The Complete Guide To Wedding Dress Appointments

The biggest wedding dress appointment mistake is not researching options in advance. You should know what you’re looking for when you come to the store, as the wide selection may be overwhelming.

Other points often neglected by freshly engaged brides are setting the budget and choosing the right entourage. Don’t forget to wear appropriate undergarments, too.

Most importantly, you should follow your heart – it will tell you when you find that perfect dress. The bridal stylist and your guests can give valuable advice, but it’s your choice to make.

Do Your Research

You may come to a random bridal salon without any idea of what you’re looking for and hope to magically find that dream gown.

However, such an approach rarely leads to success. Do your research before attending an appointment.

Firstly, research the local bridal salons to learn about their price ranges, selection, and rules. If your budget is limited, visiting a high-end salon is a waste of time.

Secondly, research different wedding dress styles to determine which you like the most.

Pinterest and Instagram are excellent sources of inspiration. Save your favorites and bring the pictures along to your appointment – this will help the stylist find the best options.

You’ll significantly narrow your selection in the salon and save a lot of time and nerves if you pick the styles you prefer in advance.

Even better if you’ll also learn about different wedding dress fabrics and silhouettes.

Consider Your Style

Choosing your favorite neckline type and dress silhouette before your bridal salon appointment isn’t enough. Think about your personal style and what you want to convey with your wedding gown.

Many of us rarely think about our style and what message it broadcasts. However, your wedding is a special day, and all eyes will be on you. Therefore, your wedding dress should align with your vision of the world and yourself.

If you’re a shy person who always wears modest clothes, you may feel uncomfortable in a sexy dress with a high slit.

Even if you love how it looks in the bridal salon, think about whether you’ll be confident surrounded by all the guests.

On the other hand, if you prefer gothic style, a romantic bohemian white gown may not feel natural for you. Perhaps, you may consider alternative wedding dress color – the guests likely won’t be surprised about it anyway.

Be on Time

Most bridal salons can’t spend an entire day with one client and will have other brides booked before and after you. If you arrive late, the stylists likely won’t extend your appointment. Thus, be punctual for your good.

Of course, inconveniences happen, and sometimes, you may be late for a valid reason.

In this case, don’t forget to warn the salon over the phone, but don’t expect them to extend the appointment unless they have a free time slot.

Arriving late and staying longer than you’re supposed to is disrespectful to the bridal stylists and other brides. Punctuality is basic wedding dress shopping etiquette that every bride must observe.

A Flattering Cut

When researching wedding dress silhouettes, you should consider your body type and figure nuances.

You may be madly in love with mermaid gowns, but if you have an apple-shaped figure, empire or A-line dresses will look much better on you.

The best wedding dress is one that suits your figure. A flattering cut will boost your confidence and ensure you look great in pictures.

And since trying on wedding gowns is time-consuming, you need to learn which silhouettes suit you in advance.

As a rule of thumb, add volume to areas that lack it and avoid layered fabrics and embellishments on already prominent zones.

For instance, brides with an inverted triangle body type can balance the shoulders with wide skirts but should avoid balloon sleeves.

Note that wedding dress guides only list general recommendations. If your bridal stylist suggests trying on a silhouette you aren’t sure about, trust their experience.

Each figure is different, and the stylists take an individual approach to each client.

Set The Budget

One of the biggest wedding dress shopping mistakes is not setting your budget. Wedding dress prices can range from $50 to multiple thousand dollars, and luxurious options can be tempting if you don’t know your limits.

Some brides know their budget but hesitate to disclose it to bridal stylists, fearing they would try to sell a more expensive gown. However, it’s the total opposite – the only reason they want to know your budget is to help you.

Furthermore, if you hide your budget, you may end up falling in love with a dress you can’t afford. You don’t need drama during your wedding dress appointment. Therefore, stick with your budget and be honest about it.

Choose Guests Wisely

Bridal salons typically don’t mind brides bringing along a few guests, but you should choose the entourage wisely.

Firstly, don’t invite the entire bridal party – wedding dress appointment etiquette allows bringing along no more than three guests.

Secondly, choose people you’re 100% comfortable around, as they may see you half-naked or in unflattering gowns. These should be people who know you well and whose opinion and fashion sense you trust.

Avoid inviting overly insistent people – that’s a widespread issue with mothers. The choice is yours; the guests are only there to express their thoughts, not to convince you into buying a gown they prefer.

Furthermore, too many voices can distract you, other brides in the salon, and the bridal stylist.

Make sure to inform your guests about the wedding dress shopping rules, such as not pulling dresses off the rack, before attending your appointment, too.

Take Add-Ons Along

Undergarments are an essential factor in your appointment success. You will need the stylist’s help getting in the dresses, so you want to wear something you won’t feel embarrassed to be seen in by a stranger.

Furthermore, your undergarments can affect the dress fit. You likely know how big of a difference the right bra can make.

If you’re planning to wear shapewear to correct your silhouette on your wedding day, wear it for your appointment, too.

Avoid wearing bright colors and patterns, black, see-through lingerie, or lace. Such underwear can be visible through the delicate dress fabric and prevent you from evaluating its look adequately.

Bridal salons usually have a stand or a pair of shoes to help you understand how the dress will look with heels. However, you may want to bring in your heels to walk around comfortably.

Comfort Matters

Remember that you’ll spend an entire day in your wedding dress, so you should be able to walk, sit, and dance in it. Looks matter, but so does your comfort.

Tight mermaid dresses are stunning, but they can be very restrictive.

If you can’t help but fall in love with such a gown, consider getting a second wedding dress for the reception, or at least pick one from fabric with a bit of stretch.

The same applies to long trains, ball gowns with extra puffy skirts, and corseted dresses. These elements can intervene with your movement, so think about whether sacrificing your comfort is worth it.

There are plenty of alternative options – for instance, you may pick a dress with a removable train, fake corseted back, or get a high-low ball gown that’s more suitable for dancing than a floor-length one.

Listen to Advice but Follow Your Heart

Opinions can be helpful, but you shouldn’t follow someone else’s advice if you disagree with it.

Your mom, aunt, or friends likely have your best interest at heart, but you should remember that the most important opinion is yours.

The same applies to the bridal stylist. They always strive to accommodate the bride’s requests and express truthful opinions about the fit. Of course, they have years of experience, but they don’t know you personally.

That sophisticated ball gown offered by the stylist may look astonishing on you, but if you don’t feel like wearing it, you don’t have to budge. Choose the laid-back rustic dress you feel confident in and feel no guilt.

You won’t hurt anyone’s feelings if you reject their advice politely.

However, avoid calling dresses ugly and otherwise bringing down others’ preferences. That’s disrespectful to the bridal stylist and other brides that may be around you.

Take Pictures

Research the bridal salon picture policy before attending your appointment. Most stores won’t mind you taking pictures of the dresses, but some may be concerned about other salons finding out their inventory.

Taking pictures is very helpful as it allows you to see which dress will look the best in your wedding photos.

Furthermore, you can look at your options at home if you don’t buy the dress right away and think about them thoroughly.

However, don’t turn the appointment into a photoshoot. Pictures are only meant to help you choose the dress.

It isn’t about making Instagram-worthy group shots and selfies. At the very least, it’s not worth wasting your short appointment time.