Wedding Dress Shopping Etiquette

For any bride to be it’s important that you feel confident and beautiful in a gown to say ” I DO” in. Especially, when you are probably paying a pretty penny for. However, wedding dress shopping is a process, and isn’t quite like going to your local TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Macy’s. Most bridal boutique shops have procedures with these expensive gowns. Here are some helpful tips and advice from the pros to give you a good head start in your dress shopping.

Making an Appointment

We would suggest that almost 99.9% of wedding dress shops, require an appointment. As much as it’s YOUR special day and special gown, there are several other brides that are doing the same thing. By making an appointment, you get one on one help with a dress consultant. A consultant will help you choose dresses that fit your style and need, and also be with you the entire time for any questions or concerns that may arise. Come prepared with pictures you’ve found online, or you’ve added on your Pinterest Board. Also, pictures of what you DON’T like may help your consultant sort through the racks faster.

Also by making an appointment, make sure you ARRIVE ON TIME and END ON TIME. Don’t be late, as it will cut down your search and also eat into another bride’s time. If you aren’t familiar with the shop, make sure you get directions ahead of time, or get familiar with that area if there isn’t a lot of parking available. As much as you want to try on different wedding dresses, you have to use your time wisely. Also remember: You do not have to find The Perfect Dress on your first try. You can make as many appointments are you like with as many different stores are you want to.

Be Honest about Your Budget

No matter how large or small your budget may be, be up front about it with your consultant. Your dress shop may have beautiful dresses that are WAY out of your budget, don’t tease yourself by putting it on and falling in love with it. Make sure they only show you dresses in a range of your budget. That way you aren’t wasting your time, or theirs. Remember that they match brides with bridal gowns for a living and may well have a good idea of what you’d like just by looking at you. It’s fine to say flat out “No, thank you” to some dresses. But if your consultant brings out a dress that she’d like you to try on because she has a hunch you just might like it, then do so.

When speaking to a consultant, it’s smart to ask if there are any gowns on sale or if the shop has discounts. Sometimes a boutique will offer a discount on your dress if you buy your bridesmaids dresses there as well. Other shops have coupon deals or seasonal sales. However, what you DON’T want to do is haggle them on a dress price to lower the cost. You can ask very discreetly if they price match, but if so, usually your bridal consultant will let you know up front when you’re talking about the budget.

Bride Tribe & Bride Body

When calling to make an appointment ask if they limit people on how many guests you can bring. Yes you want a support system, but sometimes too many opinions will leave you feeling frustrated and incomplete. It’s preferable to bring only one or two with you to the first appointments, and many bridal shops just don’t have room to seat an entire group.

Wedding Dress shopping can be fun or stressful. Some helpful tips for you to FEEL GOOD during the process is:

Make sure to go to bed at a reasonable hour the night before each appointment.
You don’t want bags under your eyes when you’re trying to get an idea of your total look.
You need to be able to think clearly and move at a reasonable pace during your appointment.
Never go wedding dress shopping on an empty stomach.

You don’t want to be cranky or lightheaded from being hungry, and no matter what you think, a little bit of breakfast or lunch in your stomach will not make you “look fat”when you’re trying on gowns!

Lastly, if you wake up with a cold or a fever or the flu, cancel the appointment and not just for yourself. Doing so is good manners. You don’t make the shop personnel ill, either. Also nowadays, have your guests where masks and enter the hosp with a mask. When trying on your gowns, ask if it’s okay to remove the mask – I’m sure they will say yes!

Trying the Dresses On

If at all possible, wear whatever lingerie you’ve chosen for your wedding day. If you don’t have anything selected yet, wear something in a neutral color that won’t show through the sample dresses. Additional things that will help your search move along a bit faster include:

Bring either your wedding shoes or shoes with the exact same heel height you plan to wear.
Fix your hair either the way you want to wear it for your wedding, or style it as you normally would for a date with your fiance to get an idea of what veils you might like.

Also, don’t assume taking selfies are ok. Ask the shop what their policies are, some shops may only carry “exclusive lines” that other stores don’t offer. Also, some boutiques prohibit photos to prevent their designs being copied by others. Writing down a style number and design details may be your best bet.

Again, you don’t have to fall in love with—or even like—each and every wedding dress your consultant brings out. But you also don’t want to frustrate her by discarding out of hand every dress she shows you. This is why it’s crucial to show up with pictures and pins, especially of dresses you do not like.