How To Find The Best Wedding Dress

Apr 26

1. Figure out your budget.

If you're looking for the perfect wedding dress, it's a smart idea to start here. Your first step is to understand your budget. What are your needs? The wedding industry can be confusing, so we'll help you navigate it with some helpful advice.

2. Find out what type of dress is best for your body type.

It's important to find a dress that accents and emphasizes your best features, like [your body type].

Not sure of your [body shape]? Compare the size of your shoulders, waist and hips to each other.
If you have a rectangular body type...
You'll want to wear a dress with horizontal detailing at the top and bottom. This will help emphasize the waist and make your figure appear more hourglass-like.
If you have an hourglass body type...
Congratulations! You've won the genetic lottery. Your natural curves are perfect for a wedding gown. Select one that fits well in the chest and waist area because these areas will require minimal alteration. Try on dresses with an empire waistline as they tend to be more flattering than others.

3. Start shopping early.

Start shopping early. The process of finding a wedding dress often takes longer than many expect. It's important to start shopping for your dress at least six months before the big day, if not sooner. This will give you plenty of time to find the right dress and have any necessary alterations made.
Consider buying online. There are lots of sites where you can buy a beautiful gown at a reasonable price. If you're ordering your dress online, make sure you leave yourself enough time to return it if it's not right or have it altered if necessary.
Set aside some money for your dress (and make sure everybody involved knows that). You'll be spending months thinking about how beautiful you'll look on your wedding day, but don't let that cloud your judgment when it comes to the financial aspects of purchasing a gown!

4. Consider the role of your dress.

As you start your search, spend at least a few minutes considering the role of your wedding dress. Does it need to be super formal? Will it be best to choose a more informal gown that allows for mobility and ease of movement? The answers to these questions will depend on the type of wedding you are planning and its location (summer weddings in Mediterranean locations tend towards formality, while winter weddings in North America often have simpler, less structured styles).

5. Don't shop for your dream gown too early in the process.

Don't shop for your dream gown too early in the process.

It's easy to fall in love with a dress online, but you should never buy one before you try it on—especially if you have time before your wedding date. Body changes and weight fluctuation are inevitable, and so is the natural evolution of your personal style. Maybe that frilly, lace ball gown isn't as flattering as you imagined. Maybe the size just isn't right. Maybe it's perfectly perfect, but as you continue planning, you realize that the venue or theme of your wedding has changed (which can influence what type of dress will look best). In general, it's good to keep an open mind until all of those other factors start to fall into place.

6. Make sure you're comfortable in whatever you choose.

The most important thing is to ensure that you'll be comfortable in whatever dress you go with. If your dress doesn't make you feel confident, it's not the right one for you, no matter how perfect it may look on your body.

You don't want to spend your wedding day fidgeting with your dress—or, worse yet, having someone else do so because of a fit issue. Your gown needs to move with you and stay out of the way all day long.

Make sure the dress fits perfectly before saying "yes" to it: a too-loose bustline won't have proper support, and a too-tight waist will be painful after awhile.

7. Be on the lookout for changes in trend.

In recent years, wedding dress trends have changed faster than ever. If you are engaged and plan to wait a few seasons before saying “I do”, it is definitely worth keeping in mind what the current trends are. It is highly likely that they will have evolved by the time your big day comes around. This can be both a good and bad thing! On one hand, if your heart is set on a particular style of gown that has faded out of fashion over time, you may find it more difficult to find the perfect dress. However, the most popular dress styles change so frequently that there is pretty much always something new on trend.

If you're not sure which direction to go in with setting your wedding style or choosing your dress: stay classic! The most timeless bridal gowns don't follow trends—they make them (think Grace Kelly). You'll want to look back at photos from your wedding day and feel as beautiful as ever no matter how much time has passed.

8. Keep an open mind and find the right fit.

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9. Do try to find a balance between what makes you feel amazing and what’s possible with your dress and venue.

Do try to find a balance between what makes you feel amazing and what’s possible with your dress and venue. Be sure that the dress fits well, otherwise it might be as hard to move as that time you tried on a shirt four sizes too small. If the theme of your wedding is beachy, then you probably want to avoid wearing a long train and veil. These would work better for an indoor ballroom-style wedding.
Don’t forget your shoes! You can either buy them before or after, but make sure they’re comfortable enough for dancing in all night. You should also consider the color and style of your shoes when deciding on a dress so they match well.
Consider the venue when choosing which type of gown you would like to wear. For example, if you have always loved princess dresses, but are having an outdoor ceremony in the mountains during springtime, this may not be practical since it will likely be muddy and wet in addition to freezing cold outside at this time of year.
Finally: be comfortable! This is one of the most important things about finding “The One," because no matter how beautiful something looks if it doesn't fit right or feels uncomfortable then chances are high that this won't end up being what you wear down the aisle after all!

10. Each wedding is different, so you want to find a dress that matches yours perfectly!

Each wedding is unique, and each bride deserves to find the dress that matches her vision perfectly. When looking for the right dress, it's important to keep in mind a variety of factors: