Are you frantically browsing through bridal boutiques online and ripping out pages from wedding magazines in the hope of finding your ideal wedding gown?
You’re not the only one; after a year when the UK wedding industry lost a whopping £4.8 billion due to COVID cancellations, 2021 saw something of a return to normality, with reports that the industry was struggling to keep up.
Indeed, as reported in the Washington Post in April 2022, the ‘’burst of demand is colliding with supply chain backlogs, labor shortages and inflation’’.
And with those issues comes added worry for an already stressed bride-to-be, with greater competition existing for the perfect fairytale dress and complementing accessories. With all eyes on you as you walk down the aisle, not to mention the gazillions of photos that will be taken of you, finding ‘the one’ has never been more stressful.
For some brides, the dream dress is a Cinderella ball gown fit for a princess. For others, only a classic, vintage style will do. With so many gowns to choose from, it can get overwhelming. To help you drill down into what truly matters, here are 8 IDEAL tips on how to choose your perfect wedding dress.
Dress Shopping Should Start Early
Common knowledge has always dictated that you need to start looking for your dress at least nine months before the big day, but with supply chain backlogs the way they are, many future brides are choosing to begin the search even early. Might we suggest you follow suit (or, rather, follow dress)?
This should, in theory, give you space to locate the top bridal shop in your area where you can buy that perfect dress, and allow ample time for that dress to be ordered and for any alterations to be made.
However, before you even start shopping, you should decide on the theme of the wedding so you can match your dress to the overall style and vibe. Is it going to be a casual garden party, a barn dance or a more regal affair? Choosing a few specific words to describe the type of wedding you want will help you narrow down your dress selection before your first bridal boutique appointment.
Importantly, when it comes to wedding dress shopping, don’t feel pressured to spend loads on a dress and blow a big chunk of your budget. Today there are plenty of affordable wedding attire options from brands like ASOS which are becoming ever more popular with frugal brides.
As Glamour reports, on their site you can get a “whole host of on-trend and (genuinely) expensive-looking gowns for as little as £95”.
Just be aware that one ASOS wedding dress sold every 3 minutes during lockdown, so we’ll reiterate again just how important it is to shop early for your dress, whether you’re doing so online or in person.
Book Your Dress Consultation Early In The Day
Speaking of appointments and doing things early, most bridal experts and wedding planners recommend a neat little trick; to book your appointment in a wedding dress shop as early in the day as possible. This way you’ll get a bright and fresh bridal consultant who isn’t tired, jaded and a little less emotionally invested after a day of helping other brides-to-be.
It will also give you more time to browse and try on dresses without feeling rushed and worried that the shop will close. And above all, don’t ignore the advice of the bridal consultant – they’re experts and pair hundreds of brides with their dream dresses, so, in short, they know what they’re doing. They will also likely have insider connections in their little black book that could well come in handy in a time when demand for wedding dresses and accessories is so high.
Silhouette Savvy
Warning – during the next few months you’re going to be baffled by loads of wedding dress jargon, like brocade, charmeuse and georgette to name just three terms. Nope, us neither.
A term you do need to know about is the type of silhouette you want – in other words the shape of the dress. There are endless options of silhouettes, including mermaid, A-line, sheath and empire. Once you know the shape you want, you can start looking at the finer details such as ruffles, bows and pearl buttons. If you start with the details and fall in love with something, you may end up with a dress that doesn’t flatter your frame.
Cast Your Net Far & Wide
You may have the perfect dress in mind already – the one you’ve been dreaming about since you decided marriage was for you. But there is a risk that when you finally try it on, it may not suit your figure or frame at all. While it may feel like all your hopes and dreams are shattered, the trick is to try on loads of different types of wedding gowns, dipping your toes into unknown waters and perhaps landing something unexpected in the process.
It’s surprising the number of brides who choose something completely different from the dress they originally had in mind. Finding the perfect dress is, after all, a bit like finding the perfect husband, you’ve got to try on loads before you find one that fits!
Ideal Tip: Bring different types of bras to your fitting. It’s important to wear the right kind of bra as different styles will make dresses fit differently.
Get The Top Right & Don’t Neglect the Bottom, Either
Most people are going to notice the top of the wedding dress first, and you’ll find that many of your wedding photos will be taken from the waist up. Therefore, make sure that the top half of your dress has all those important little details that you’re looking for. That’s not to say you should ignore what the bottom half looks like, but it’s better to sacrifice some details here than the other way round.
No, not your bottom! That would be a little too cheeky of us.
Rather, we’re referring to the bottom of your outfit, the base, the foundation… Your shoes! You’ll want your shoes to match your dress, too, but this can be a surprisingly difficult thing to pull off. The guys at Brides have written a really handy guide on how to find the perfect wedding-day shoe. Do check it out sometime.
Consider Something Alternative
Because a dress shouldn’t be your only option. Elegant and affordable jumpsuits that have been breaking wedding tradition for a while now and we’re very much here for them. This shouldn’t be viewed as a pale substitute; a stylish and sleek statement jumpsuit can truly steal the show when done right. We love the idea of an embroidered outfit, or even a red wedding dress too.
Think About The Seasons
Be sure to match your dress with the seasons. Having a Christmas Wedding? For something a little different, consider a metallic dress. That swagger and sparkle simply speaks of a proper wedding party, and that sense of frivolous fashion may well see you all the way through to the festive season. Shall we meet you under the mistletoe? Or perhaps you’re having a summer wedding? Then a light and flowy dress is ideal.
The Bottom Line
Yes, your dress should be amazing, but it’s not worth sacrificing your honeymoon or that deposit for a house you’ve been saving up for. Remember, you’re only going to be wearing it for a few hours and you’ll probably never wear it again. Don’t sweat the small stuff; if your jewellery is on point, your shoes well-considered and your smile radiant, then you’re going to look dazzling no matter what! We hope you have a wonderful day, and long and happy marriage.
Of course, these decisions don’t just stop at the dress; you also need to consider the jewellery you’ll be wearing, as well as other accessories like your veil, flowers and more.