Shopping for a wedding dress can be both exciting and daunting.
With different gorgeous wedding gowns to choose from, you will love feeling like a model as you try the ones that catch your eye. But with numerous dresses to put on and shops to visit, you will find the whole process exhausting and challenging.
Deciding on which dress to finally get can even be more stressful and overwhelming.
Avoiding the usual mistakes that come with shopping for a wedding gown can help you have a more enjoyable time as you go through this important stage of preparing for your big day. It will also allow you to feel more confident about your decision, which will help you glow and be happier throughout the most romantic event of your life.
Top Wedding Gown Shopping Pitfalls
Seasoned wedding dress consultants share below the seven most common and detrimental shopping mistakes you might make, along with tips to avoid them:
Looking for your wedding gown too early or too late
Once you get engaged, there are many things you have to start preparing for. Shopping for a wedding gown should be one of your top priorities.
This doesn’t mean, though, that you should head to the nearest bridal shops immediately. Before doing this, make sure you have a good idea of when your wedding date is and where you want to hold it.
Without these vital details, you;ll have a lower chance of getting the perfect dress. If you have all the information beforehand, at the very least, you will be able to find a gown that is ideal for the season.
However, give yourself at least six months so you have enough time to find and buy your dress and have it altered if needed.
Not setting and following a budget
It can be tempting to try on as many gowns as you want, but doing this will be time-consuming, tiring, and unrealistic.
Setting a budget for your wedding dress can help you avoid plenty of unnecessary work and stress. It will allow you to be realistic about your goals as well; after all, you don’t want to be disappointed and heartbroken when you try on something you like then finding out you can’t afford it.
However, you also have to account for additional costs. These can include alterations and taxes. You also have to add to your budget shoes, undergarments, jewelry, and other accessories you need to complete your bridal look. This means that you have to be prepared for these extra expenses, too.
Being narrow-minded about your preferred style
If you have started gravitating towards a particular style because they look great on models, you need to put a stop to this immediately.
Keep in mind that a mermaid gown may look great on another person when you are looking at magazines or catalogs with real brides in wedding dresses. However, it might not work the same for you, especially if you don’t have the same body type as the woman in the photo.
Additionally, if you are partial to A-line dresses, you may want to consider other options since an empire-waist or ball gown may look better on you.
If you really want to find the perfect wedding gown, be open-minded and listen to the suggestions of your consultant if you have one. After all, it’s his or her job to help you choose the best dress.
Asking for the wrong size
Generally, wedding gowns run one or two sizes smaller than your regular clothes. As such, try not to fixate on the number.
The goal is to find a dress that looks good on you and, at the same time, you feel comfortable wearing. Because of this, avoid fixating on your size but instead focus on how your measurements match the designer’s size chart.
If you want to lose weight before your wedding, play it safe and order a size that fits your current physique. After all, there is a chance that you may not achieve your goal.
And even if you do lose weight, you can still have the dress altered. This is an easier thing to do compared to finding the same gown in a smaller size, which the shop may not have or may take days to order and arrive.
Getting frustrated easily
Sample gowns rarely fit anyone perfectly. As such, don’t think that you will find one that suits your figure after trying on a few ones.
This shouldn’t give you cause for worry, though. Most bridal gowns have to be altered. Once this is done, you will be happy with the fit.
Additionally, to avoid getting stressed out by ill-fitting gowns, focus instead on the other details of the dress first. These include the neckline, silhouette, detailing, and style.
Lastly, avoid getting frustrated when you don’t find a style that you like. Shopping for the perfect wedding dress takes time; expect to devote several hours to this particular task.
Asking too many people to come with you when shopping
The perfect wedding dress is one that you like and looks great on you. However, you also need it to do one other thing: impress the guests.
Because of this reason, you might be considering asking your entire family, friends, and even the whole entourage to come with you when you shop for your gown.
Although you may mean well, this mistake can cost you more than you expect.
Bringing plenty of people as you shop for your wedding dress can lead to an overwhelming and exasperating experience. After all, you will be listening to different opinions and suggestions, which can cause you to feel more confused and unsure about your decision.
The best way to go through this experience is to bring three or four people only. These can include your mom, sister, best friend, and maid of honor or a bridesmaid. By doing so, you keep your bridal shopping experience intimate and special. You will feel less pressure and stress as well.
Buying a dress you don’t like
Lastly, the biggest mistake you might make is choosing a gown you don’t like simply because your entourage likes it. Keep in mind that you are the one wearing the dress, not your mom or friend. As such, listen to their suggestions, but take them with a grain of salt.
This is a mistake that you can also easily avoid when you select your companions wisely. At the very least, include a friend and sibling in your entourage who are sure to have your best interest at heart.
And in case you like a particular dress but still have doubts about getting it, don’t be pressured by your companions to buy it immediately. Sleep on it first and return to the shop if you feel that it is the one.
Even if you have a bridal dress consultant and shopping companions you can trust, always remember that you are the one getting married. As such, the final decision still lies with you. Listen to your heart when choosing the dress you’ll be wearing on your most special day.
AUTHOR BIO
Kristie Romanos is the Regional Buyer and Operations Director at Esposa, a luxury bridal boutique offering every bride-to-be a one-stop-shop to find her perfect wedding look. Esposa Group includes Esposa Privé and Esposa boutiques in Lebanon and Dubai, offering a multi-brand selection showcasing the works of international designers. Kristie is also the designer behind EsposaCouture.
