1. START EARLY! Bridal gowns can take 3-7 months to arrive, depending on the designer. Add in the time to alter and prepare your gown, and some "padding" time to put yourself at ease. It can take some time to find the "right" dress, so be sure to give yourself enough time to shop, decide, and order. Nothing can add to your wedding stress level more than wondering if your gown will be in on time.
2. TRY ON DIFFERENT STYLES. It's easy to get stuck on a certain "look", but the reality is that certain styles aren't for everyone. Be sure to try on at least a few gowns that are the opposite of what you thought you wanted, because very often the "one" ends up being something you never thought you would choose.
3. LEAVE THE PEANUT GALLERY AT HOME. A few trusted friends and mom, maybe? Too many opinions often leave a bride confused and frustrated. Remember, it is your gown. It's your wedding. You need to be happy with your gown, and confident in your choice. Get what makes you feel beautiful.
4. CONSIDER YOUR VENUE. Be sure to consider the when's and where's of your wedding. I think we can all agree that a 20lb ballgown with a cathedral train might be a bit out of place on the beach in Hawaii, and a backless, lowcut slipdress might be frowned upon in an Orthodox church ceremony. If you are marrying in a house of worship, make sure you know the rules ahead of time in regard to style, embellishments, modesty, and color.
5. DON'T WORRY ABOUT "CLASSIC" VS "TRENDY". The truth is, everything will look "dated" in time. As fashion rotates, styles come and go. Who would have thought leggings would have made a comeback?! If you have your eye on a style you consider "trendy", and you love it, then go for it! If it suits your personality, and makes you feel like a rockstar, then you've got the right dress.
6. ALTERATIONS. Rarely do gowns fit right off the rack, especially when you are under 5'8. A good consultant will show you how the gown will look once it's the right size and the right length. Proportion is key to a good fit!
7. UNDERGARMENTS. To get the best idea of how the gowns will look, be sure to wear or request the proper undergarments while trying on. We carry a full range of bustiers and control slips. Spanx are also popular with alot of our brides.
8. CAMERA PHONES ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but non-professional photos taken in a bridal salon can set you up for disaster. Human nature tells us to be overly critical of ourselves in photos, especially in the wrong lighting, wearing a gown in the wrong size. Professionals know just how to make you shine! That gorgeous dress that you absolutely love might be cast aside if you see a terrible camera phone pic of it, so my advice is just don't do it. :) Remember how you feel in the gown, because that is most important.
9. BEWARE OF THE DISCONTINUATION MONSTER. Bridal designers can be fickle people, always designing something new and beautiful.....the downside of that being that they have to let go of certain designs to make room for the new ones. We are generally given just short amount of time between the notification and the actual discontinuation. If you have found "the one", it's best to order when you find it.
10. BUY LOCAL. If there's a problem, question, or concern, your local full service retailer is here and ready to help. Not so if you purchase your gown online. Time and time again, I've had brides come into our store in tears, with a gown in a box (if they're lucky, sometimes there's NO dress). Every single one of them was an internet bride. There is absolutely no way to insure that you will get what you think you are getting if you order it online. Many times, I've seen fakes passed off as originals, dirty used sample gowns sold as new, or wrong sizes/colors/lengths. The reality is that the problems were avoidable.
