The experts in the business know that a bride is her own worst enemy when it comes to shopping for the perfect wedding gown. Kleinfeld Bridal, one of the country’s premier bridal salon’s in New York City, and home to TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”, has seen it all. A recent episode featured common roadblocks brides themselves set up only to stumble when hunting for their dream dress:
(From the current season of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, Sept. 6, 2011 episode)
Budget. An obvious place to start, but the episode makes the point that some brides get swept up in the fairytale. Reality has limits, so face up to the reality of your budget to avoid disappointment.
The first dress you find…CAN be the one. Many brides experience euphoria with the first gown they try on. This is more than okay, according to the experts–it shows a bride who really knows what she is looking for and knows her own style. Go for it and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise!
Silhouette. Pear? Apple? straight-waisted? Every bride is shaped differently with different assets. So as with anything else, be aware of which features to show off, and discard dress styles that don’t compliment your particular shape.
Alterations. If you find a dress you love, except for a feature that might be fixed by some customization, go for it. Just consider how alterations might affect your budget.
Keep an open mind. Be willing to try a different style than you might have considered. After all, it’s not like we put on a gown everyday. Most of us don’t really know what style might look best.
Wedding location. The setting and environment of you wedding ceremony is a factor. The episode features a bride whose destination wedding on a beach is not suited to the heavy ball gown she thinks she wants. Be realistic!
“Say Yes” when you find it. Don’t keep shopping (and wasting everyone else’s time) when you’ve probably found the right dress. The effort to validate that choice can lead to more confusion and frustration.
Trust your instincts. Closely related to the previous point (#4) and #9 (the first dress), don’t let the opinions of others crowd out how you really feel when you put on a dress. While it helps to have an entourage, your opinion counts more than theirs.
Bling adds up. Adding on accessories to glam up your look needs to be factored into the budget. Tiaras, veils, jewels, purses, and other items can add up fast. If your are relying heavily on extra items, you may need to reconsider your dress.
Who you bring matters. A best friend, a sister, your mom? How about an entourage? Every bride has a preference for whose eye and opinion will be most helpful. But helpful is the key idea–stay away from those whose opinions will be solely critical, or who don’t really know you. Too many people can also hurt more than help.
Whew! So many guidelines for wedding dress shopping will make choosing wedding invitations look like a cakewalk (pun intended). For a delightful shopping experience, visit www.looklovesend.com to browse gorgeous, stylish wedding invitations. If you are getting married in 2012, enter the Wedding Invitation Suite Sweepstakes to win a complete wedding invitation suite up to a $1500 value.
