“Set your budget before you start to shop.”
Many brides suggest setting your dress budget before you head out the door. Knowing how much you can spend can help prevent heartache at the store when you fall in love with a dress that’s twice the amount you actually have to spend. You don’t want to be begging your relatives to chip in on the dress (although, if they are willing, it might be an option!). Setting that budget and sticking to it will help you avoid a lot of stress down the road. It will also help your dress consultant focus their search for dresses that are within your price range. A good consultant will help steer you away from dresses that you can’t afford, making the shopping experience a lot more fun.
“Don’t be afraid to stretch your money a little bit.”
While budget-conscious brides suggest sticking to the budget, many of them also suggested stretching the money a little further if you have to. If you fall in love with a dress that’s $200 or even $500 more than you’d set aside, consider other areas of your wedding where you can save more money. Maybe you can skip some of the flowers or ditch the handmade party favors. It depends on how important your dress is to you; if you can’t imagine walking down the aisle in anything else, then find a way to make it happen.
“I had been dreaming of my wedding dress since I was a little girl and I was determined to have the dress I wanted,” said Christina, who got married in 2011. “I did freelance work to save up the money I needed to get the dress I wanted, and I never regretted it. I looked amazing.”
“Don’t bring too many people to try on dresses.”
Most brides don’t want to buy a dress without having a second opinion from their trusted family members and friends. It can be a great bonding experience to go dress shopping together, too. But many brides will caution you on bringing too many people.
“Everyone will want to go with you to try on dresses, but you should really limit the number to under five people,” said bride Amy. “The more people you have, the more opinions you are going to get, and the more confused you are going to be about which dress you really want.”
Keep in mind that you are the one who has to wear the dress, so your opinion counts the most! If you love it, then you’ll look great in it (no matter what anyone else says!).
“Be open-minded when you go shopping.”
You’ve always wanted a ballgown wedding dress. It’s been the dress you dreamed about since you were a little girl. But then you go to the store and try one on only to discover that the cut does not work with your body. Don’t be devastated; shrug it off and move onto the next style.
“I was convinced that I wanted an A-line dress,” laughs 2016 bride Stephanie. “But when I tried them on, I just looked matronly. I was shocked when I tried on a mermaid gown and it looked so good. I thought it wouldn’t work on my plus-size body, but I was wrong; I looked amazing!”
Going into the shopping experience with an idea of what you want can be a good thing, but don’t get too attached to any one idea. You might discover that something else is a much better option for you! Remember your dress consultant has a lot of experience in this area, so be willing to hear suggestions but don’t be afraid to say no.
“Only buy a dress that you absolutely love.”
It doesn’t matter if you spend $100 or $10,000 on a dress, you should love it. The dress that you pick should make you feel special and excited to walk down the aisle. If it doesn’t do that, then it’s probably not the right dress. There are so many options out there that you can continue to look until you find something great. If you aren’t finding it, change up the types of shops you are going to, bump up your budget, or look for different styles. Almost every bride will tell you that when you put on the right dress, you know it’s the right one. Don’t stop until you feel that about a dress!
Are you getting married in 2018? Along with finding the right dress, you’ll need the right wedding venue. Our Orange Beach venue offers all-inclusive wedding packages that make planning your wedding easy so you can focus on the fun stuff and starting your lives together. If you’d like to learn more about our venue and packages, get in touch with our team! Give us a call or contact us through our website to schedule a consultation today.
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