Wedding dress - where do I start!!??

1. Set a budget.

2. Research usung the internet, decide on style and colour.

3. Go to bridal shop and try a few on.

4. Fall in love with a dress that WAY too expensive and cry because you can't have it.

5. Go back 3 days later and buy it anyway becasue it's THE ONE and you just have to have it.

6. Panic with 2 weeks to go becaue you've still got 3lbs to lose before the wedding.

7. Put dress on and GET MARRIED!

Whats so complicated?!?

LOL at JC!

I'd have a look at pictures etc to get ideas but its nothing compared to trying them on as what you think wont suit you when you get it on could make you look amazing.

Make some appointments and start trying some on - its sooooo much fun!

xxxx

Ha ha judeclarke that's a fab check list!

Yeah I have started looking at pictures, do you think magazines or the websites do them the most justice though? Because everyone keeps saying they look nothing like the pics when they are hanging in front of you, and even more so when you are whirling like a princess on a podium! hahaha

x

In a word - NO!

I flicked through mags and looked online to get idea of the styles available out there and the designers that I definitely wanted to try. Having looked through mags and online I decided I really wanted to try some Pronovias and Mark Lesley dresses so then I found out which bridal stores near me stocked these. But as you have said the pics don't do it justice. The dress I ended up buying was by a designer I hadn't even heard of at the time and looking at the pic online now I wouldn't have given it a second look before!! If you go to a good shop with a few ideas they tend to be very good at picking out dresses for you.

Good luck and have fun!

Hi,

I work in a bridal shop and I would say the best thing to do is go to a shop try some on, you will soon find out which ones suit you and what sort you like. Also the shop assistants will be able to pick some out which they think may suit you, it is also great fun!

Going with a general idea of shape/detailing you would like is fine - just be open minded and try a couple on that are different shapes and then work from there.

I would say go with the internet when searching as unlike magazines you more often than not get a front and back view of the dresses. I have to say that they look totally different on the models than they do in the flesh - they tend to look better in the flesh for some reason.

It depends on the dress from what I've found - most look much better on you than on the hanger, and they look different on you to in the picture!

Pick some yourself when you are in the shop, but my advice would to be to describe the sort of thing you are after to the shop assistant and let her pick some out for you too - I ended up loving a dress that I would never have in a million years have picked out myself!!

Get a budget in mind and get yoursef some appointments in the shops and have your princess moment! Enjoy

Hello Abbie, I think you might be me ?

I tried to look at the ones in magazines but gave up very quickly as there were so many and they all looked very similar anyway. In the end the only thing I did before I went to some actual shops was set a price limit; then when I went shopping I refused to have anything to do with any dresses that were over budget.

I shopped with my mum and my 2 bridesmaids and we just pulled out anything we liked the look of and I tried them on. After a bit I started to get an idea of what sort of shapes and materials suited me best, and that meant I could fine-tune our searching technique as we went.

That was the best way for me, it was much easier to deal with all the choice when I could touch and try on the dresses, and stopped me spending too much time poring over photos on the internet too!

Ah thanks girls for all your support - I'm glad i'm not the only one finding it all a bit overwhelming! I suppose it's just the dream of finding "the one" that is giving me the fear! Especially with all the choice, it's getting the ideas in the first place I think, and there are so many beautiful dresses out there!

Thanks FunkyDiva, I can see how looking online might give me more views of the dresses...a really good point. Has anyone got any suggestions of good websites to look at wedding dresses? And yeah Tina like you I will probably spend hours gazing at photos! Where did you look?

xxx

The wedding dress section of hitched is actually a really good place to start because it gives a thorough breakdown of the features of each dress like what sort of neckline, what kind of skirt shape and what material is used. As a general rule, I think A line gowns are meant to be the most flattering so if you're unsure about where to start with trying on styles, that's a safe bet. If you feel a bit more daring, there's the mermaid/fishtail silhouette ones and if you want to be a proper princess for the day, look at the ball gown styles.

I absolutely echo what others have said that dresses look TOTALLY different on models, on the hanger and actually on you. My dress doesn't look that special on the model, I virtually ignored it on the hanger but when I put it on, both me and the woman in the shop cried at how beautiful it was!

Hey tinkerbelle, that's a great story and fab that you have found yourself a perfect dress! Did the dress you buy end up anything like the Justin Alexander one? I agree it looks like it would need 3 people to help you walk around in that, despite it being a stunner and definitely having the wow factor!

Did you still stick to Justin Alexander you wanted or is your actual dress a different designer? I'm just looking at his site now!!!

I would say go to a shop and try some on - the way I see it is there's no point in falling in love with a specific style then finding out it looks rubbish on you - if you go in without preconceptions you'll be open to far more styles. I've found dress shopping to be the most fun ever - I'd do it every day if I could!

Well ive gone and bought one already!!!! eeeeeeeeek now im wondering if I've made a huge rushed hash out of it!

I went to 2 shops after work last night, and then my mum surprised me and took me to another this morning!!! it was totally crazy but i found an AMAZING dress!!! its an ellis bridal one, with flowers around the bust (cant even remember the style number now it was all so rushed!) but it was the sample one and I couldn't afford not to get it there and then cos it fitted me perfectly!!!

Now I just dont know what to do next... and i have to calm my thoughts that ive totally rushed this experience! oops!