He got down on one knee! You said yes! Maybe you have picked your venue, the date, and have started reviewing your secret wedding pinterest board for all the details! So, what’s next? THE DRESS of course! It is finally time to go wedding dress shopping. There is more to it than meets the eye and as much as we love a ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ moment, there are definitely some tips to consider before you purchase the most important piece of clothing you will ever wear!
As a photographer, I have seen brides spend too much time on their wedding day trying to get the ladies in place, hide inserts, fix boob tape, and anything else to make sure everything is secure to dance the night away after “I do.” Before you go wedding dress shopping, or at the very least, before being photographed in your dress if you have already made your purchase, bring bras, inserts, tape and whatever else you might need to shop and to your fittings! Figure out how everything will stay secure before the Big Day. Your seamstress will definitely be able to help you too when your dress is in alterations, but it always helps to start the shopping knowing what you might be up against and what you will ultimately be most comfortable in.
Another all too common mistake I see brides make is banking on losing weight before the wedding day and buying a dress a few sizes too small. Bridal sizes are usually odd enough, never really matching clothing sizes, so don’t be tricker! And please don’t do this to your mental health or sacrifice day-of comfort by buying too small! All eyes are on you! If you’re not loving what you are wearing, it will show in photographs. Although you might have eight hours of coverage, the day will fly by and it is not worth feeling uncomfortable or worried throughout the day! Buy the dress that fits you now and deal with the changes in alterations if you happen to lose weight before the wedding day.
For such big dresses at times, the wedding dress fitting rooms can be rather snug. There aren’t many places to sit and you might wonder why you would even need to sit during try-ons. Well, some brides don’t consider how easily they can sit (or use the bathroom!) while in their dress. You may be sitting for some photos and you will definitely be sitting at dinner during the reception. Make sure you are comfortable with getting up and down from a chair in your dress. Also, can you move in the dress? It would be a bummer if you made it through the whole day only to hit the dance floor and realize you can’t bust a move without worrying if your dress will tear (also why tip 1 about the girls being in place is pretty important too 🙂).
The wedding dress shopping day is magical. It will be a moment you remember and cherish for years to come. These tips will help make the day even more of a success and lead you into your wedding day feeling the most confident, secure, and beautiful!
