Is there a dress that is more important than your wedding dress? I would be hard pressed to say yes. Your wedding dress is “the dress.” Most women will spend more time choosing their wedding dress than they will on most other big decisions in life. Here are five easy tips that will make your choice easier.
1. Set the date.
Once you have decided on the date for your special day, you will be able to determine what type of wedding dress will fit that season. Granted no dress is off limits and if you want a long sleeved dress or a wool fur in the heat of summer, go for it. But keep in mind, stores may vary their stock depending on the season. Also setting the date gives you a timeline for the shopping process. If you have three months, you may need to be more decisive from the get go.
2. Set your dress budget.
This will be the first and biggest eliminator of an endless array of dresses. A budget is useful for just this reason alone, it helps to narrow down the field. Once you have set your budget, shop stores that have the most and widest variety of dresses in your price range.
3. Know your body and your comfort zone.
If you like a more modest look with a high neck and sleeves, call ahead and see if stores carry this design. It’s also important to know what kind of look and feel you want, so you can prevent others from changing your mind. If you want a five foot train to cascade behind you when walking down the beach at your destination wedding, don’t let your friend or the store rep tell you it’s impractical and a short dress more reasonable. If you are having trouble deciding on what you look you actually want, then start trying on a variety of dresses. The elimination process can be a powerful tool in making this decision.
4. Consider accessories.
Do you want to wear a tiara, a veil, gloves, a fur stole, your grandmother’s necklace, or your mother’s earrings? Keep this in mind when choosing your dress. You may need a particular neckline to wear that treasured necklace you want. Remember, accessories need their own budget or to be included in the dress budget.
5. Make sure, you are sure.
You have tried on thirty dresses in three stores. You have one that you might like and one that you cannot stop thinking about. Take a breath… and a few days to think about it. Take a trusted friend or family member with you to try both dresses on. Take pictures of the dresses on, with store approval, of course. Make a pros and cons list for each dress. And when you are sure, purchase the dress.
Using these five simple tips will help you to get on the right track to picking out “the dress.” You need to set guidelines, research, and narrow the results. Once you have finished the initial research, now it is time to try on dresses. As you try on each dress, make a list of what you like and dislike about them and also make sure you account for how you feel in the dress. After trying on the dresses, it is time to eliminate and make considerations for which dress make the cut. Finally, choose “the dress.” Now, you can concentrate on the next steps for your wedding.