Wedding planning is an exciting, yet often overwhelming experience. One of the most special and memorable parts of this process is finding the perfect wedding dress. A crucial step in this journey is booking your bridal appointment. This moment marks the beginning of your dress shopping experience, and how you prepare can make all the difference. Here’s everything you need to know about booking and preparing for your bridal appointment to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
1. Start Your Search Early
The best time to start shopping for your wedding dress is at least 9-12 months before your wedding day. Dresses can sometimes take 6-8 months to arrive after ordering, and alterations can take an additional 1-2 months. Starting early gives you ample time to find the dress of your dreams, ensuring you have room for any necessary adjustments.
2. Research Bridal Shops
Before booking an appointment, research bridal boutiques in your area. Read reviews, browse their websites, and check out their social media to get a sense of their style, customer service, and price ranges. Whether you’re looking for designer gowns, affordable options, or something with a unique flair, make sure the boutique aligns with your tastes. Remember, once you've chosen your dress, you'll be visiting your bridal shop several times in the run up to the wedding, so make sure you feel comfortable and at ease in the shop and with your bridal consultant.
3. Book the Appointment Early
Bridal shops can get busy, especially during peak wedding seasons. It’s recommended to book your appointment at least 2-4 weeks in advance. Many shops have limited slots, especially on weekends, so securing your spot early is key.
4. Set a Budget
Before your appointment, establish a realistic budget for your dress. Bridal gowns can range from a few hundred pounds to a thousand or two. Our dresses range from £450 to £2,500, so knowing your price range beforehand will help the your bridal consultant recommend options that fit within your financial expectations. Be sure to factor in the cost of alterations, accessories, and any additional fees like rush shipping should you have left it a little late for ordering.
5. Prepare for Your Appointment
To get the most out of your bridal appointment, come prepared:
Undergarments: Ideally, wear nude, well-fitting undergarments or a strapless bra to give you the most accurate idea of how the dresses will fit. Your bridal consultant will love you if your bits & bobs are covered!
Shoes: No need to bring any! We have a pedestal for you to stand on, so that you can see how the dress will hang when it's the correct length. Dresses are made long, as we have no idea how tall our customers will be or what heel height they plan on wearing on the big day.
Style Ideas: Whilst it's good it have some ideas about the style you'd like, the majority of girls who visit us, arrive with an idea of what they'd like to wear, and leave us with something completely different! A wedding gown is like nothing you've ever worn before, so until you start trying dresses on, you won't really know what suits you. Maybe you think you'd like something simple and understated, but then a full skirted, dramatic, heavily detailed gown catches your eye......
Bring Trusted Company: It’s often recommended to bring 2-3 close friends or family members whose opinions you value and who support your vision. Too many opinions can get overwhelming, so keep it to a small group.
6. What to Expect During the Appointment
Once you arrive, you’ll typically be greeted by one of our consultants, either Sarah, Carolyn or Annette who will ask you questions about your wedding plans, your preferences, and your style. They can then pull a selection of dresses based on your responses. We like you & those you've bought with you to browse the rails and pull dresses that catch your eye, too!
Try-On Time: This is the fun part! You’ll try on dresses and see how they feel. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try on styles you hadn’t considered.
Lots of Brides choose their dress at their first appointment, others need to go away and think about it, having booked a second appointment to re-try their favourites and make their decision. Once you've settled on your perfect gown, measurements will need to be taken, so that we know what size to order for you, we'll talk you through your order and then a deposit will need to be paid in order to secure the gown.
7. Next Steps After the Appointment
We'll advise you of roughly how long it will take for your gown to arrive in store, and will ring you as soon as we have it.
Schedule Fittings: After the dress arrives, schedule your fittings well in advance to make sure everything is adjusted perfectly to your body.
Start thinking about your Maids. What would you like them to wear? Book an appointment to bring them to try on styles, settle on a colour and choose their dresses.
8. Tips for Success
Be Open to Suggestions: Sometimes, the gown you least expect to love may surprise you. Trust your bridal consultant’s expertise and be open-minded.
Take Photos: Most bridal salons allow you to take photos of yourself in the dresses. This will help you remember the details of each gown when making your decision. However, try to think about how you feel in each dress. Photo's are fine, but they don't capture your feelings and you should always choose the dress you feel most beautful in.
Stay Calm: Wedding dress shopping can be emotional, but try to keep a calm mindset. Remember, it’s all about finding a dress that makes you feel beautiful and confident.
Final Thoughts
Booking a bridal appointment is an exciting and monumental moment in your wedding planning process. By preparing ahead of time, being open to different styles, and trusting your gut, you’ll find a gown that makes you feel stunning on your big day. Enjoy the process, and remember: this is your time to shine!
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