White Dress Events

Finding "The Dress"


Above, Jim Hjelm 8662

For many brides, the most exciting thing about getting engaged (other than the commitment of marrying their dream man, of course) is dress shopping. Often times, new fiances will hit the nearest dress shop to get their first glimpse of themselves wearing a wedding gown. No harm in that! But before you do your serious shopping, here are some things you should know:

RESEARCH THE SHOPS IN THE AREA
Do the stores you are thinking of visiting have a good reputation, or are they known for poor service? When it comes to your wedding gown, you don't want to take risks. A late dress in the wrong color that is terribly altered is not something a bride should have to worry about. Watch out for stores that cut the tags off the dresses. A store that cuts tags is likely a store that orders dresses 4 sizes too large in order to upcharge on alterations.

SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE
A great bridal shop is one with attentive and truthful sales personnel. One who only wants to show you the most expensive gowns and tells you that you look "ravishing," "radiant," and "perfect" in every dress you try on is only trying to make a sale. A great shop is one that tells you what looks best... and what doesn't. Bridal shop sales people have literally seen hundreds to thousands of gowns on brides, so they should be able to tell you what looks best.

An example of great service: I fell in love with Melissa Sweet Lia, a dress that was on the very high end of my budget. I put it on and thought it was just divine. My sales lady, wanting me to find the very best dress for me (not the very best sale for her) told me right away that I was too short for the dress. She showed me that, when hemmed to my length, I would have lost the majority of the bottom of the gown - the flare that makes the dress. That's the type of service you want in a bridal shop.

TAKE ONLY ONE
It is tempting to bring your entire entourage with you when you go dress shopping. After all, you want your bridesmaids to be a part of this big decision, as you do your mom, your grandma, and your super hip aunt. As tempting as it is, bringing multiple people with you can make your decision much more difficult. Varying opinions will distract and confuse you. Instead, bring one person you respect and trust completely to tell you her honest opinions. After the decision has been made and you've ordered your gown, take the whole entourage to show off your final selection! Everyone will be thrilled and awed as you unveil your stunning choice.

TRY IT ON!
No doubt you've done some online looking before heading out to the shops, and that's certainly the smart thing to do. Perhaps in all that online browsing though, you've decided that you really only like strapless A-lines. When you hit the stores, don't limit yourself to the neckline and silhouette you've chosen in your head. You might look great in that strapless A-line, but you might look down right gorgeous in a v-neck trumpet. You won't know what looks best unless you try a wide variety. You'll learn quickly what works and what doesn't. Then you can narrow your search on later trips.

I'M WHAT SIZE?
Many dress designers have chosen outrageous sizing charts that can make any bride feel discouraged. A street size 6 could mean a dress size 14. Don't let that number get you down. Be happy in your skin and know that you are not defined by a number... and especially not by a false one.

If alterations are not included in the cost of your dress, it is smart not to simply trust what the shop determines is your dress size. Ask to see your measurements and the designer's sizing chart side by side, then confirm that the shop has made the best selection.

Remember not to order a size based on plans to lose weight before the big day. No matter how determined and motivated you might be to shed those last 10 pounds, order based on your current size. If they have to size it down, great! If not, great! Either way, you are set. Aside from that, he's marrying you for who you are today, not what size dress you are wearing on your wedding day.