What Should I Know Before Shopping for My Wedding Dress

Wedding dress shopping

Don’t freak! There are several things that can alarm you when you’re shopping for your wedding dress!

First shocker to know that when you’re dress shopping is that the wedding dress designers don’t give in to vanity sizing. You might be a size 6 at a department store and you could be a 12 or 14 in a wedding gown.

Remember, it doesn’t matter. When we order a gown, we do it based off of your measurements and so it doesn’t matter what the size the designer put you in.

Also, to make it more confusing, all of the designers have different sizing. So, if you wear a 14 in one, you might wear a 12 or a 16 in another one. They go by their own rules and aren’t stuck by any standards. Just don’t worry about it.

Another thing to be aware of is that trying on wedding dresses is a workout. While your friends and family get to sit and enjoy watching you try on different ones, you won’t get to. So be rested and eat before you go. And if you’re going to have some drinks, wait until you’ve chosen to celebrate. Otherwise, you could get tired and make a decision out of default instead of choice.

You might think I’m just shopping, but another shocker is that you need to know your budget. Some people will say it doesn’t matter, but they’re not the ones paying your credit card bill. Set your limits and let the bridal shop know what you’re comfortable with seeing. We don’t want you to fall in love with a dress that you can’t afford – it makes the others look less appealing. At Uptown Bride, we ask your budget so we can show you that respect. We don’t want to show you something you can’t or don’t want to afford. There’s no quicker way to resent a dress and the people who sold it to you than to be talked into something that’s above your price. How rude!

Next surprise is that you it’s a good idea to figure out what kind of style you want your wedding to be. Is it casual, dramatic, themed? You’ll want the gown to match the mood of your wedding. But you don’t have to know it all. You might come in with ideas but be open to some wild card options for our stylists might bring you to try. Often what you thought you wanted doesn’t turn out to be what you really love.

Be honest in your assessment of each dress and let the stylist know what you like and don’t like. That’s the only way to keep getting closer to the dress you can really see yourself in wearing.  

Also, another shocker, not everyone who you might want to bring will be good for you to have there with you. Some people are negative, jealous or have their own opinions and will try to talk over yours. This is a time to focus on what you want. This is your choice for you and your partner.

Conversely, don’t bring someone who will not be honest and will just say that everything is wonderful on you. You need honesty here. Now, you can often tell your guests reactions from the way they respond and look at you in your dress. Check for those reactions and that’ll tell you how people you know and love will respond.

Leave the kids at home. This is time for you and you’re the focus. Kids have a hard time sitting still for such a long time, and that will mean attention will be turned to them. Just as a note, at Uptown Bride, we don’t allow in children younger than 12. It’s not because we don’t love kids – we have them and love them – but this is a time for the bride and her guests need to be focusing their attention on her.

Also listen to your gut. There are lots of ways you will show that this is your gown – from tearing up to not wanting to take it off. Don’t just look at the dress, remember how that dress makes you feel. Do you feel like a bride?

Trust your gut.

Something else that might be a surprise to you is that you can find your dress on the first visit. You might have that little voice in your head that second-guesses every decision. The voice that says, “what if?” But if your gut is saying, this is it, then do it. You might not be able to get that dress later, especially if it’s one that’s in stock. At Uptown Bride we have hundreds of dresses in stock, but we can’t reorder them. When they’re gone, they’re gone, and we can’t hold dresses for you. So, if you’re in love with it, get it.

Another thing that might surprise you that we’ll need to know is where you think you’re getting married. Your bridal stylist doesn’t necessarily need the specifics, if you haven’t decided on an actual place yet. But we’ll need to know the time of year, whether you want it to be inside or outside, is it in a church.

The reason we need to know that info is to select a gown that will work. That will help us figure out what fabrics will work or how modest it needs to be. Several churches will have strict standards on what can be worn in their sanctuaries. (Your church can easily give you those standards, so just ask if you’re thinking about getting married there.)

Now, if things change in your plans, we can change up the dress to accommodate some of those standards in alterations. We can add in panels that reduce cleavage or create more of a strap for the dress. So don’t freak if your plans change. Just let us know so that we can help you with those changes.

All of these things might seem so different from shopping from anything else and it is. This is the most important dress you’ll ever wear, and we want to make sure that all of our brides have the information to make this as stress free as possible.

On our website, you can find out more information, including our FAQs. Go there for more and then give us a call or email us if there’s any question remaining. Again, we want you to be prepared so you can enjoy this moment and won’t have to worry or stress over the process. Besides it’ll help you to make your guests who are with you more informed and empowered. Like that old saying goes: Knowledge is power!