How long did it take you to find your dress?

I didn't have a problem (except first dress second hand off eBay didn't suit me) but I fell in love with a lace mermaids in the first shop.

What about looking at places like monsoon, phase 8 etc. They may be more like you're looking for. Or the blog advert on here. Eden? Theirs look nice. Maybe you would prefer a softer look. Good luck. Show us pics of any likes and we may be able to find you more choices.

I thought I would have the same problem as you but once I started putting dresses on I fell in love with lots of them!! And ended up buying one of the first ones I tried on!

I would recommend just biting the bullet and trying them on, I was very cagey in the first shop I went in but went with the flow when my mum and sister picked a few out for me to try. I found the bridal shops to be great, and didn't pressurise me! Try and enjoy it, you will find something you love xx

I was worried I would be the same, however the first dress shop I went to I ended up buying my dress from.

The shop had been recommended by everyone I know who got married recently and Incpuld see why when I went in. The ladies in the shop are amazing and got you to try a lot of things on so you knew why suited and what didn't.

You'll find the dress.

I agree with Lui, I think it's important you find a good shop, the one i got my dress from was amazing. I also asked for recommendations and the girl who served me was just incredible. You will find the one!!

I haven't been wedding dress shopping yet but maybe going online and finding a designer that does the styles you like and finding stores which stock them would be a good idea so you know you have options to try. Also asking the person working there choose a dress which they think would suit you and try it on and see if it surprises you, loads of bridal stores at wedding fayres have all said to me that I will probably end up with something I never wanted once I try it on.

I popped into a shop whilst on holiday in Asia and I was just browsing through their rails. The shop assisstant said she had the perfect dress for me and pulled out 2. I tried on one of the 2 I preferred, got lazy and bought it lol.

I'm very much a laid back bride as you can tell lol!

So yeah 15 mins of it on for measurements and that was it.

I went dress shopping with my mum and 2 sisters not so long ago. The first shop I got to choose 6 dresses to try on and had a mixture of styles as I was unsure. The lady was nice but not very helpful and I didn't really gain anything from the shop. There were a few dresses I liked but not the wow factor.

In the 2nd shop it could not have been better. The lady told me to choose as many dresses as I wanted, she asked about my style, what I was looking for and suggestions on what she though would suit. Tried on my first dress and it was ok but not for me. Tried on the 2nd that she had recommended and was blown away. The tears came, my mum was a blubbering mess and my sisters had massive smiles on their face. The lady then got a tiara and veil as finishing touches and it was amazing! I had found "The One".

although you may have a set style in mind or may think certain dresses won't suit you, try them all! This is the one time you will do this so make the most of it and you will end up pleasantly surprised! Good luck xx

Mines was the first shop and first dress.

I would say don't dismiss a dress until you put it on. They look so different and feel it.

I didn't like my dress on the hanger thought I would try it on first and get it out the way. But the more I tried dresses on the more I loved the first one. I tried about 10 dresses in total. I was worried I hadn't tried enough on to fall in love with my dress.

i cried I felt giddy and I kept swaying and just didn't want to take it off.

good luck and hope you have a fab experience dress shopping.

Agree with the comments above! I tried on several dresses in the first shop, a couple being similar to what I had in mind but couldn't picture myself on the big day in any of them. It probably didn't help that the assistant was constantly on a hard sell and refused to even let me try to walk through the dressing room! I wanted to make sure that the dress I eventually bought wasn't too heavy and I could move in!

The second shop was completely different assistant wise. I selected a couple of dresses that had caught my eye but nothing again I particuarly thought of as "wow". The assistant picked out one dress and I 'sighed' at the thought of putting it on. It was awful. However the moment I put it on I knew it was the one!

I did however think just one more look as I had another appointment straight after that one at a third shop. I walked in, looked at the rails and instantly told the assistant "I'm really sorry I don't like any of your dresses" and left! The girl was gobsmacked. I just didn't want to waste her time or mine! We returned to the second shop and ordered the "awful" dress!

