Planning a wedding is intense. So many venues to tour, colors to decide, and vendors to book that eventually things start to feel like wedding planning has become your entire life. Because we know just how stressful it can be, we wanted to create a guide to help make at least one step of the journey a little easier. So here’s our Luxe Bridal guide to getting in the shopping mindset; all the questions to ask, decisions to make ahead of time, and ways to really get the most out of your experience.
When should I start shopping?
Most bridal gowns take anywhere from 6-10 months to come in once they are ordered. We also want to make sure there is around 2-3 months available for alterations. Because of these timelines, ideally, brides should start seriously shopping around 10-12 months out from the big day. If you have a shorter timeline than that, no need to stress! Most bridal stores have dresses available for brides to take home the day of their appointment. Selections will be a bit more limited with off-the-rack options, so make sure to check with the stores you are visiting ahead of time to confirm they have styles you might be interested in and that they are available in and around your correct size.
How should I decide what stores to visit?
Take a look through potential store websites to check the big four: styles, sizing, price point, and timeline. Do the designers this store carries have the look you are gravitating towards? Does the store have dresses in the price point you are wanting to stick around? Do they carry a good selection of dresses in and around your size for you to try on? Can they order a dress in a timeline that works for you and your big day? If the answer to any of these questions is no, take some more time to research a store that checks all the boxes to help you feel comfortable the entire shopping experience.
Should I only try on dresses that fit my vision?
While only trying on dresses that you initially vibe with might sound like a surefire way to find your dream dress, sometimes the original vision doesn’t always feel like the one. Popping into a few dresses outside of what you gravitate towards can help narrow the vision or even help you find the wildcard dress that really makes you feel like a bride.
Who should I bring with me?
Tricky question. The answer really is different for every bride, but it’s important to remember who this day is truly about: you. We suggest keeping your group small. Simply put, more people means more opinions. With large groups, your voice as the bride can get drowned out by aunts, cousins, and friends providing their (usually) well intentioned two cents. So figure out who you NEED by your side to have your yes moment with and only bring them.
Am I ready to actually BUY my dress?
This is the most important yes out of all these questions. To get to the answer, there’s a few questions you can ask yourself. Where do you want to be at as far as price points go? Make sure you have a solid idea of what you or whoever is helping purchase your dress are willing to spend. What is your wiggle room IF your dream dress is over what you want to spend? If you see a dress that checks all the boxes and then some, but it creeps over what you were initially anticipating spending, think about how much is too much. And most importantly, do you (or contributors) currently have the funds to purchase the dress? Most stores require payment in full in order to put a dress into production. Some stores do allow payment plans, but most will require a down payment of at least 50% of the final price.
Be ready to say YES!
Answering all the questions above can be super helpful in getting a better idea of what to expect, but it all ultimately boils down to one question: are you ready to say yes to your dream dress? As a bridal store, we see a lot of brides fall head over heels for a dress, but they hesitate because they weren’t expecting to find it when they did. Try to go in to every appointment with the mindset that you will find your dress because you never know when a dress will just feel… right. And after all the hard work you put into the process, you deserve to celebrate that moment to the fullest. It’s a feeling that is hard to recreate, so savor it while it lasts and don’t be afraid to say yes. No matter if it’s at the last store or the first, your dress will always be your dress. Enjoy it.
Have any other questions? Shoot us an email at info@luxemn.com or give us a call during business hours at 651-600-3015. We’re always happy to help whatever way we can.