Wedding Dress Decisions

According to surveys in wedding magazines, 70% of brides say their dress is the most important decision of their planning process. The dress will set the style of the day and likely your mood. If it is a formal full-length gown, you’ll probably have a more formal event. Pick a dress that fits your little girl dream.

Before you go shopping rip pages out of wedding magazines of the dresses you like and put them in a binder. You will probably combine many features from different dresses to be your dream dress. Set a limit before you go to any stores. It can be easy to get whisked away in romantic fantasy when you put on that $2,000 dress, but can you afford it? The price tag is probably not the final cost either. Ask about additional charges like shipping, size issues (petite, tall, plus), alterations, storage, etc. To save money, ask about sample sales or discounts if you get the bridesmaid dresses at the same store.

There are several options to purchase your dress. You can try on dresses at Bridal shops, have it custom made or even find them online. There’s a high concentration of bridal shops in New Westminster and on East Hastings at the Vancouver Burnaby border. Here in Abbotsford, you can benefit from Carolyn’s experience and many other services at an all in one stop location like “The Bride’s Room”. Give yourself enough time because ordered dresses take approximately three months from order date to arrival. Allow time for alterations too. If you’re looking for more immediate gratification you can go to “Bryan’s Bride” in Burnaby and select from over 1,000 dresses and take your dress the same day provided you don’t need alterations. Custom design is an option that can save a lot of money especially if you have some unique requests. You can use less expensive man-made fabrics and embellishments, plus you don’t have any alteration costs. If you’re willing to accept the risks involved, you can buy online through sources like craigslist.com or ebay.ca.

Make an appointment when you go to a bridal shop, especially if it’s a Saturday. If you go during the week you’ll likely get more attention and guidance as they are less busy. Bring clean shoes the height you expect to be and something to put your hair up if you think you’ll want an updo. Don’t shop with a lot of people. It’s best to go with a close friend that will be honest with you. Try dresses on and take photos if they’ll let you. See how you feel in each dress and check if the fabric wrinkles. The dress fits if you can raise your arms above your head, do a little dance, sit on a cushy couch as well as a straight back chair, cross your legs, bend at the waist and walk easily around the store. You’ll know it’s your dress when you don’t want to take it off.

Once you have your dress you will feel a huge amount of relief that as the central focus of the wedding, you’ll look your absolute best. It’s the one day it finally is all about you and that starts with the dress.

Article by Magna Goerke