Five things to know before you begin wedding dress shopping

So, you’ve said yes to the love of your life, now let’s get ready for the second most important '“yes” leading up to your wedding day — saying yes to the dress! We want our brides to know a couple of things that will help you and your stylist in finding your perfect gown in a smooth and stress-free way! Read below for the five most important things to know before you begin wedding dress shopping:

1. Venue

A foundational tidbit that helps us learn more about your style and vision is your wedding venue. This piece of knowledge lets us know exactly what sort of event you will be hosting, and therefore, what sort of gown may be appropriate for your wedding. Knowing that your wedding will be held in an elegant ballroom in Charlotte or a dreamy beach ceremony in Wrightsville gives us bountiful insight into your personality, values and what details may be translated to your unique wedding gown.

2. Wedding date

It is crucial to know your wedding date before you go shopping. Our boutique carries solely couture gowns, which means each gown is made specifically for the bride who wears it. We encourage brides to leave 9-12 months for this creation process, which includes four to six months of production, two to three months of alterations and some extra margins to allot for last-minute needs, such as extra fittings and bridal portraits. For the ultimate, no-stress creation process, we recommend finding your gown over a year before the wedding! Of course, if we are on a tight timeline there are options to rush an order or purchase a gown off-the-rack, but to access the largest selection of gowns, sticking to the 12-month mark is important!

3. Whose opinion matters

Consider whose opinions you want in the room while you try on wedding dresses. Every relationship in a bride’s life has its own significant intricacies and values. Having too many opinions in the room, or even just the wrong opinions, can hurt your wedding dress shopping experience immensely. This is your special time, not theirs. While you’re trying on wedding dresses you want to feel encouraged, empowered and clearheaded to listen to your own voice. Choosing an intimate group of no more than two to three people can ensure that this experience is everything you, as a bride, need it to be.

4. Budget:

One of the first things we’ll ask is what price point you feel comfortable staying near. This price can be flexible, but in general, we do need to know what you are comfortable spending to ensure you do not fall in love with a too-expensive gown. Giving us, as stylists, the heads up of where you would like to cap your budget helps us to find a line-up of gowns that will look beautiful to you as well as to your bank account.

5. How to say Yes!

The moment we’ve all been waiting for, the reason you’re shopping at all: to say ‘yes’ to your dress. This is an emotional and special moment you should always be prepared for while shopping (especially if you’re shopping at our boutique 😉). Once you put on your dream wedding dress, you know. You don’t want that special moment to be tarnished by not having the right person present or not being prepared to financially commit. The process is emotional, important and, at any moment, you just might be swept off your feet by the perfect gown. When that moment does come, you want to be ready to shout yes, let the happy tears flow and pop some bubbly!

We hope you’ve taken note of these five important things to have prepared before you go wedding dress shopping. If you have any questions or would like clarifications about these concepts, we’re here to help! Give us a ring or DM us on Instagram, we’d love to talk more!