Say yes to the dress!
The moment we've all been waiting for is here. Yes.. we are going dress shopping. Finally, things are looking up. Venue check, photographer check, caterer booked and decor handled. We're feeling good, organized and ready to pick the most important thing to a girl. Come on ladies, you know that all we care about is the dress! Now as exciting as this process is, it can also be extremely overwhelming for a bride. Here are a couple of tips and things I discovered while picking my dress.
First things first, you are going to have pictures of this dress for many years to come. Trends are great, but your wedding dress should be timeless, or somewhat modern and traditional rather than trendy. I knew for certain when picking my dress that I had two simple and specific requirements- I wanted a lace finish and a beautiful backless style. Every woman's body is beautiful and unique in it's own way. I wanted a dress that fit my personal style, fit my body shape and was flattering to my body. Really focus on finding a dress that is comfortable and enhances your most attractive assets.
It's a good idea to try on quite a few dresses and styles to see what type of silhouette suits you. However, trying on too many dresses can overwhelm and confuse you. So try not to get carried away with options. In some cases a bride may have to try a lot and in others, she knows after the first two tries. For me, I saw my special pick on a mannequin and it was love at first sight. I tried it and had the bridal cliche moment of "this is the one."
Now ladies, remember that expensive doesn't always mean quality. There are tons of bridal boutiques worldwide with beautiful quality options that fits any dress budget. Research wisely and find a dress shop that meets both your taste and budget. Having settled on my pick and being absolutely certain that it was the dress I wanted, I was willing to go slightly above budget and compromise another area of expense for my dress.
So the burning question is, who do you bring along on this significant day? This is a personal choice. Some brides need their entire bridal party, while others like myself find an audience totally unnecessary. My son has always been my unsolicited fashion critic, and that's who went with me. Having too many people can produce an overwhelming amount of opinions that can be negative rather than positive for a bride. This is "YOUR" day, your MOH had her turn or will have her turn. The opinion of your Mom and in laws is valued, but the final decision should be YOURS. If you do go the audience route, surround yourself with close persons whose opinion you value.
Added to the actual dress pick are accessories like the veil. Veils add that final touch and really cement the fact and feeling that you are heading down the aisle. For me, trying my veil really brought the moment to life. Veils can be very pricey and most times non refundable. The veils at the Bridal Store I purchased my dress at were underwhelming to me, and I decided to go the Etsy route. I felt like I was taking a chance, as I wasn't seeing the veil in person before purchase. It was so affordable and in the end, was the perfect complement to my dress.
Lastly brides, this tip should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Please ensure that your undergarments are appropriate for your fitting and can really give you good coverage and support under any dress choice. Proper underwear will give you a more accurate feel and fit when trying on your options. I'm not the panty police, I'm just looking out for ya! hahaha
First things first, you are going to have pictures of this dress for many years to come. Trends are great, but your wedding dress should be timeless, or somewhat modern and traditional rather than trendy. I knew for certain when picking my dress that I had two simple and specific requirements- I wanted a lace finish and a beautiful backless style. Every woman's body is beautiful and unique in it's own way. I wanted a dress that fit my personal style, fit my body shape and was flattering to my body. Really focus on finding a dress that is comfortable and enhances your most attractive assets.
It's a good idea to try on quite a few dresses and styles to see what type of silhouette suits you. However, trying on too many dresses can overwhelm and confuse you. So try not to get carried away with options. In some cases a bride may have to try a lot and in others, she knows after the first two tries. For me, I saw my special pick on a mannequin and it was love at first sight. I tried it and had the bridal cliche moment of "this is the one."
Now ladies, remember that expensive doesn't always mean quality. There are tons of bridal boutiques worldwide with beautiful quality options that fits any dress budget. Research wisely and find a dress shop that meets both your taste and budget. Having settled on my pick and being absolutely certain that it was the dress I wanted, I was willing to go slightly above budget and compromise another area of expense for my dress.
So the burning question is, who do you bring along on this significant day? This is a personal choice. Some brides need their entire bridal party, while others like myself find an audience totally unnecessary. My son has always been my unsolicited fashion critic, and that's who went with me. Having too many people can produce an overwhelming amount of opinions that can be negative rather than positive for a bride. This is "YOUR" day, your MOH had her turn or will have her turn. The opinion of your Mom and in laws is valued, but the final decision should be YOURS. If you do go the audience route, surround yourself with close persons whose opinion you value.
Added to the actual dress pick are accessories like the veil. Veils add that final touch and really cement the fact and feeling that you are heading down the aisle. For me, trying my veil really brought the moment to life. Veils can be very pricey and most times non refundable. The veils at the Bridal Store I purchased my dress at were underwhelming to me, and I decided to go the Etsy route. I felt like I was taking a chance, as I wasn't seeing the veil in person before purchase. It was so affordable and in the end, was the perfect complement to my dress.
Lastly brides, this tip should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Please ensure that your undergarments are appropriate for your fitting and can really give you good coverage and support under any dress choice. Proper underwear will give you a more accurate feel and fit when trying on your options. I'm not the panty police, I'm just looking out for ya! hahaha
Photographer: Alaina Ronquillo Photography
Veil: One Blushing Bride
UA-103364251-1
You know, watching 'Say Yes to The Dress' and seeing brides tear up with the veil I was always so sceptical - but it's absolutely real!! lol
ReplyDeleteI also had just my sister and sister-in-law with me to try on and it was so much better than a huge group with inevitably differing opinions. Ultimately, brides need to know that they have to be comfortable and feel beautiful in whatever they pick - hopefully without breaking the bank!
I think the tip about underwear is most needed. Many brides know to ensure their underwear is appropriate for their wedding day but they don't seem to take that consideration into the fitting. Good tip.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true as the bra you wear for example can completely change how the bust area of your dress fits - especially if it's strapless!
DeleteCan we also talk about brides and black bras under their white dresses? No matter what it WILL show at some point so please, go nude or at least white.
Loved your tip of trying on dresses for the right silhouette but not trying on so many that you get lost and can't pick. It's also wise to try different silhouettes because you may look more flattering in a silhouette you had not previously considered.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDelete