Wedding Dress Shopping + Tips!
This post is all about my wedding dress shopping experience, plus my top tips to finding your perfect dress! It can be super overwhelming trying to pick a dress, but I’ve found that these simple tips made it MUCH easier to say yes to the dress! Let’s get into it —
I decided to shop at Norah’s Bridal in Oxford Michigan after my cousin (who lives in the area) suggested this boutique to me! She really understands my style, & told me how cute this place was! After looking at their website, I found that Norah’s Bridal carried a lot of designers that I love. So, I booked a VIP appointment & headed to Michigan!
Immediately, the staff was super welcoming and SO helpful. I had a private area in the store to be with my family, and I got to look through all of their dresses. I even got to pull different styles for myself. Overall, I probably tried on about 10 dresses. I really loved this intimate experience, & recommend finding a boutique that will give you individual attention in a private setting. It was perfect!
I went into the store with a certain style of dress that I was looking for. This made choosing different dresses to try on way easier. For example, if you know you want a lace dress — make sure to try on a lot of lace styles! However, even though I kind of knew what I was looking for, my stylist recommended other silhouettes to try on as well. I was so thankful for this because I ended up loving other dresses that I might have not initially picked out! A good rule is to try on every dress silhouette. This makes it easier to narrow down your decisions, & see different styles on your body-type!
Personally, I think it’s best to bring at least one other person with you when wedding dress shopping. This moment is really special, & it’s nice to share it with someone you trust & love! I brought my mom, sister (maid of honor), my cousin (bridesmaid), and my aunt! It was really amazing to hear their opinions, they were so sweet but also honest. They really helped me to say yes to the dress!
Also remember that this is your special day! When you look into the mirror, make sure that the dress is something you feel good in, & not something you feel pressured to wear! After all, your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life! Make sure you 100% love the dress you pick. For instance, there were a few dresses that my family liked, but they just didn’t feel like the right fit for me! It helped to take a few minutes to decide in the dressing room alone. Whenever I was alone, I made my final choice! I definitely recommend taking a few moments to yourself before making your big decision.
I SAID YES TO THE DRESS!
To be revealed 06/07/2024
MORE SHOPPING TIPS:
Consider the season! Example: If your wedding is in the winter you might want a heavier fabric, or a long sleeve dress!
Do designer research ahead of time. Make sure the boutique you’re shopping at has designers and styles you love! I like simple styles and less glam. So, I made sure to go to a boutique that had these options.
Decide on your budget before making an appointment to shop. Also, consider your veil cost in your final budget! I had no idea how expensive veils are… wow!
Make sure to communicate your budget to your stylist before dress shopping. This way, you won’t try on dresses that are way outside of your budget. That’s just the worst!
Stop looking at dresses after you say yes to the dress! You’ll start to question your decision and have doubts. My advice is to unfollow bridal dress accounts, & move on in your wedding planning! Don’t second guess it.
What is the overall style of your wedding and what is your wedding venue? Narrowing down the overall style will help you to pick your perfect dress!! For instance, my wedding style is “classic” and I’m not doing anything extremely trendy. Having this info in the back of my mind was super helpful when I was shopping!
