal Magazines when You
Shop -
Bring pictures with you of dress styles you like when shopping. This
will help the store you visit find either the exact dress or a similar
style for you to try on. Also keep in mind, if you see a dress you like
by a top designer a dress of a similar style by a different manufacturer
can often save you money.
Bring Your
Imagination when Shopping and Try on Styles Other than the Ones You’ve
Chosen -
Because many stores don’t have wedding gowns in every size, often it
is hard for brides to imagine what a dress will look like on them. If
the dress is too big, it can be pulled in at the sides to appear more
form-fitting. Also, you can’t tell by looking at a gown on the rack
how it will look on you - you may have to try it on. If you enter a
store with a specific color and style of dress in mind, try some other
styles as well. You may picture yourself in an ornate dress with a full
train and try on a simpler gown suggested by the store owner and find
that you like that look 100 times better. Same for white vs. off-white
or some of the new pastels colors. Be open to other ideas when trying on
gowns so you don’t overlook the best gown for you.
Limit the
Number of People You Shop With -
When shopping for your bridal gown you may not want to bring your entire
bridal party. Too many opinions can make your decision difficult and
leave you second-guessing yourself. You may just want to shop with Mom
and/or a close friend. When you’re ready to choose bridesmaid gowns,
the internet is great for planning. Find styles and makes you like, see
if they are available locally and when you’ve narrowed it down to 3 or
4 styles you like, email the links for the dresses to your bridesmaids
and get the feedback from your bridal party from there. (You may want to
decide on a price-range for the dresses ahead of time with your bridal
party).
Limit the
Number of Stores You Visit Per Day - If
you visit too many stores in one day, trying on gown after gown - it
may be difficult to make a decision and/or remember which dresses you
liked best.
Check Out
Consignment Shops/Want Ads/Used Wedding Gown Stores -
Whether you’re on a tight budget or not, you can often find a great
bargain at a consignment shop or used wedding gown store or through
classified ads.
Consider
Wearing a Relative’s Wedding Dress -
If you’re looking for some vintage flair, consider wearing your
mother’s dress or perhaps your grandmother’s dress. See if the dress
is in good shape and what alterations & restorations, if any, are
needed. This can save you money and work as the "something
borrowed."
Petites &
Plus-Size Gowns -
More and more bridal shops are starting to carry at least a few
plus-size gowns in stock. Petite’s can always try on a gown that is
too big and get an idea of what it will look like by having it pinned or
holding in the sides. For the plus-size or tall bride, it isn’t that
simple. For this reason, more and more bridal stores are starting to
carry at least some plus-size gowns in stock that are ready to try on.
Most of the world is not a perfect size anything! Something Old,
Something New in Ocean City does carry quite a few plus-size gowns in
stock that are ready to try on. Wedding Belles also has plans to start
carrying some plus-sizes in the near future. Of course, any plus-size
gowns can be specially ordered. You can also call ahead to a store to
see if they have gowns in your size to try on or to ask about
plus-sizes. Some gown manufacturers are even creating new lines
especially for the plus-size bride, bridesmaid and mother of the bride.
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Choose a
Style that Flatters Your Figure - For plus-size brides an A-line
can make you appear thinner. To appear taller try a dress with an
empire waistline. Busty brides should steer away from cinched
waists and choose a scoop neckline or v-neck. For more great ideas
on choosing a style that flatters your figure - check out the
article "Your Best Look" on WeddingChannel.com. This
article has great sketches of the different body types &
styles.
Deposits
- Most stores require at least a 50% deposit on all orders. Be
sure to review the store’s policy on deposits, non-returnable
items, size-problems etc and don’t be afraid to ask questions. |
Gowns for
Second Weddings -
These days, many brides are choosing gowns that are just as elaborate as
the first wedding - minus the veil. For older brides marrying a second
time or renewing their vows, a nice choice is a white or off-white suit.
Another trend recently - pastel gowns - either full-length or ¾ length.
Many of the strapless, less ornate gowns that are in style are also
perfect for second weddings. Destination wedding gowns, with their more
casual styles, are also a nice choice.
For other
second wedding gown ideas check out Bride Again Magazine (we like
this magazine because it shows older women i.e. - over 25 years in the
photos with lots of different types and styles of gowns) or our article
on second weddings.
Ordering
Gowns over the Internet -
We love the internet however, when it comes to ordering a wedding gown
we feel that buying from a local store is generally going to be a
better, safer bet. While many brides have told us they've ordered
invitations or accessories over the internet and have been very pleased,
ordering your gown, we feel, is an entirely different matter. If
you order a gown over the internet that isn't perfect or that doesn't
arrive - then what? In all reality, while that could also happen
at a store anywhere in the United States - wouldn't you feel better if
there was a person you could speak to if you had a problem? What
if you needed some last minute alterations? With something as
important as your wedding gown...our first choice is still an
established local store.
Unexpected
Pregnancies -
Whether it’s the bride or the sister-in-law of the bride, occasionally
an unexpected pregnancy occurs either before or after a gown is ordered.
If you suspect you are pregnant - tell the store owner. They will
usually help you decide what size gown to order based on how far along
you will be in your pregnancy. It is always better to order larger and
take a dress in if need be. If one of your bridesmaid’s is expecting -
same thing. If for some reason an unexpected pregnancy occurs after a
dress is ordered call the store owner as well. While you will not be
able to get a refund - you might have time to order a larger size or the
store may be able to order some extra material to add panels to the
waistline of a dress.
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