It can be so much fun to choose your wedding dress. Being able to pick out the perfect gown – the one that makes you feel beautiful and confident – can be such an exciting process. But it can also be long and overwhelming. You might find it a bit stressful too. That’s okay! We’re here to help make the process easier by showing you how you can go about finding and choosing the perfect wedding dress.

Start wedding dress shopping early

We recommend that you start looking for your dress at least six to nine months before your wedding date. In fact, with Covid still making things a bit difficult, you might want to start your search even earlier. You’ll need that time to find the perfect dress, order it, and have any necessary alterations made.

Set a budget

Before you really start looking for your wedding dress, determine how much you are willing to spend. This will help you narrow down your options. We don’t recommend trying on any dresses outside of your budget unless you really are willing to be flexible with the numbers. Otherwise, you might fall in love with a dress you can’t afford. So, having that firm number in mind can be helpful as you start looking.

Browse online

One of the first steps many brides take towards choosing a wedding dress is browsing online, whether that’s through store websites, Pinterest, or Instagram. This can help you narrow down your personal style and what you’re interested in. While you should always try on a variety of dresses (you never know!), it’s important to have at least some idea of what you want before you walk into a store. It’s easier to choose a wedding dress if you have some sort of starting point.

Consider your venue and wedding style

Odds are, your wedding venue and style will impact the wedding dress you choose. If you’re getting married seaside, you’ll probably want a more lightweight and flowy dress, so you can easily navigate the sand. But if you’re getting married in a ballroom, you might opt for a heavier or more traditional gown that matches the style.

Try on different styles

Even if you’ve done all the prep work and you think you know exactly what you want, try on a variety of different styles. You won’t actually know what you love until you try it on, and you could find that what you end up buying is completely different from what you thought you wanted. Consider recommendations from your stylist since they often are more knowledgeable about your different options.

Bring supportive friends or family

When it comes to who you bring to your dress shopping appointment, you want a combination of supportive and honest. You need people who will give you their real opinion but who are ultimately interested in what you want and what makes you feel beautiful. Try to avoid bringing anyone to your appointment who isn’t going to focus on your wants and needs.

Know that you’ll probably need alterations

Most wedding dresses require alterations for a perfect fit. If you love the style of a dress but you’re worried about the fit, talk to your stylist. There’s a good chance that alterations can make it the right wedding gown for you. (Bonus tip: factor in alterations when creating your budget.)

Don’t forget about comfort

While of course, you want to feel beautiful on your wedding day, it’s also important to be comfortable. Not only will you be in this dress for hours, but you’ll be sitting, eating, and dancing in it. Make sure you can move around and sit comfortably in your dress. If it’s too heavy and you’re worried about getting tired, choose a more lightweight dress.

It’s all about what you want!

Ultimately, the biggest factor when it comes to choosing your wedding dress is how it makes you feel. Your wedding day look is all about you. If you feel beautiful, confident, and comfortable in the dress, then that’s the wedding dress for you. Trust your instincts and choose the wedding dress that you love.

Choosing your wedding dress should be a joyful experience. Just relax, listen to your stylist, bring along your supportive loved ones, and focus on what’s going to make you feel great on your wedding day.