Good day, beautiful people!! Forgive me for the cliche title, but there is no better way to describe this post. Lol. If you’re an avid watcher of Say Yes to the Dress, you know that quote a little too well.
Anywho…one of the most exciting moments…next to saying YAASS to him when he proposes is…(drumroll please) SAYING YES TO THE DRESS!! How many of you grew up watching the show “Say Yes to the Dress”? I definitely did. I remember many Sunday afternoons watching say yes to the dress with my mom imagining how dress shopping would be when my time came. The most interesting episodes were those with the girls who had tried on tons of dresses, been to countless stores, and still hadn’t found “the one”. Many times it’s because the more dresses they tried on, the more confused they would get.
Listen, bridal gowns are so shiny and so pretty. It’s easy to get lost in it all. Here are some of my tips if you don’t want to be that bride that has tried on over 100 dresses and is STILL confused!
Tip #1: Budget
In wedding planning and in life, budgets are essential. Establish a budget for your dress inclusive of alterations! Wedding dress alternations are not cheap, so you want to be sure to give your consultant an all in total that you would like to stay within. If you say your budget is flexible, trust they will flex it for you!
Tip #2: Understand your body
You want to make sure you find the dress that fits YOUR body, not the dress that looked really good on some model or some celebrity a few months ago. Take some time to understand your curves and understand what you look best in. More importantly, know what you feel good in!
Tip #3: Start Browsing
Pinterest is a girl’s best friend, and so is Instagram because it gives you a plethora of ideas. Start in these two places as you search for gowns and when you see something that you like, screenshot it and pin it on your Pinterest board!
Tip #4: Narrow it down
After you’ve gathered all of your inspirational photos, narrow down your favorites silhouettes, styles for sleeves, and materials. I recommend identifying the parts of the gowns that make those gowns your favorites.
Tip #5: Select a shop
If there is a specific dress that you have found that is in season, then you should definitely look for shops that carry that dress (don’t forget to make sure it’s in budget Sis). If you haven’t identified a specific dress but rather attributes you want in a dress, look for shops that carry styles similar to what you’re looking for. You may also search for designers whose dresses you adore and find shops that sell that designer.
Tip #6: Make an Appointment and Memories that Last A Lifetime
Many bridal shops require appointments, so identify dates that work for your family or friends. You want to start dress shopping anywhere between 8-10 months before your wedding as most dresses take about six months to arrive at the store after being ordered. Then you will need a few weeks, at minimum, for alterations. Be sure to go into the shop with an open mind because you never know what you will fall in love with! If there is a minor thing you don’t like on the dress (i.e., it’s strapless, and you want straps), speak up!! Most shops can take the dress and alter it to fit your preferences!
For my brides out there already thinking of customizing a fantastic dress that is the manifestation of all of your dreams, tips 1-4 are for you too boo. Number 4 is especially important. The more detail you can give a dress designer, the better they can align your dress with your vision.
That’s it, for now, lovely people. As always, please share, comment, like, and let me know what you want to chat about next!
Toodles for now, SugarBees! Stay blessed!
