You’ve got the ring, but now you need the dress. The hunt for the perfect gown can seem daunting. Yikes!

You might be asking, “Where do I even begin my search?”  But don’t worry – we have outlined the wedding dress process for you.

Starting the Search

Ideally, you should book appointments at salons one year prior to the wedding date. It seems like a long time – but there is good reason for it. This timeline gives you plenty of wiggle room to order a dress (which can take about six months), have at least one fitting, and get the dress altered to perfectly fit your body. It is never too early to find your dress. 

But before you book appointments, determine your budget. Take some time to look at your finances and figure out how much you would be comfortable spending on a dress. Recognize that most wedding gowns can run anywhere between $500 and $15,000.

Research the bridal salons in your area. If there is a specific designer you adore, look for salons that carry that designer. Give the salon a call and ask for the range in pricing of their dresses to make sure it fits with your budget. Then, if it is a comfortable price range for you, make an appointment. 

Shopping for a Gown

As you prepare for your appointment, you may be tempted to look at dresses on Pinterest, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Keep in mind that these heavily photographed dresses are often couture or designer gowns, and have price tags to match.

Consider any themes you foresee for your wedding and what silhouettes correspond to those themes. However, when you go into your appointment, don’t be afraid to try on multiple different silhouettes. Try to trust the stylist and let them show you the gowns you might not have considered for yourself.

When you’re shopping, remember that every designer has slightly different sizing. A wedding dress is not a one-size-fits-all, and will require alterations. Make sure you are trying on the correct size – don’t just rely on the number on the tag. Most importantly, do not order a size down! A dress can always be made smaller in order to fit, but not all dresses have seam allowances to make them bigger.

When you are trying on dresses, try on accessories as well. Experimenting with different veils, headpieces, and jewelry will give you a big picture idea of your complete bridal look.

Take plenty of pictures for reference because it might be months until you see your dress again, so keeping photographs of your look can help you to make decisions that have to do with your attire and theme.

Alterations

Hire a professional seamstress with considerable experience. Many bridal salons will have recommendations for alterations or can provide the service themselves. The fitting of your gown can make or break your look, so ensure that the person you hire is skilled and has raving reviews before you let them touch your gown.

When you have dress fittings, make sure you bring the undergarments you intend to wear on your wedding day, so that you will know exactly how the dress will fit. Your shoes will also change the height of the hem of the dress, so have those with you at every fitting as well.

The Big Day 

Make sure your seamstress has pressed and steamed the dress prior to your wedding day so that the only thing you have to do is put it on! Have a small steamer in your dressing room so that you can get rid of any last minute wrinkles.

Also make sure you have someone on hand who can help you get into your dress. If your dress has buttons, bring a crochet hook to help you get them buttoned. Wedding dress buttons are often tiny, and if you’ve ever tried to button something with long nails, you’ll understand how much of a hassle it is to use your fingers. If your dress has a corset, make sure you have someone who knows how to lace it correctly so that the ties do not go in different directions. Neat lacing is essential.

Your wedding dress may have a bustle. The seamstress will add this to the dress in order to tie the train up into the dress so that it cannot be stepped on behind you. Make sure you have someone video record the process of bustling the dress, as it can be complicated. Some dresses only need three ties, but some have up to 28. A video can be a huge help for the person trying to match the hooks.

Also remember if you have a cathedral veil, you can bustle that as well. Keep a hatpin, long corsage pin, or safety pin on hand in order to prevent your delicate veil from being ruined.

 

Good luck during your dress search!