4 Mistakes to Avoid When Wedding Dress Shopping

Would you like your dress shopping experience to go as smoothly as possible? Are you unsure of what to expect?  Choosing a dress for your big day is one of the most exciting things about wedding planning. Gathering your closest gal pals, drinking champagne and trying on wonderful gowns is an experience that every woman should have. So, before making your appointment, prepare yourself by making sure you’re not making any of these mistakes, which will make your experience that much better.

Limiting Yourself

One of the biggest mistakes a bride-to-be can make is not having an open mind during her appointment. Many women have been researching their dream wedding gown for a while, pinning certain styles on Pinterest, and think they know exactly what they want in a dress. While it’s great to give the consultants some options in the beginning, listen to their recommendations as well. After all, it is their job to help you find a beautiful and flattering gown. Go ahead, ask a consultant how many times a bride walked out with a completely different style than they imagined. The answer might shock you!

Not Sticking To The Budget

As tempting as it may be to try on the most expensive dresses in the boutique “just for fun,” you shouldn’t. While shopping for your dress, be conscious of the price you’d ideally like to pay, and take into account the cost of alterations that may be needed. Make sure your consultant knows you’re not willing to go over the budget you’ve set, and kindly ask your party not to try and convince you to try on dresses that are out of your price range. Falling in love with a dress you can’t afford will only bring heartbreak and make the process of finding your dream dress that much harder.

Shopping For Your Dream Body

“Shredding” for the wedding is a common occurrence for brides to be everywhere. They want to look their very best for their photos and that walk down the aisle by hitting a certain number on the scale. Most women want to purchase their gown in a size or two smaller, while others totally forgo wedding dress shopping until they’ve reached their ultimate goal weight or size. To avoid that pressure, you should order your current size. Remember, it is much easier to take in a dress than it is to make it bigger. Also, be aware that bridal gown sizing is usually 1-2 sizes smaller than normal dress sizing. So, if you are normally a size 10, you will be at least a 12-14 bridal gown size, depending on the style you choose.

And most importantly, dress shopping is one of the first things you should do during wedding planning. You should expect a delivery window of 16 weeks after ordering your dress. You should also be aware that although your consultant will take your measurements, your dress may still need to be altered for a more custom fit so you should allow a few weeks for alterations. You should also consider that your dress will need to be ready for your pre-wedding bridal photo session. The bottom line… waiting too long can add unnecessary pressure and limit your choices by having to search for an off rack dress in your size.

Continuing To Shop After You Found “The One”

Making such a big decision can create a feeling of doubt about the dress you’ve chosen. You might be thinking “Did I choose the right dress?” by scrolling through photos of other dresses you tried on or considering another appointment at a different boutique. To combat that feeling of doubt, remind yourself how you felt when you saw yourself in your dress, delete those photos, stop scrolling, and stay confident that you found your “Yes Dress!”

Maison Chic Bridal & Special Occasions is a wedding and dress boutique catering to Victoria, Texas.

Now serving Hallettsville, Gonzales, Shiner, Nixon, Kenedy, Yorktown, and Yoakum.