Your wedding dress is probably the most special, expensive and unforgettable piece of clothing that you will ever buy, so it’s no surprise that the process of finding one can be a little stressful! You want to feel as beautiful and confident as possible on your wedding day, and the right dress is going to make you absolutely shine – here is exactly how to find that perfect piece…
Determine your budget
First things first, the boring bit. By now, you’re probably already sick to death with the subject of the wedding budget, but tragically it is a huge determinate and therefore un-ignorable when you’re on the dress hunt. Break down how much you have to spend on your dream dress, this is going to direct where and how you can and can’t shop. If you’re on a tight budget, don’t despair, there’s always an option for sample sales, second-hand finds, vintage pieces and rented wedding dresses – all is not lost.
Start early
Getting in there early is important, we’re talking between nine and six months before your wedding day here. By giving yourself more than enough time, you’re minimizing the massive stress of a deadline and opening yourself up to options like overseas, online and custom-made dresses. If you’re planning a wedding in a matter of weeks like some kind of superwoman, get shopping ASAP.
Gather inspiration from everywhere
Inspiration is very important when you’re planning a wedding. It’s so easy to get stuck in an Instagram hole, but do yourself a favour and at least try to climb out of it to get some influence from somewhere else. By looking on multiple online platforms such as blogs, Pinterest and YouTube, as well as flipping through magazines and taking inspiration from movies, you’re going to curate your own unique taste. The problem with only focusing on one outlet for research is that you risk looking like everyone else and their mother, open yourself up and you’ll make a decision that feels more like you.
Keep it tight-knit
It’s so tempting to gather everyone you care about for your wedding dress shopping – it’s a super memorable day, after all. Try to avoid this, though! Too many opinions, noise and distractions are only going to confuse you and potentially really stress you out on a day that already has a lot of weight to it. Keep your shopping tribe tight-knit, nearest and dearest only!
Consider your wedding as a whole
The location and time of year of your wedding really dictate the vibe, so remember to factor this in when you’re wedding dress shopping. By suiting your dress to your wedding as a whole, you’re going to be ensuring that everything cohesively ties together and that you’re feeling as comfortable as possible! You may love that high neck, long sleeve lace number, but if you’re getting married in the midday sun on the beach, it’s probably not going to work for you. Stay on theme and you won’t go wrong!
Focus on fit
Fit is everything when it comes to dresses, and although you’re coming in armed with aesthetic inspiration up to your ears, you’re going to have to try and put that aside at the very beginning. Silhouette is absolutely king, and you need to focus on it to get it right. When you’re doing your initial try-on, gather three or four different cuts and explore which makes you feel your very best. Once you’ve got the fit down pat, all the other elements are going to fall together so easily, promise.
Try and relax
Although it might sound impossible, you need to relax during this process. Yes, the search is probably on your mind all day every day at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that it needs to be a massive ordeal. Instead, enjoy the process and remember that you’re most likely going to be doing this just one time, so sit back, relax and have fun with your dress shopping.
There you have it, how to find the perfect wedding dress! With these tips up your sleeve, you’ll find yourself your dream dress in no time!
