It’s time for wedding dress shopping!!! This is one of the most fun parts of planning your wedding and it’s important to be prepared – so today, with the help of a fabulous wedding dress expert, we’re going to walk you through how to choose your wedding dress.
Before you even set foot in a wedding dress boutique, it’s helpful to have an idea of your style!
Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you prepare:
- What style is my wedding and do I want my dress to match? You don’t want to buy a beautiful ball gown and then end up with a lovely beach ceremony – two great options but they don’t work together.
- How formal is the wedding? Whether your wedding will be formal or very casual, you’ll want to match.
- What season am I getting married in? Consider the fabrics and cut and how you can be as comfortable and season-appropriate as possible.
- Is there a part of my body that I want to accentuate? For example, you could have a low back, a nipped in waist or a strapless neck line.
Know your silhouette
Some of us look gorgeous in anything, while most of us usually have a silhouette or a dress shape that helps us to look and feel our absolute best.
Consider what makes you look and feel confident and try on dresses in a similar shape!
Some wedding shape options:
- A-line – One of the better known silhouettes, the A-line works on almost all body types. This flattering and feminine style gathers at the wait and flares out gently to a beautiful full skirt. A-line works beautifully on pears-shaped and curvy brides.
- Ballgown – Looking for a fairytale princess gown, then the ballgown is the one for you. With drama, volume and classic appeal, a ballgown usually has a fitted bodice, accented waistline and full skirt. It can work on most body types but very full ballgown dresses can overwhelm petite brides.
- Fit and flare – Fit and flare gowns are fitted throughout the body until mid thigh where they flare out, literally fit and flare! Great for accentuating a fabulous figure and delicate waistline, the fit and flare also works well on classic hourglass figures and petite brides.
- Mermaid – Likened to a fit and flare silhouette, the mermaid style clings to the body until the knee where it flares out. It’s a great silhouette for showing off your waist and hips and works perfectly on apple shaped body types.
There are other silhouettes you could explore, so ask your bridal boutique for their advice!
Know your timeline
I spoke with Olwen from Angelo Bridal about the typical wedding dress timeline and this is what she said:
At least a year before your wedding – it does depend on the time of year and the designer.
Wedding dresses are made to order and they’re very intricate garments so this is why they take so long to come to you. Demand could make this take even longer.
If you leave it less than a year you may miss out on some of the bigger name designers, or you may not be able to get a dress at all. Sometimes sample sales are an option!
Start your alterations a good three months out from your wedding so you can get a perfect fit! Dresses are made to order but not made to measure (especially if you’ve lost weight or been toning up in the gym). You may need three or four fittings, or even more if there are lots of embellishments.
Collecting your dress does vary a little bit – usually about four weeks before your wedding. Some places are able to hold your dress for you so you can collect it closer to the day.
Angelo Bridal offers in house alterations and can keep your dress for you throughout that whole process!
A few top tips
- Have an open mind and be willing to try on dresses you may not typically gravitate towards.
- Buy a dress in your size or a size up and don’t be tempted to lose weight to fit into your dress.
- Know your budget – it’s not very sexy but it’s important.
- Don’t forget to factor your veil, shapewear, jewellery and shoes into your attire budget.
- Make an actual appointment and don’t plan to just spontaneously show up at a bridal boutique.
- Before you buy your dress, sit in it first.
