What Every Bride Needs To Know!

Rachel Peters Photography

Len Currie Photography

​Nearly every little girl spends her life dreaming about her wedding day–the dress she’ll wear, the man she’ll marry, the venue where she’ll recite her vows. Shopping for a wedding dress should be one of the most fun, exciting, memorable moments of wedding preparation, but we all know it can also be one of the most stressful. Brides seeking out their perfect wedding gown need to come prepared with the right kinds of questions. What style and cut best suits your body type? Do you want a full train? What kind of gowns are trending this season? We know, it’s complicated and overwhelming. And that’s why we put together this list of helpful tips to make your wedding dress shopping adventures as painless as possible!
​
Check out these ideas below for a list of the questions you should be ask during your fitting:
​​
1. TALK ABOUT THE FIT AND YOUR BODY.  

What style is best for my body type? This is one of the most important questions you can ask at your fitting. As experienced consultants we can give you unbiased and objective advice about what kind of dress will make you look your best on your wedding day. Don’t be afraid to try on a variety of different styles, even if they’re not what you had in mind when you walked in the door. You might be surprised about what you end up loving, even if it wasn’t your original idea of the perfect dress.

​As for styles, there are a lot of them. They range from a slinky evening-style number to a strapless ball-gown with a full skirt. I find that as gorgeous and romantic you want your dress to be, keep in mind the practicality of it as well. It will be very difficult to dance in a mermaid gown as opposed to a wedding dress that has more room at the knees. If you’re looking to make a statement on top, varying up the necklines of your dresses can be useful. Additionally, researching the length of your dress’ skirt and what sort of shoes you want to wear will help you figure out which wedding dress you want to buy.

Follow the golden rule for wedding dress shopping: Never judge a dress based off of what it looks like on the hanger, or in the magazines. And, as always, choose the dress that makes you feel the most beautiful and confident. Choose the dress that best flatters you. Love it, and own it, and don’t let the dress wear you.
​

---

Brady McCloskey Photography

2. ASK ABOUT THE BUSTLE

Contrary to popular belief, bustles are not one size fits all. Bustles fill out the train, making it easier for the bride to walk and dance, and come in a variety of shapes and styles.  We will be able to tell you which bustles are appropriate for each style of gown, so don’t be afraid to ask! The bustle might seem like an afterthought, but you will be wearing it for the majority of the reception, so be sure to find that one that is comfortable and accentuates rather than detracts from your dress. Jot down notes or take a photo of the particular bustle you like so you can show your fitter at a later date and make sure it looks good with your dress.

Brady McCloskey Photography

3. DISCUSS ACCESSORIES
​
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and finding the perfect dress, but don’t leave the appointment without discussing and/or trying on veils and accessories. Find something that will complement and enhance your overall look. 

4. TALK ABOUT CURRENT TRENDS

It’s important to discuss what trends are in style for the season, since fads tend to come and go. We can then steer you in a certain direction depending on whether you want a dress that trendy or classic.

5. ASK ABOUT YOUR WEDDING VENUE AND DATE

Make sure you let us know how many guests there will be, where you’ll be having your wedding, what time you’ll be having your wedding and your general theme. All should play a role in the style of dress you end up choosing. Typically, a dress for a Saturday night black-tie wedding and a Sunday morning backyard wedding are very different. We can help you differentiate between options and help you choose what is most appropriate for your specific vision.
​

Rachel Peters Photography

6. ASK ABOUT DELIVERY

The amount of time it takes between ordering and receiving your dress depends on each designer. Give us a timeline so we can help plan accordingly. Ask us about delivery times–that way you will have an estimated arrival date.


7. DISCUSS FEES AND PRICING
​
In this world, nothing comes free, and the wedding industry is no exception.   It’s hard to set a fixed rate on how much a wedding dress should cost, but if the average wedding costs 10-30 grand, I know brides who have allocated 10% of their budget to their wedding dress. Hence, use $1-3k as a starting point and feel free to adjust costs as deemed necessary. Check in advance for hidden costs so you know what you’re walking into.
​
Happy shopping!

Len Currie Photography