How to Prepare for Wedding Dress Shopping

Do you remember the first time you thought about your wedding dress?  Probably when you were 6 years old, watching Cinderella or playing dress-up with your mom’s fancy clothes.  A girl’s wedding dress is one of the most important things she’ll ever wear.  Unfortunately, this also makes it the most stressful thing to shop for.  To take pressure off the, “say yes to the dress,” moment, we’ve organized a game plan for any bride to tackle while on the hunt for her dream dress.  Here are some helpful tips on how to prepare for wedding dress shopping.

Forever Bridal’s Tips on How to Prepare for Wedding Dress Shopping:

Explore Your Bridal Style and Taste

This is the perfect time to go through the, “Bride Vibes,” Pinterest Board you’ve been pinning to since meeting your fiance.  Knowing which styles, details and designers you prefer will help you go into your appointment with an understanding of what you want.  Also, browsing through online bridal shops and magazines can help you gain inspiration for your ideal wedding dress.  Print a few pictures for your bridal stylist to reference and have a list of features you’d like your dress to have.  Of course, we always recommend an open mind, because you never know what you’ll fall in love once you actually try it on!

How to Prepare for Wedding Dress Shopping

Know Your Budget

The average cost of a wedding dress is $1,564 (according to a 2016 survey conducted by The Knot), which makes it quite the investment for most brides.  Knowing what you can afford is extremely important in navigating through a boutique’s dress selection.  This figure will also be helpful in deciding where to shop, as some boutiques can have a more affordable or pricey selection.

How to Prepare for Wedding Dress Shopping

Photo courtesy of Thornbury Brides

Decide Where to Shop

There are over twenty bridal boutiques in the Raleigh area, so deciding where to shop can be overwhelming.  Forever Bridal has a list of our favorite local vendors that you can easily reference here.  We also recommend attending one of our quarterly bridal shows to meet staff from area shops face-to-face (get your tickets for our next event here!).  Of course, former brides are another reliable source, so be sure to reach out to your girlfriends to get their referrals!

How to Prepare for Wedding Dress Shopping

Photo courtesy of The Bridal Boutique NC

Take Advantage of Your Appointment

Once you’ve arrived and are ready to shop, the excitement can potentially distract you from obtaining other important information (but we don’t blame you – you’re shopping for your wedding dress, yay!).  Here are a list of additional items to note so you take full advantage of each appointment:

  • Appoint a friend to snap pictures of you in each dress.  This will help to see if a dress photographs well or not.  These pictures will also be a great reference to review after your shopping trip.
  • Consider the undergarments each dress will require while trying on.  Make a note of what you’d need to buy or wear and if you’d be comfortable on your wedding day.
  • Bring pictures of potential hairstyles to better visualize how the dress will look with your favorites.
  • Create a list of questions to ask your bridal consultant at your appointment.  Here are a few we thought of for you:
    – Does this dress coming in other colors?
    – Can extra length be added (if needed)?
    – How long does it take for the dress to come in once its ordered?
    – Do you provide alterations at your location?  If so, what is the cost?
    – If not, are you able to provide recommendations for a local tailor?
    – How long do alternations typically take to complete?

How to Prepare for Wedding Dress Shopping-Forever Bridal Wedding Shows

How Prepared Are You?

Have you started shopping for your wedding dress?  Do you have any tips for your fellow bride-to-be on how to prepare for wedding dress shopping?  If you’ve shopped for your wedding dress in the Raleigh, NC area, which bridal boutiques were your favorite?  Send us a message on our social media and let us know!