Really don't stress. You have plenty of time and new dresses will hit the rails soon. Explore a little bit. I had to go through a couple of counties to get my gown (everything was far too bling and poofy in the third shop, and the first shop just felt wrong)

Quite a while! Must have gone to 10 shops over 5 weekends an tried on 100. I'm a people pleaser and whatever people said 'try' I did. Which led to confusion.

I was ado many I wanted a dress with a v neck or high neck - I'm small framed as they looked awful. I was admin at I didn't want strapless and in the end that is what I got. You need to go in with a clear mind and eliminate styles as you go so you don't confuse yourself.

Nothing really has 'hanger appeal' and you will choose the opposite of what you imagined! Good luck with the search & enjoy it!

I would say start looking sooner, I still haven't found anything, but try on ALL different shapes and sizes. I went in with an idea of what I wanted, and like you something not big, or tight, and I was right, but also found out what didn't suit me, and that was more useful. You say "Sleek and elegant" have you tried Mori Lee Voyage collection, it's mainly for destination weddings so light and floaty mainly chiffon material.

My advice to you would be to go in with an open mind. I, like you thought I wanted something simple, elegant, in satin and a-line, with no real embellishments. "The one" is a fit and flare beaded lace gown and it's gorgeous! Not at all what I would have chosen when I saw it on the hanger.

The first shop I tried was really helpful, I tried on about 10 dresses and it came down to two I couldn't decide between. They were actually way over budget, so I decided to leave it and try some other shops. The second shop was a disaster, I'm a plus size bride and I felt they couldn't be bothered to deal with me, I tried on one dress and they didn't bring me any more to try, just left me in the fitting room waiting. The one after that was no good, nothing within my budget, so I didn't even try. Finally, totally fed up and demoralised I went into the last shop with no expectation of finding anything. The lady bought me two dresses from the sales rack. the first was horrible, but the second was mine. It just felt wonderful, and surprise it was too big, which was a big boost!

Oh and if you're not getting married until 2017, don't forget you'll get another season's worth of dresses to try out before you need to panic!

I also wasn't looking forward to it as I wanted sleeves, which are pretty difficult to find, and I'm very short. Luckily I found a shop that has each dress made to measure and allows you to combine different elements and add things. My budget isn't massive at all, so it might be worth looking into having one made for you. (My shop is in Holland so not much help there).

Also, I'd say definitely make a few appointments. You might be suprised, and even if you're not, just look at it as a fun activity! ? I went to three different shops and each one seemed to specialise in completely different styles, so maybe if you visit a few of them you'll find that one has the kind of thing you're looking for. You could try calling them before and asking if they have anything in the style you're after.

Hi ladies,

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not worried about the shopping experience as I like shopping and clothes so that will be okay, I am just concerned that I won't find anything I like!

I have heard lots of times that brides have picked something completely different to what they thought. I really can't see myself in head to toe lace but I will give it a go!

I have looked online and there are some designers I like who have some lovely dresses such as sottero midgeley and pronovias. I will definitely research where they are stocked so that I can make appointments.

I would like to lose a stone before I try on dresses so if I go shopping after Christmas, that will give me the motivation! X

Good luck on the search! I've ended up with Sottero Midgeley gown. The shop only had this in Champagne but I've ordered an Ivory so fingers crossed I like it when it arrives as ive looked multiple times on the site at it and now am really really wobbly about it as it doesnt look flattering at all on the model

I think you need to adjust your expectations about dress shopping. We've all looked at dresses on the internet or in magazines and ooohed and aaahed and decided that that is what we will have when the day comes..... but in reality so many deviate from that once they start trying dresses on.

I wanted something a line, with a bit of lace but absolutely not some poofy ball gown monstrosity. My dress is a poofy ball gown monstrosity (except I absolutely love it so its not actually a monstrosity).

Make some appointments, go along and try whatever you're told to try. It might take some time to find something you love, but you've got to kiss a few frogs to find a prince, eh!?

