How To Buy Your Wedding Dress With Minimum Stress And Hassle
Sep 13th, 2008 by Anne Michaels
Most women have been dreaming of their wedding day since childhood, and one of the most important parts of that dream is a stunning dress. We all want to feel like princesses on our wedding day, but the reality of wedding gown shopping can make that dream feel like a chore. Here’s how to reduce the stress and find the perfect gown for your big day.
To reduce the stress, get started early and allow plenty of time to select the perfect dress. You’ll also need to make sure you have enough time to have all the neccessary alterations done. Don’t forget that you should take someone else with you to help you look at gowns with a critical eye.
Choose someone who you know will be honest about the way you look in a gown. They should be willing to tell you whether or not a dress is flattering on you, and to help find ones that are.
Collect pictures before you make an appointment, so you’ll have a good idea what type of gowns you prefer. It’s also a good idea to find out your figure shape and what flatters it before you go shopping. That will allow you to rule out types of wedding dresses that don’t look good on your shape.
Select a price range well in advance, and stick to it. Don’t let enthusiastic sales people talk you into a more expensive dress, or bring you gowns that are well out of your range. If you’re looking for a budget wedding dress, consider second hand stores, simple dresses, and online ordering.
Remember to think about more than looks. After all, you’ll be wearing your wedding dress for most of the day, and it should be comfortable to wear. Don’t buy a gown that’s itchy, rides up, or pinches, because it’ll be hard to wear after an hour or more.
Book an appointment with a seamstress early, so that she’ll know your dress is coming for alterations. Your gown should never be finished in a rush. That’s more expensive and means your risk of a poor fit is higher.
Pick your dress according to the season and venue. While a long train works well for an indoor wedding, it’ll pick up leaves and other debris if you wear it outdoors. Consider the temperature and weather to choose a dress that’s the right length and weight. You’ll be more comfortable if you do.
Remember to be realistic about sizing. While most of us expect to diet for our wedding day, this can be harder than it sounds. Remember to pick a size that you’ll be able to comfortably fit into, even if it’s not your ideal.
Remember that it’s much easier to have a wedding dress taken in than let out, and stop dieting after alterations have been made. That ensures a perfect fit on your big day.
Last and most important, don’t allow shopping for your wedding dress to make you stressed out. You should be having fun trying on all the wedding dresses there are to see, not feeling tired. Your gown should make you feel beautiful - if you’re finding it isn’t doing that, it’s time to take a break.
