8 Tips For Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress

One of the most essential parts of planning your wedding is finding your dream wedding dress. And these 8 tips will help you do just that.

Most brides have been dreaming about their wedding day since they were little. And a big part of fulfilling all of your wedding dreams is finding the perfect dress. But if you don't plan accordingly, finding your perfect dress can get really hard, really fast. So we have come up with a list of our top 8 tips that are essential for finding your dream wedding dress. Because the perfect wedding day begins with having the perfect wedding dress!

Tip #1: Start Your Search Early

This first tip may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many brides ignore it. When you first get engaged, it may feel like you have FOREVER to find the perfect dress. But time flies when you are wedding planning. So to ensure that you have more than enough time to find that perfect dress, start your search early. Ideally, you want to give yourself 9-12 months to find the perfect dress. But fear not, if you are planning your wedding on a tighter schedule, some of the following tips will help you find that dream dress even faster!

Tip #2: Set a Realistic Budget

Our second tip is to set a realistic budget right from the beginning. Too often brides start looking for their dream dress, without considering how much they want to (or can) realistically spend. And nothing is worse than finding the perfect dress, that you can't actually afford. So take some time early on to set a clear and realistic budget. And don't waste your time trying on dresses that are above your budget. Remember that you can always find your dream wedding dress, no matter your budget. If you have big wedding dress dreams with a small budget, don't forget about options like shopping pre-loved with a website like Still White. Shopping for a used wedding dress allows you to get more dress, for less money! Which means something that is out of budget new, may be well below budget pre-loved! Also don't forget to factor in things like accessories and alterations into your overall budget. It is so easy to go over budget when you forget about these.

Tip #3: Get to Know Silhouettes and Define Your Style

When you start looking for a wedding dress, odds are that you will feel overwhelmed pretty quick. With so many options available to brides, it doesn't take very long to feel like you are completely drowning in choices. And when you are overwhelmed with options, it can be hard to find your dream dress in all of the noise. To ensure this does not happen, begin your search by getting to know bridal silhouettes and clearly defining your style. Figure out what silhouettes you like, and which ones you do not. Consider what will flatter your unique body type the best. And make sure you clarify what you want your style to be on your big day. One of our favorite ways to do this is to create a Pinterest board with your favorite silhouettes and styles. Taking time to do this will automatically narrow down your search immediately. This will help you stay focused and find your dream wedding dress in less time!

Tip #4: Consider Setting & Time of Year

To make sure you find the perfect wedding dress, be sure to consider what your perfect day is going to look like. What is the theme or setting of your wedding? How formal will it be? What time of year will your wedding take place? All of these factors will play a huge role in finding the perfect dress. For instance, if you are having an intimate beach wedding, an oversized ball gown may be more dress than you need. And the reverse is also true. If you are having a very formal black tie wedding ceremony, you may feel very underdressed in a cute little bridal mini. Or if you are planning a destination wedding, packability needs to be a top priority. Remember that all of these factors are not limiting, but rather allow you to filter out all of the options that simply are not going to work for you.

Tip #5: Don't Get Hung Up On Sizing

If you are a first time bride, remember this: bridal sizing runs small. So don't stress about the size of your dress. Worry more about fit and style. Another thing to consider is that with any dress, you are most likely going to get alterations. Which means you can make any dress fit perfectly to you. This is great to remember if you are shopping for a vintage wedding dress. If you find a dress that is a bit too big, do not feel like you need to eliminate the dress as an option. You can always get a dress altered to transform it into your dream wedding dress. Pro Tip: order too big rather than too small. Because you can always have a dress taken in!

Tip #6: Have An Open Mind

It is so good to narrow down your search before you begin so that you prevent overwhelm. But make sure you still keep an on mind when shopping for your wedding dress. You may have one thing in mind, but something else may completely surprise you. Approach wedding dress shopping with a playful and experimental mindset. Your dream dress is out there waiting for you...but you may not even know that it exists yet!

Tip #7: Don't Say "YES" Until You Are Sure

Never underestimate the power of sleeping on a decision. When it comes to your dream wedding dress, you want to make sure that you are 100% sure before you say yes. So if you need some time to think about it, take that time. Don't let sales consultants push you into making a decision that you are not ready to make. More often than not, when you simply take a moment to step away and think about things, you know pretty quick whether or not you have found your dream dress. Now, you can also get stuck in the trap of always wondering what else is out there. And there will always be more dresses to look at. So once you find your perfect dress, stop looking. And if you have considered all of the other tips on this list, then you will be able to commit to your dream dress with complete confidence!

Tip #8: Trust Yourself Above All Else

We talked about how overwhelming it can be to have so many choices when it comes to finding your wedding dress. But the same goes for other peoples opinions. When you start shopping for a wedding dress, you will have so many people telling you what type of dress they envision you in. Your mom will have one vision. Your best friend will have another vision. But at the end of the day, you need to choose a dress that feels right for you, and no one else. Because it is YOUR wedding dress. So if you find yourself getting overwhelmed by everyone else's options, take a moment to step back and check in with yourself. And a bonus tip here is to choose your shopping crew wisely. Don't bring too many people with you when you are wedding dress shopping. Just have a few supportive friends or family members with you, who will help you make the best decision for you. Above all else, trust your gut. When you find the perfect dress, you will know.