Your Top 5 Most-Asked Questions About Dress Shopping Answered

Finding “The Dress” is every bride’s right of passage. There are thousands of designs and styles to choose from, leaving the options truly endless! But before you head out to go shopping, there are always a few things brides should know. Our editors asked two bridal professionals, Alyssa Pung of Becker’s Bridal and Teresa Shore of BIANKA Bridal, the top five questions engaged women have about choosing their dress, and we got answers! See what they have to say below!

What kind of research should I do before buying a dress?

AP: "Research can be a catch 22. We do believe it is beneficial to be educated in areas of how much an authentic bridal design costs, what deposits are required, lead time necessary, and to gather some ideas of style aspects you definitely know you won’t feel closure on until you try them on. However, we find the brides who become too attached to the simple idea of gowns or design aspects, in particular, can be a hindrance. Nine out of 10 brides come in choosing something totally different than they always envisioned or feeling differently in styles they thought they would love based on seeing them in ad shots. It is best brides come in with the ‘feeling’ they would like to achieve for their big day, but to be open to following their heart and not their head!” 

TS: "The bride should know a few key things about her wedding. Details such as your budget, the wedding date and venue are important to consider while shopping. Preparing for your appointment by researching magazines, Pinterest and online will give you some good visuals.  Look for a connecting theme or style–are they a certain silhouette, lacy, sleeveless, open back, etc? Bring your ideas and pictures with you to your first appointment. This will help your stylist see your vision. When working with your stylist, be open. We constantly see brides come in with a set idea of what they want, then try the dress on and don’t actually love it and instead fall in love with something completely different.

Also, brace yourself for 'bridal sizing.' Bridal sizing will often run two sizes bigger than your regular sizing. Also, if you plan on losing weight, shop your current size. It is much easier to take a dress in than let it out." 

When should I go shopping for my dress?

TS: "Shop early, but not too early. Twelve to nine months out is a perfect time to buy a dress. It usually takes six months to get a dress, and then you need time for alterations. Ordering too late may result in rush fees. If you have a short engagement don’t worry, you have plenty of options! Many stores offer off-the-rack gowns that are new and in perfect condition. Also, there are consignment shops that have beautiful dresses as well." 

AP: “Ideally, a bridal order should be placed nine to twelve months before the wedding. Because most gowns are made to order, they can take up to 7 months to be produced. In high season, seamstresses generally like eight to twelve weeks for alterations. Then, there are certainly always things outside of anyone’s control that can delay an order beyond that, so having a cushion saves a lot of stress for everyone involved!” 

Who should I bring with me on my shopping trip?

AP: “The number of people in an entourage is a very important consideration. Most bridal stores limit a group to about 3-4 people in addition to the bride. We recommend choosing those closest to a bride’s heart. There are so many occasions we see a bride pressured to invite distant relatives, every member of the bridal party, etc. and then calling us later in tears that they had too many voices at their appointment and their decision was swayed. The number one rule for any bride: The only opinion whose matters is the one wearing the dress! If you would like to include more people in the experience, we recommend bringing them back or to a pickup or fitting appointment and helping with accessories.” 

TS: "Whether it’s friends, family or both, make a list of all the people who are special to you and be sure to let them know your shopping date ahead of time. However, don’t bring too many as too many opinions can often be overwhelming for the bride-to-be. We have experienced brides leaving unable to say “yes” due to this scenario, causing her to come back by herself or with just one or two guests to pick the dress that she wants."

Do you have any tips on ways I can budget for my dream dress?

AP: “A bride should have a good plan for a budget in mind before going to shop. We recommend setting an absolute max they are willing and able to allow for a gown and also consider that alterations typically run about 30% of the cost of a gown. Brides should make their stylist aware of the parameters, so no one pulls something the bride falls in love with but isn’t feasible for her numbers. 

Some brides may be searching for Couture options while others may only want to visit someplace with mark-down options. For example, we have a Flagship location that has selections ranging from $1,000-$6,000 and an Outlet location that specializes in designer samples at reduced prices with gowns ranging from $499-$2,000. 

Another awesome way to save money is to go into a first appointment prepared to buy, as many bridal salons offer first visit promotions. Finally, be sure to follow the social media and website of your favorite salons. That is where they will advertise events like sample sales and trunk shows, which yield amazing savings. If all else fails, and you fall in love with something outside your budget, be sure to weigh the options. Many times we have brides who sacrifice a few extra guests to get the gown of their dreams, or find other areas of the wedding that aren’t as significant to them to cut corners and still allow them their gown choice!" 

TS: "It's uncomfortable to talk numbers, but it will save you from heartache later on. Before your first appointment, figure out who is paying for the gown (your family, your partner, you?). Make sure that your stylist is aware of your budget. A good stylist will be open with you and inform you if she is pulling a dress outside your budget and give you the option to reject the dress, instead of putting you in the dress and having you fall in love with it." 

When is the ideal time for a fitting? For a re-fitting?

TS: "Three months out is an ideal time to start the alterations process. Make sure that you find a seamstress that has worked on bridal gowns in the past. You have a lot invested and want to make sure it is in good hands." 

AP: “We find most seamstresses like eight to twelve weeks for alterations. There are usually two or three fittings to allow for minor tweaks and ensure everything fits just perfectly. Sewing is a beautiful art and bodies are a fascinating canvas, so be patient with the process and what it takes to achieve your desired results. Usually, the second fitting will happen about a month after the first, and the final fitting is in the last weeks before the wedding where it is all pressed and ready for its final destination.”

Start your search for your dream dress at Becker's Bridal and BIANKA Bridal now! 

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