How to Shop for Your Wedding Gown

How to Plan for a Smooth & Enjoyable Wedding Gown Shopping Experience

By Margaux Weinstock

Many brides look forward to picking out a wedding dress—and rightly so! Gown shopping, however, can quickly become fraught with disappointment and frustration if the bride and her party are ill equipped for this unique process. Here are several tips to help brides set themselves up for a seamless (and fun) experience.

Start shopping early

Most wedding dresses are special order items with an average lead time of five months, not including the necessary alterations that take place after the gown arrives. At Wildflower Bridal, we generally recommend allotting two months for alterations, which totals to a seven-month lead time. This doesn’t take into account potential hiccups or bridal portraits before the wedding. To be safe, finalize and order your gown nine months to a year before your wedding.

Keep an open mind

Some gowns don’t have great hanger appeal, but can look amazing once on your body. If your bridal stylist suggests you try on a gown that’s not speaking to you on the hanger, go ahead and give it a shot. Our brides often end up with gowns we pull for them that they initially overlooked. On a related note, brides often arrive with a specific vision and leave with something else. For instance, one bride may come in searching for a ball gown, and end up choosing a modern and sleek sheath number that she adores instead. Let go of any expectations you may have, and just be open to the process.

Go with the gown you love

Have you fallen for a glitzy and glamorous gown, but your wedding is more rustic? Who cares! Go with the gown that makes you feel giddy and special. And if it doesn’t go with your theme or colors—which you can always change—you are the bride, and it’s perfectly OK to stand out. In fact, it’s encouraged!

Consider your budget beforehand

In the grand scheme of wedding planning, how important is your dress to you? If it’s very important, your gown budget should make up a larger portion of the overall wedding budget. If someone is helping you pay for your gown, initiate conversations before your bridal appointment to determine a comfortable and reasonable budget for yourself. Budget transparency with the dress stylist is also crucial. Many bridal shops offer general pricing info on their websites, so be sure to do research beforehand to determine if the shop is a good fit for your taste and wallet. Avoid trying on gowns that are way above your budget. Falling in love with something that’s too pricey can be extremely discouraging.

Make the most of your time

Most bridal appointments last an hour to an hour and a half, and those minutes can pass quickly. Don’t spend time in a gown that you don’t love because that time could otherwise be spent finding your dream gown.

Choose your entourage wisely

While it may be tempting to invite your mom, sister, future mother-in-law, aunt, grandmother, and all six of your bridesmaids to your appointment, that’s a lot of people with a lot of differing tastes and opinions. I’d recommend bringing up to three people who will be most supportive of you and your tastes and will encourage you to choose the gown you love the most and feel the best in—not the one they love the most.

When you find your gown, stop looking. There will always be other gowns, while the original gown you loved may become discontinued or increase in price. So put away the wedding magazines, stop watching Say Yes to the Dress, cancel other appointments, and celebrate!

Margaux Weinstock is the owner of Wildflower Bridal in south Asheville’s Biltmore Park.