CELEBRITY

How to Choose Your Dream Wedding Dress: 56-65 of 70 Things to Know

Published

4 years ago

July 7, 2021

BRJ Media

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Book Early if You Prefer a Destination Bridal Shop

Reem Acra Fall 2018 Wedding Dresses — GETTY IMAGES

If you’ve seen a bridal shop on TV (say, Kleinfeld or Bridals by Lori), so have lots of other brides, which means you’ll need to book far in advance—especially for a weekend appointment.

The major benefit of these stores is that they have some of the most knowledgeable consultants and a wide variety of dresses from hundreds of designers.

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Try a Local Bridal Boutique

Lovely Bride Boutique Interior — LOVELY BRIDE

These offer an intimate setting, which is great for personal service but can mean fewer dresses to try on than massive stores. The upsides are they know the area, so they can be helpful about what other local brides are wearing, and will also likely know your venue, so they can have a better sense of your wedding style.

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Or Try a Bridal Superstore

Bridal models in various designs — IDAN COHEN

Chains like David’s Bridal have a wide price range, meaning you may be able to snag a dress for as little as $300. Plus, you can usually try on dresses in your size, not a sample size, which is good news for brides who fall above or below a size 8 or 10, the usual sample sizes.

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Shop Vintage

Bride solo shot — SEAN MONEY AND ELIZABETH FAY

Pre-owned vintage gowns can get a bad rep because they’ve been worn previously, but you can slash costs and find a totally unique, timeless style for your wedding dress. Shopping at vintage boutiques is a win-win.

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Be Open With Your Bridal Consultant

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 05: A model walks the runway for Dennis Basso for Kleinfeld Bridal show during New York Bridal Fashion Week at Kleinfeld on October 5, 2017 in New York City (Photo by Yuchen Liao#638659#51B ED/Getty Images) — GETTY IMAGES

If you’re shopping with a consultant at a bridal boutique or salon, don’t hold back when letting him or her know exactly what you’re looking for. Be as honest and open as possible. The more information you give about your likes and dislikes, the easier it will be for the consultant to pick out your dream gown.

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Keep the Season in Mind

Bride and bridesmaids wrapped in furs — LAURA GORDON

If your wedding is in the Caribbean in August, go for lightweight fabrics in breezy styles. But if you’re getting hitched in the winter in Boston, it’s all about snow-like sparkle and heavier, lush fabrics like satin or taffeta.

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Throw Out the “Rules”

Bride buttoning tuxedo jacket — KATIE GRANT

Despite all the advice that’s available about choosing the most appropriate silhouette, style, and fabric, you don’t have to listen to us, your consultant, or your mother. If you want to wear a taffeta ball gown on the beach or a trendy pantsuit to City Hall, do it—it’s your wedding.

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Pay Attention to the Top of the Dress

Line up of bridal models — EDWARD JAMES / INDIGITAL.TV

You should love every aspect of your wedding dress, but keep in mind that the top of the gown will appear most in wedding photographs, especially while you’re seated at dinner or dancing with your nearest and dearest. Make sure the gown fits comfortably when you’re sitting down and that the neckline won’t require adjusting throughout the day.

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Tweak a Gown in Tailoring, But Don’t Re-design It

“It’s fine for a good seamstress to do small updates like adding straps or changing the hemline,” says gown designer Monique Lhuillier. “But any customization that requires the inner support and structure of the gown to be changed is risky, costly, and, many times, irreversible. If it’s not done with precision, it can potentially ruin a gown.”

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If You Don’t Love It, Don’t Panic—You Can Salvage It

If the dress arrives and you’re iffy on it, you don’t need to scrap it. Gather your trusted style advisers and “try it on with totally different accessories, like a new belt, or add a bolero,” says Molly Guy, creative director at Stone Fox Bride. “If that doesn’t help, a seamstress can really change the look by shortening it, changing the neckline, taking off sleeves, or adding sleeves.”

(to be continued)

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This article originally appeared in Brides.