Also, I think you're wise to start looking after Christmas. Dresses often take 6 months to arrive, and you want to allow some margin for error and plenty of time for alterations.

Mine was chosen ridiculously quickly. Looked online with OH, narrowed it down to two after about an hour. Went to the store with MIL2B and tried on about 5 and went back to one of the 2 we'd originally selected. Job done!

I've been to two shops so far and tried on about 12 dresses. I reckon three or four were 'possibles' but in the end I didn't love any of them enough to buy. I felt really deflated after the second trip as I was really hoping to find my dress! I think my problem is that I find it really hard to visualise myself as a bride - I can't see past the bits of the dress that need altering or that are a bit creased from having been tried on by other brides.

Bear, I am sure you will look absolutely amazing in your dress. I am always surprised to read on here how many brides get the "wobbles" about their dress. I hope that this doesn't happen to me (although it probably will).

Chale, I am sure you will find one soon. I haven't seen anything yet online that makes me think, "wow, I have to try that on!"

Thanks for for all of the other replies. It will be funny if I end up with a big, puffy meringue after all of this!!! X

Famous last words. I ended up with the last style in the world I would ever have expected to wear.

Definitely try on everything and anything! You'll be so surprised! I went to have a preliminary look at dresses with my cousin, and she loved something that she tried on just because it didn't weigh a ton! I didn't even intend to try on!

I want/ed a lace, high neck, a line, elegant dress - tried this on and am in love with the style - my two things I DID NOT WANT - strapless, and no train! I don't think I'll get this exact one, but this style felt so 'right' on ?

So, try on lots of stuff - even the 'meh' dresses and 'what the heck' dresses - you never know what will be right!

That style looks lovely on you. I like that one too.

It took me 9 shops, 5 different cities and about 100 dresses at least to find the 'one'. Along the way I found loads of dresses I really liked and would be happy to wear but none were special enough.

To make it easier research different brands and what your budget covers (bare in mind you can get used or sample dresses cheaper from expensive brands). Then you can narrow down shape, cut and fabric and even colour. I always wanted a pronovias dress but I wanted a lace princess dress in white or off white. Ended up with a satin ballgown dress instead. I knew from trying on a couple fishtails or tight fitting dresses they werent for me. White or Off white didnt suit my colouring so it had to be warm ivory and satin seemed to look the best. Trouble is as you say most dresses nowdays are mermaid fishtail lace dresses so finding a store that did the satin dresses I wanted was a nightmare (hence the 5 cities).

Good Luck and just have an open mind. I hated satin so much but just tried one on for the sake of it and loved it. Same goes for strapless I hate strapless dresses and in London was close to say don't bother letting me try on the strapless one as I thought I wouldn't like it as didn't like the other strapless dress. Well wouldn't of got my dream dress if hadn't of tried it on just to see.

That's a lovely dress Kat. I definitely want to try on a tea length dress as they look so lovely.

Rach, oh no, that will be me I bet! I want satin at the moment and have a serious aversion to it!

Pronovias are really expensive from what I have seen so if I fall in love with one, I might look on eBay after I find a dress to get a bargain!

I have a serious aversion to lace at the moment, I mean!

I went to 5 shops, probably tried on about 50 dresses. I found it easier to say which dresses I really disliked (there were a few) but struggled to find 'the one'. In the end I narrowed it down to three dresses but I knew that I really wanted to buy it from a particular shop because they had been so friendly and helpful, this got it down to two. I went for the dress which the lady in the shop recommended (it was actually the cheaper of the two finalists). I can't say I'm in love with it but I hope once it's fitted and customized it will feel like mine. I couldn't face trying on any more dress a though. I have stopped myself from looking at dresses since I ordered it but I have accidentally seen 2 that I've wished I could have tried on. Hay hum...

You're looking wayyyy to far in advance. Lace is really in at the moment- I went shopping and there were only a couple of dresses that weren't lace. Luckily, I love lace and found my dress in the first shop I went to.

