How to find “the one” to wear, once you’ve found the one you want to marry? It can be a daunting task – there’s so much choice out there, and most of us don’t have a lot of experience shopping for statement white ball gowns! We’ve put together some top tips for approaching the challenge, along with our Supplier Directory members and wedding dress gurus Sarah & Emma from the fabulous Rookery Bridal.
Sarah & Emma say:
It’s perfectly natural to feel nervous about your first bridal appointment. You are not alone; many brides feel the same way and do not even want to try dresses on! Let’s face it, this is a very important fitting. It’s not the same as shopping on the High Street and it is for the most important dress you are ever going to wear!
Research
The internet is your friend! Pinterest is a great place to look for inspiration, as are wedding magazines. Lots of local and regional wedding fairs will have fashion shows where you can see the gowns in action. Consider what dress shapes normally suit you, and look at what models are being used. Not all dress styles will suit everyone, but everyone will have a style that is perfect for them. Having a good idea of what might work will help you narrow the search once you get to the boutique.
Let the experts give you a hand
Boutique owners like Sarah & Emma live and breathe wedding dresses – don’t be shy about using their expertise! If you know exactly what you want, they’ll give you space. But if you’re feeling swamped, they are absolutely there to help you. Happy brides are their top priority!
Sarah & Emma say:
When you walk in, it can be overwhelming to see an array of gowns in front of you. There is no need to worry, we will give you time to take everything in whilst you take a seat, and we chat through with you what your thoughts and expectations are. We will then set you free to browse!
Allow plenty of time to order and adjust
Unless you happen to find the perfect dress in the perfect size right off the rail, you’ll normally need to allow a few months to have the dress ordered in, and then altered to fit you exactly. It’s worth starting to look about a year in advance, so you don’t need to worry about deadlines creeping up.
Take a trusted friend or 2 – but not more
Sarah & Emma say:
What to bring? Firstly, we suggest not too many people! It’s entirely up to you, but just remember, the more people you bring, the more opinions you will have to deal with!
It might seem like a good idea to take your whole bride squad with you, but it can make the process even more overwhelming. You’re also likely to get a much more honest opinion if you just take one trusted bestie who can focus on you completely. Who do you know who will give you a straight answer, not just tell you what they think you want to hear? It might be your mum, your sister, or your BFF. Get them up to speed on what you’re aiming for, or aiming to avoid.
Come as you are
Some forums advise wearing bridal underwear, or something that will look like it, to your fitting. Well, Emma & Sarah don’t agree. Underwear is something you can get to fit the dress once you know what you’ll need.
Sarah & Emma say:
Just come as you are, comfortably dressed. There is no need for any particular underwear, we can work with yours. Please no fake tan and ideally, no make up but we understand you may wish to wear some so we don’t insist.
If at first you don’t succeed, try..try….try
You might feel like you’re being cheeky asking to try on dress after dress – but that’s fine. It’s a big decision and the choice is enormous. It’s what your appointment time is for! You wouldn’t settle for just any old partner, so don’t settle for the first dress that just kind of looks ok. You might need to try on a few more styles to know that the first one was right after all, or it might be that 10th dress that is a Eureka moment.
Dresses from the designer collections at Rookery Bridal
Ignore sizing – does it feel good?
Wedding dress sizing doesn’t always match up with high street sizing – it’s renowned for coming up a bit small. Don’t let that phase you. Pick the dress that fits just right, regardless of what’s on the label. Try to avoid the temptation of buying a dress that you will “diet in to.” You own the dress – it shouldn’t own you! Pick something that is just right for exactly who you are – that’s who your partner is marrying, after all!
Remember the weather!
While you’re considering styles to suit you, don’t forget what time of year you’ll be wearing that dress. Some styles work better in winter, others are definitely summer outfits. Sleeves – will you be too toasty for a July do? Do you need to factor in a cosy shrug for a February ceremony? If it’s a shorter style, are you aiming for stockings or bare legs? How will it work with an outdoor ceremony if the breeze is a little more than gentle?
Theme vs Style
Are you having a themed wedding? How will your dress fit in to that? Lots of dress styles are timeless classics, while others have a definite period feel. Layers and layers of petticoats might not be the best match for a boho chic barn wedding, but would be perfect for a fairytale princess castle ceremony. If you find the dream dress that fits like a glove and makes you feel like a million dollars but doesn’t match that 1940s retro reception you’d plotted out, maybe your theme may need to change a bit to revolve around the dress instead!
Can you move?
It’s a changing room classic – you stand there, twirl around a bit and everything looks fine. But you get home and realise you can’t lift your arms up in your new top, or walk downstairs in your new shoes! Yes, you will do a lot of standing around looking fabulous in your wedding dress, but you’ll also need to walk, dance, sit and toss that bouquet. Make sure you feel secure enough in your dress style that you can bust some moves on the dance floor, and you’re ok with what happens to your waistline or cleavage when you’ll be sat at the wedding breakfast. It’s your big day, and the last thing you want is to feel uncomfortable or self conscious.
It’s your party
All of this advice aside – it’s your day, dress exactly how you want to! This is your chance to express yourself, to dress up like 5 year old you always wanted to, to be someone different for the day, throw convention to the wind and do something completely crazy, or just be surprised by something you never thought would be on your list. Classic, princess, boho, quirky, punk, goth, conservative, daring, retro, modern – you do you!
Sarah & Emma say:
We find it works well to let you take your time looking around at the dresses, selecting the ones that ‘jump’ out at you. We will be by your side guiding you all the way. If you need our help with suggestions, we can do this too.
