In the words of Beyonce, he “put a ring on it”.
Happiness fills your body and mind, then slowly the anxiety kicks in. There is so much to organize!
The bridesmaids, the venue, the photographer, the jewelry, the catering, the cake and most importantly, the dress!
How can you find the perfect wedding apparel?
Keeping reading to find out.
Finding “The One”
Yes, there is a lot to think about. Making the right decision when choosing your wedding apparel is very important.
Why? Because the colors and theme you choose will run throughout the entire wedding. It will affect the colors of the bridesmaid’s dresses, the groomsmen, the flowers, the table decorations etc.
So you’ve got to get it right.
Plan Ahead
Think about your location and the season your wedding will be.
Will it be a beach wedding, rustic barn wedding, ballroom style wedding, classic church wedding, vintage wedding… the list goes on and on!
Whatever concept you’ve decided on will affect the style of your dress.
The weather obviously also plays a role. If it’s a winter wedding, a fur shrug may be appropriate, whereas a summer wedding, strapless may be more suited.
Decide on a budget. Whether you can spend a little or a lot, you need to decide on your limit. Or you may use all of your funds and have nothing left for the rest of the wedding!
Do Your Homework
To find the right dress, research is required. And it can be quite fun, but maybe a little overwhelming.
Use google, Pinterest, blogs and bridal magazines to get some inspiration.
Make a little scrapbook with cutouts and sketches of your ideas.
Take a look in your own closet, what styles suit you? What do you feel comfortable in? Which styles should you religiously avoid?
During your research try to familiarize yourself with “wedding terminology”. Especially when it comes to the various shades of white, there are thousands, and each varies according to the designer.
So try to have some idea of what the meanings of “Diamond white” “Alabaster” and “Champagne” are!
Game Plan
Make sure you start looking for dresses up to a year in advance. This will give you time to not only find your dress but also to make any needed alterations before the wedding.
Most bridal shops are by appointment only. Choose the time wisely.
You don’t want to go at the busiest time and not have the quality service you deserve.
Weekends and evenings are busiest for Bridal Shops. Weekdays and early mornings are the quietest times, you can browse in peace and not be rushed into a bad decision.
Anticipate about an hour and a half at each appointment.
So only try to fit in 2 or 3 appointments maximum in one day. After you’ve got to the third shop your head will be a swirly mess!
Before Hitting the Shops
Have a notebook ready to make sketches and notes of the dresses you liked, along with the name of the store, the designer, and which size fits you.
Make sure to wear appropriate underwear! And bring along a good quality strapless bra to use during the fittings.
If you plan to wear Spanx or any other special underwear on the day, bring that along too.
If you have any inherited jewelry or a veil that you plan to wear on the big day, bring it along so you can sure everything will be matchy-matchy!
Bring some heels. They may not be your actual wedding shoes, but if they are a similar height to what you predict you will wear, then they will help you judge the length.
Before you go, don’t plaster yourself with makeup or fake tan. If you accidentally get a dress dirty, you might have a big bill to pay.
Choose your companions wisely.
Whoever you decide on, make sure they are more of a help than a hindrance when it comes to making a decision.
And don’t bring too many people, it’s not going to help.
You value their opinions, that’s why you asked them to come, but at the end of the day, you wear the dress. It’s your decision.
Tackling the Bridal Store
Go out for a drink or brunch with your carefully chosen friends before the appointment.
This will help you to ease up and tell everyone your ideas, so you’re all on the same page.
Don’t forget, most bridal stores don’t let you take photos, but you can always ask if they have a different policy.
Before you start browsing through the sparkly gowns, tell the salesperson your budget. That way you won’t fall in love with a dress that’s totally out of your price range.
Budget Bride
There’s no shame in getting married on a budget. In fact, there are many bargains to be found when it comes to budget wedding dresses.
Choose your shopping time wisely. Go when there’s a sale.
Keep your eye on big bridal stores and be ready when they have a wedding dress bonanza!
Trunk shows are also a great way to get a bargain (events where they sell discounted dresses by particular designers collection).
Buying a vintage or secondhand dress is also a great way to keep the costs down.
Some awesome online deals await, but be careful. What you see isn’t always what you get.
Check for good reviews, and always make sure there is a return policy.
Picking the Right Dress
Be open-minded. You might have come in with an idea, but the salesperson or your friends may have some great ideas to help you find something that’ll suit you.
Don’t be focused on the label or the designer. If you like it, you like it, whether it’s on the rack or designer made.
How does it make you feel?
Don’t forget the other wedding apparel and accessories: the veil, underwear, hair pieces and more.
When You’ve Found “The One!”
Get everything in writing, including any plans for alterations and fittings, the pickup dates, cancellation policy and anything else of importance.
This is especially needed in bigger bridal shops who get many customers coming and going every day.
If your dress needs alterations, make sure to add this to your budget. It can cost hundreds of dollars to take your dress in, or out.
And always have a backup plan.
Wedding Apparel at its Finest
There are many wedding dress designers from around the world to choose from.
At Morilee Madeline Gardner designs each wedding gown to make dreams come true.
She designs her dresses to be trendy and contemporary yet with a classic, timeless feel.
A Dream Wedding
As you can see, planning a wedding isn’t a walk in the park.
Choosing your wedding apparel is only one aspect of it. But it’s of vital importance.
Your dress is the thing that you will remember most from your big day, apart from marrying the love of your life of course!
Use our awesome search directory to find everything you need to plan your perfect wedding day.