How to Prepare for Wedding Dress Shopping
Wedding dress shopping is one of the most fun parts of wedding planning! From spending time with your loved ones, to finding the gown that makes you feel the most beautiful, this day should be made as stress-free as possible, and that's where we come in! Read on for our guide to preparing for your bridal appointment, including who + what to bring and what to expect!
Who to Bring
The guests that you bring to your bridal appointment matter! If you know that you wouldn't feel right saying YES without a certain bestie or loved one there, be sure to take their schedule into consideration before booking your appointment.
It's also important that you bring people whose opinions and advice you trust. This could be your mom, best friend, sister, or bridesmaids - but ultimately it should be who makes YOU feel comfortable and confident! As much as their feedback is valuable, remember that this experience is all about YOU, so make sure that whoever you bring with you can help keep the focus on finding THE perfect dress.
What to Bring
All you really need is your beautiful self, but here are a few things that will make the process a bit easier:
Comfortable, skin-tone undergarments: Choose pieces that won't show under most dresses. This will help give a better sense of how each style fits + how it will look when you're walking down the aisle!
Shoes: This isn't always necessary, but having shoes similar in height to what you plan on wearing on your wedding day can help when considering hem alterations, if needed!
Heirloom Accessories: Each of our boutiques has an expansive selection of high-end bridal accessories, but if there's a family piece that you're planning on wearing on the big day, plan to bring it along! Our stylists are experts at finding the perfect complementary piece, and it’ll be easier to envision yourself walking down the aisle if the look is complete.
Photos + Inspiration: Our stylists will always ask for your wedding Pinterest board + any other inspiration you have leading up to the appointment, but if there's anything that you find in the meantime that truly showcases the vision you're going for, be sure to bring it as a reference for your stylist!
What To Expect
When you book your bridal appointment with us, you're paired with one of our expert stylists, who will pull a curated edit of bridal gowns for you based on the inspiration + other information that you share with them leading up to your appointment.
Once you arrive, you'll be greeted by your stylist + taken to your bridal suite, where they'll cover some basic information with you before diving into the try-on portion. If you've never tried on wedding dresses before, they'll have you try on a dress in each silhouette, and narrow down which styles + details you're loving the most.
If you've already had a few bridal appointments and have more of an idea of what you like, your stylist will start with that favorite silhouette, but don't be surprised if they throw a few wild cards in there! After all, you might be surprised by a certain style!
From there, your stylist will work with you to sort out favorites + land on THE dress of your dreams! Once you've said yes to the dress, your stylist will help you build the look from veil to earrings to belt - and everything in between! You'll leave with your wedding day look on lock + one step closer to forever with your person.
Most importantly, remember that this is an exciting time, meant to make you feel loved + celebrated, so don't forget to enjoy the moment!
FAQs
What should I wear to my bridal appointment?
Whether you already have the exact vision for your bridal look or have no idea where to start, what to wear wedding dress shopping is often overlooked. If you’re wondering what to wear at your bridal appointment, don’t you worry, we’ve put together a list that will help you plan for this exciting event! Check out our "What to Wear Wedding Dress Shopping" blog for all of our tips + advice.
When should I start wedding dress shopping?
At special order boutiques, brides try on sample gowns until they find their favorite. Once they say yes to the dress, the boutique puts the sample gown back on the rack and orders a new, customized one in the bride’s size and shade. 6-9 months later, it’s ready for pick-up and alterations.
Buying a sample gown is different! When you find the dress of your dreams, we don’t put it back; we lovingly zip it into a garment bag and send it home with you that very day. Check out our "Why Should I Buy a Sample Wedding Dress" blog to learn more about why you'd want to choose a sample sale wedding dress + what makes Luxe Redux the best experience for finding yours!
How many bridal appointments should I book?
Getting to try on wedding dresses is exciting! You get to envision the day you’ve always dreamt of, and figure out what your bridal style is. Be cautious, however, of overbooking yourself. Too many appointments can cause overwhelm, and can cause you to question what you’re liking. We recommend booking one or two appointments at boutiques whose values + offerings align with your own for the best shopping experience!
What if I don't want to try on wedding dresses in a boutique setting?
As a bride-to-be, there's a lot to check off your list leading up to the big day, including finding the perfect gown. We know, the process can be a bit daunting, but luckily at Luxe Redux Bridal, you can do your bridal shopping online with the help of our virtual stylist. One less thing to worry about — consider us your virtual fairy godmother!
Our stylists can't wait to help you find your dream dress, so let's get you booked!
