Finding your Dream Dress

  

Finding Your Dream Dress

 Hello everyone! Raquel here, from Raquelofalife.com, a blog focused on supporting modern, young women by sharing information about all things life, travel, and style. A big part of my life recently was my wedding! I had so much fun planning all parts of my wedding and I am so grateful to have even the smallest role in helping you plan for yours! I definitely learned from my experiences and I am delighted to share this with you.

 In this issue, we are talking all about wedding dress shopping! If even the thought of shopping for and finding the perfect wedding dress for your big day stresses you out, don’t worry. Read through for some tips on making your wedding dress shopping experience a smooth, stress-free and enjoyable one!

 

*Keep Your Budget in Mind

You definitely want to head into dress shopping with a ballpark budget in mind for various reasons. Usually one of the first questions consultants will ask you when you say you’re looking for a gown is “what’s your budget?”. This is because narrowing down options based on price is a good filter to minimize “distraction” dresses. I highly suggest not trying on dresses that are out of your budget, sure, you’ll get to picture yourself as a princess but you’ll only be left wanting something you can’t have.  By sticking to your budget you avoid getting distracted and wasting time before finding “The One” so don’t do that to yourself!

 

*Think About Your Theme

Okay, so you may not have an extremely specific theme. However, your wedding will likely have an overall vibe that you’re going for such as bohemian, glamorous, vintage, etc. Be sure to keep this in mind when thinking of dress styles you’d like because as the bride, you’ll be at the center of attention for the entire event. Therefore, if your dress is a little off from the feel of the rest of the wedding it may stand out. For example, glamorous weddings tend to have more embellished or extravagant dresses whereas bohemian weddings will tend to have more minimalistic or softer looking dresses.

 

*Be Picky with Pinterest

Whether you’ve had a wedding Pinterest board since the website launched or you have a secret board you wouldn’t mention to anyone, Pinterest can be a great tool for helping you narrow down which dress styles you may be interested in. Something I did was simply search “wedding dresses” or “(season) wedding dresses” and Pin to my heart’s desire, BUT with intention. I only saved dresses I pictured myself in for my wedding, cue tips 1 & 2 here. Then I went back to my board and tried to find commonalities amongst the dresses. Surprisingly the majority of my choices were very different from what I assumed would be me “dream dress”, nonetheless, there was a very obvious pattern. Most were mermaid fit, lots of lace, and little beading; this surprised me but seemed to be what I was drawn to. So who knows, you may surprise yourself as well!

 

*Call Ahead

If you have a few local bridal boutiques, feel free to just drop in and ask them some questions. However, if you’re planning a road trip or have a very specific look in mind be sure to call the stores ahead of time. Ask questions like about needing an appointment, the availability of plus size gowns, or if they have any of your favorite silhouettes or designers in store.

 

*Keep an Eye Out for Sales/Events

Fun Fact: I got my dress at 50% off of regular price because the boutique I bought at hosts an annual 4th of July, one-day-only, sale. This is definitely a benefit of starting your dress shopping early. The more time there is to shop, the more sales there are to scope out! Most gown stores will have trunk shows, flash sales, or even rotating clearance items at discounted prices. By shopping events like these, you might get a bit more of a limited inventory to choose from, but you will end up being able to shop for something that normally would have been way out of your budget.

 

*Be Prepared

You may think that you will feel like a princess in the right gown no matter your personal appearance. However, this can have a big impact on how you see yourself in the gown! I suggest foregoing the fresh face. Using at least a bit of makeup can help keep your color under bright lights from the stores. Still, keep in mind that you will be trying on various dresses. Some that are likely a few hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. So you won’t want to be leaving bronzer streaks on each gown you try on. Therefore, stick to products such as mascara, blush, and brows. These will be sure to keep you looking put together. Also, you don’t have to go full updo with your hair, but try to have it nicely styled. Showing up with bedhead or post-gym hair probably won’t help you feel like a princess in any gown. Lastly, you’ll want to carry a pair of heels with you while shopping. They don’t have to be your wedding shoes but try to stick to a height that you’re comfortable with wearing on your big day.

 

*Keep an Open Mind

As much preparation as you’ve put into narrowing down your options, such as with tips 1-3. It is also important not to dismiss a dress simply because it doesn’t fit your exact specifications. Maybe you never pictured yourself in a “princess-y” ball gown style wedding dress, but trying one on just may spark your interest. Often, dress consultants from bridal boutiques have lots of experience. Such as experience with dressing a variety of different body types and fashion styles, so utilize this! You may not want to try on something when they suggest it because you didn’t pick it out yourself, but their choices might just surprise you!

 

*Choose Your Crowd

Yes, we love the idea of taking a crowd of our favorite people shopping for the most important dress of our lives with us. However, it’s important to remember that the more people are present, the more opinions there will be present as well. In my opinion, it is best to keep the initial audience down to 1 or 2 people. This will keep the number of conflicting arguments down to a minimum. Also, this will allow you to really pick a gown that you feel is right for you. If you would like an opportunity to share a look at your final choice with some of your favorite people before the big day, talk to your boutique. Luckily, the shop I bought my gown with has a small gathering area. They use this so brides can bring in family or friends to see them in the dress. They even let us toast with a glass of champagne, so be sure to ask your boutique if they offer something similar!

 

*Be Patient

When you walk into a store with hundreds of gowns, it can be easy to feel like you HAVE to find the perfect dress. However, this likely isn’t the case! It may take visiting 1 store or it may take 10! It may take only one day or it may take one year! Just remember to be patient. You will probably try on a lot of gowns. Also, you will probably go to a lot of boutiques before finding your dream dress. Don’t pressure yourself into picking a dress you don’t absolutely love just because you want to rush through the process. Try to take your time and enjoy it!

 

*Stop Shopping

After my last tip, it’s important for me to say this: it is essential to know when to stop shopping. After you have officially said yes to the dress, try your best to keep from browsing at different dresses. Sure, if you found the perfect dress, nothing will sway you. I understanding, it is great to feel reassured in your decision. However, if even after finding your favorite gown you continue to scour Pinterest for wedding dress styles, you may start to doubt your decision! Now that’s something you definitely don’t want. So after feeling certain with your wedding gown choice: kick your feet up, drink some champs and relax!

I hope that these tips help you beautiful brides shop confidently for the dress of your dreams!  As always, feel free to find me on Instagram, @raquelofalife, and send me any questions you may have about preparing for any of your wedding events; I’d love to help! Until next time!

 
                                                                                                                                    –  Raquel
By Raquel Brizuela 

Photos: Cynthia Garza Photography

Bridal Store: Forever After

IG: @raquelofalife

Blog : raquelofalife.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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