Going into dress shopping, I had 8+ years of Say Yes to The Dress under my belt. I thought I knew it all…trust your stylist, don’t try on a dress over budget..but there were SO many other things I wish someone told me before I took a dive into the wedding world.
So here I am, someone who said “yes” after a ton of trial and error, passing along 10 important notes from one bride-to-be to the next!
10 Things I Learned
Go in With an Open Mind: An open mind is everything – you may end up with the exact dress you had pictured, but you may find out that there’s a style you love even more. Try on different silhouettes, colors and fits and ask your consultant to pull 2-3 dresses that they think would work for you and then formulate an opinion from there!
Do Your Research: One of the best appointments I had was one where I shared my Pinterest board with the consultant. My board was just a ton of random images – some had a bridal gown as the focus and others were just wedding inspo images that I’ve collected over the years.
Even if you’re unsure of each detail, create a mood board on Pinterest with images that inspire you, photography styles you like, etc. Your consultant will be able to get a better idea of how you want the day to look and feel and play your dress style into that.
Take Notes: Every time you like or dislike something, add it to a note pad in your phone. If you end up going to multiple shops, you can pull those notes up and share with your consultant. That way, you’re eliminating the dresses or fits that you know aren’t for you. It’ll save a lot of time and make each appointment a more curated experience.
Take Photos and Videos: Photos and videos are GREAT to have and really let you see a dress from each and every angle. If you’re alone, consultants are usually happy to help you with this! If you’re with friends or family, ask one of them to man the camera and help you capture footage of the ones you love.
Understand Your Budget: One thing I didn’t realize going into dress shopping was how quickly things add up! A dress may cost $3,000, but add tax, alternations (could be up to $1,000 just for the basics), and accessories and you’re suddenly looking at a $5,000 purchase. If you have a tight budget, tell your consultant a dress cost of about 1K lower to avoid any crazy surprises!
It’s OK To Shop Alone: When I first started shopping, I felt like I needed someone with me at each appointment. But as I got deeper into the process and realized it might take a bit, I decided to do some shops alone and weed out the dresses that weren’t for me. This allowed me to run to appointments after work, try on different styles and quickly decide on my own if it was right or not. Once I found a spot I loved or looked promising, I would let my mom and MOH know and we’d schedule another appointment together.
Listen To Your Gut: Everyone always told me this and I didn’t fully grasp the concept until I said yes to a dress and was in the finance room ready to pay for it. I suddenly started to panic and ran out of the shop crying…dramatic, I know š
I was questioning the fit and the style…wondering if it was worth the total I just saw on a piece of paper. I remember calling my grandma, talking her through how I felt, and her asking me one simple question…”do you love it?” And I said I didn’t know.
So I decided to sleep on it and the next day woke up with some clarity and decided to say “no” to my “yes.” Sometimes the excitement of being in a certain shop, or around your closest friends and family can take over and cause you to make a decision you’re not ready for. You’ll know deep down if a dress isn’t for you – so listen to that intuition.
Don’t Let A Shop Pressure You: This is a big one – don’t let a shop pressure you by saying you need to order a dress that day to get in time or that you have to put money down asap. Unless you’re in a major time crunch (like your wedding is within a few months or weeks) or you’re trying to secure a truck show rate, there’s not much difference between ordering a dress today or in a few weeks from now.
Make An Accessories Appointment: A lot of times you’ll find the dress and a shop will immediately start to sell you on accessories. You have time for that! Saying yes to a dress is a big decision, so don’t feel pressured to pick accessories out at the same appointment. Most salons will offer a special accessories appointent where you can pick those items out!
Everyone Reacts Differently: Number 10, the big one and something I learned after saying yes twice lol…not everyone is going to have a huge emotional response to their dress and that’s ok! I consider myself a pretty emotional person and I didn’t cry at either of the “yes” appointments.
TV and social media has put this idea in our minds that a dress will go on, tears will flow and emotions will be at an all time high when it’s the right one. But we all react differently and there is no right or wrong way to say yes – sometimes you just put it on and know š
And those are my top 10 tips! If you have any others, help the next bride-to-be out and put them in the comments š
XOXO
