Lots of us dream of our wedding day: serenely walking down the aisle in the most gorgeous dress, while the man or woman of your dreams is fighting back tears because of how breathtaking you look. But these fairytale ideas can mean that the pressure is on when it comes to choosing a wedding dress, as we all want to get *that* feeling when finding \u201cthe one\u201d.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve recently gotten engaged (in which case, congratulations!), and you\u2019re wondering how to pick a wedding dress, then you\u2019ve come to the right place! Our top 10 tips will hopefully prepare you for finding your dream dress, as well as having lots of fun along the way!<\/p>\n
Whether or not you\u2019re already confident you want a puffy princess dress, or a sleek, mermaid chic look, it\u2019s always worth doing your research before you start trying on dresses.<\/p>\n
Create your own bridal board on Pinterest where you can save your favourite looks, or if you want to do it old school, buy a bunch of bridal magazines and start your own scrapbook.<\/p>\n
The silhouette is the most important thing to determine early on, but there are so many other things to consider too: do you want a lot of lace, or a classic satin number? Do you want a long train, a daring backless look, or a chic Bardot off-the-shoulder? Of course, you don\u2019t need to know exactly what you want, but the clearer idea you have, the more focused you can be in your dress search!<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very unlikely you\u2019ll be able to walk into a bridal store and start browsing, so look around to see which stores have good reviews, and which stock your favourite designers, and then you can call to book an appointment.<\/p>\n
Book a few different consultations for one day, where you can spend a couple of hours with a consultant, who can help you choose a wedding dress that\u2019s perfect for you.<\/p>\n
When it comes to deciding who to bring with you, whilst you might have a lot of bridesmaids, it\u2019s usually better if your dress search is a more intimate affair. Narrow down your crew to two or three trusted people whose opinions you value, and you know will be honest with you (without being domineering!); and make a day of it! Think girly drinks, brunch, and a few different consultations to keep you all enjoying the day, without feeling overwhelmed with what feels like constantly trying on more dresses.<\/p>\n
Sadly, whilst this isn\u2019t the most exciting part of picking a wedding dress, it\u2019s something that you\u2019ll need to determine early on, to stop yourself from being heartbroken later on down the line.<\/p>\n
Work out your budget so you know exactly how much you can afford on a wedding dress, in addition to any extras (think a veil if you want one, jewellery, and shoes). You might even want to factor in the cleaning and preservation of your dress after, too, and any extra embellishments you choose to add, as that can be very pricey.<\/p>\n
The last thing you want to do at your fitting is torture yourself and try on your dream dress that\u2019s way out of your budget.<\/p>\n
If you want something cheaper and you\u2019re a sample size (UK 8-10), then you can hit sample sales! Bear in mind that designs will be last season\u2019s stock, but you could bag yourself an amazing deal – and a great dress too!<\/p>\n
Wedding dresses can take months to make. Unless you\u2019re buying a sample size, it\u2019s not as straightforward as simply choosing a dress and being done with it. There will be a couple of rounds of alterations and fittings you\u2019ll need to attend, so it\u2019s best to start the process of wedding dress shopping 9 months to a year in advance of the big day.<\/p>\n
That being said, if you have a long engagement, we wouldn\u2019t recommend choosing a wedding dress any more than a year in advance, in case you get bored of it before your big day!<\/p>\n
So we know we mentioned that you should start doing your research before you attend your appointments, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should *only* try on dresses that fit your exact requirements. Remember that bridal consultants are experts, and they\u2019ll likely know styles that will suit you, without you even realising.<\/p>\n
A lot of brides try on what they think will be their perfect dress, only to feel completely underwhelmed, so be open to trying on dresses that you wouldn\u2019t consider, as it will ultimately help you to find your dream one!<\/p>\n
Also, don\u2019t think you have to get white (after all, not everyone suits it!). A feminine ivory or a soft blush could actually complement your skin tone way more, so the key to choosing a wedding dress is to be open to new ideas!<\/p>\n
Wedding dress sizes run very small, which means that if you normally wear a UK size 8, your dress will likely be a size 10-12. Whilst going a size or two bigger sounds scary, please don\u2019t worry about it when picking a wedding dress, as it\u2019s not a true reflection of your size – and at the end of the day, no one other than you is going to know what size your dress is.<\/p>\n
The other thing to note is that whilst most wedding dresses that you can try on in-store run to a larger size, this isn\u2019t always the case. So, if you\u2019re plus-sized, it\u2019s worth calling the boutique in advance to make sure you\u2019re not limited in what you can try on.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re trying on strapless ivory gowns, the last thing you want is your black bra straps poking out the top! We\u2019d recommend wearing nude underwear and a strapless bra to your consultations, so you can better see how each dress will look on you.<\/p>\n
When it comes to choosing a wedding dress, we\u2019d also recommend bringing your own heels to try on, as opposed to wearing the same stock heels that every other bride-to-be has stuck their sweaty feet in!<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s be realistic: you don\u2019t want to attend your appointment with no makeup on, and greasy hair. Apply your makeup how you think you\u2019d like it for your wedding, and the same goes for your hair – do you want it up or down?<\/p>\n
This means you\u2019ll be able to get an accurate representation of the dress, and you\u2019ll be able to see how it will look on the big day.<\/p>\n
Yes, the dress has to be beautiful, but it has to be comfortable too! Before you say yes to the dress, see if you can move around in it, and if you can sit down comfortably. After all, the last thing you want to feel on your wedding day is restricted, so it\u2019s important you consider that when choosing your dream wedding dress.<\/p>\n
Some brides will get lucky and find their perfect dress quickly, but unfortunately, that doesn’t often happen. If you\u2019re wondering how to choose your wedding dress when you feel like you just can\u2019t find \u201cthe one\u201d, then try not to be too frustrated. It might be that you need to plan in a few more days of fittings.<\/p>\n
At the end of the day, it\u2019s one of the most important purchases you\u2019ll ever make, so you\u2019ll want to make sure that you find your perfect dress – just keep an open mind, be patient, and you\u2019ll get there!<\/p>\n
That being said, don\u2019t make any snap decisions. If you feel like you\u2019re being pressured into making a choice, then sleep on it, and you should have more clarity in the morning.<\/p>\n
And if you really love the dress you\u2019ve tried on, but you don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re overcome with happy tears, then don\u2019t worry – not every bride has to have *that* feeling!<\/p>\n
Hopefully, you\u2019re now armed with everything you need to know to choose the wedding dress of your dreams! So, start researching, pick your posse, book yourself in for some consultations, and get ready for a day of trying on the most amazing dresses!<\/p>\n
And if it\u2019s not your big day quite yet but you\u2019ve got another wedding coming up soon, you should definitely browse our range of funny, sweet, and romantic\u00a0wedding cards<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alternatively, if you\u2019re after more wedding-related content, you\u2019ve come to the right place! From\u00a0choosing a wedding colour scheme<\/a>, to picking your ultimate\u00a0hen do destination<\/a>, we\u2019ve got you covered – just head on over to\u00a0our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"