Leave it a little while and relax. You may completely change your mind about a lace dress next year! xx

It took me two visits to the same shop. The first visit I tried on five dresses to look at the styles and see what I suited. I'd had my heart set on a calf length dress but trying this on, I looked terrible.

Second visit I took my mam and we looked at fitted dresses and a couple of A-line that were pretty spectacular. I think I tried on about four that day so 8-9 total. I found one at the second visit and can't wait for it to come in.

I agree with the above, go in with the most open mind you can, try on EVERYTHING you can lay your hands on. It came down to two dresses for me and I went with the more simple one just because of when and where we were getting married (I'd have sweated to death in the other one). I went in with quite an analytical viewpoint in that I asked myself if I suited it, if I was comfortable in it, and if I really liked it and mine checked all the boxes. You also have to think about your venue and what time of year you're getting married. I'm in a restaurant in August so a massive cathedral length train would be no good for me for example.

Thanks for the tips. I am getting married in July in the UK so fingers crossed the weather will be hot and sunny! So, not full length sleeves or anything too heavy.

I've been following designers on Instagram and keeping an eye on dresses.

I'm sure if I will order anything after Xmas when I start trying on, as it is so early, but I see no harm in trying them on :-) x

FutureMrsSmith, I saw your post and it spoke to me!

I am in much more of a rush than you (recently engaged and getting married May 2016) and am also finding it hard. Mainly because I've been to 5 shops and 4 of those had nothing I wanted to try on. I don't like lace and that is proving an absolute disaster.

People have said try on line. That's great but I've spent hours and hours shortlisting dresses I want to try on, and I have a shortlist of 10 to 15 dresses from various companies....... then when I phone shops they all tell me they don't stock them and it will cost £50 to order them in, sometimes they can't even do that!!

I think you should go once to a warehouse kind of place and try on a range just to see if you'll change your mind, but I disagree with everyone who said you'll end up with the last thing you expected. I went in looking for a satin plain-ish dress in a body con style and that is still what I want. Sounds simple but OMG what a challenge when they only sell bloody lace!!!

Luckily the Ascot Wedding Warehouse had a great dress I loved, so I'd say go to bigger shops that pile them high rather than exclusive boutiquey high street shops in little villages as the dresses are not nicely presented but they have more choice. I am getting pretty bored of looking for other dresses to compare this one dress to so I may end up buying it. I'm disappointed not to have more to try on but that's what happens if you don't want the same as everyone else.

Look at Allure- they do a lot of classy satin. I'm hoping to try some of their dresses soon. Also Jesus Peiro is really unusual and quite plain- not too many spangles.

Good luck- I really feel your pain and agree a bride shines more in a plain dress.

I had a very specific idea in mind of what I wanted. And I'd looked at hundreds of pictures, watched a million episodes of say yes to the dress and didn't see a single dress I liked.

I went shopping with my Mum, booked into three boutiques in one day, one after the other. In the first shop I found two that I really liked but didn't feel that overwhelming "YES" feeling straight away. Then I went to the other shops and didn't see a single thing I liked because one dress from the first shop just stuck in my head.

I went back to the first shop, tried them both on again and only then did it suddenly hit me that I was wearing THE dress and it was absolutely everything that I wanted!

So all in all it only took me about an hour to find mine

It took me two days and two shops, and that was only because the second shop wasn't open on the first day I was looking. Granted, I was looking for everything you say you don't like. I wanted sparkles and mermaid and shiny but even that was tough because the dresses are all so different.

I bought my dress from an outlet store and they were fantastic! The dress I bought wasn't one that I initially found but one that the consultant picked out for me after I'd tried on 3 that I chose and liked but wasn't convinced. It was very surreal, it was like that feeling when my OH proposed - I just knew it was the right one! The consultant actually pointed out that I was grinning at myself in the mirror whilst she was doing it up!

If anyone is in the Birmingham area I would thoroughly recommend Your Wedding Shop in Cotteridge. It has the bonus of being near to Cadbury World if you travel to it