wedding 2022 | How To Find The Perfect Dress

by Anne Pyburn Craig

date posted: March 16, 2023

The right wedding gown will take your partner’s breath away and make you feel like romance come to life. To get that gown, it helps to know what you’re doing in the unique world that is bridal shopping. Here’s a basic guide:

• Do some research to get familiar with styles, silhouettes, and features of wedding dresses and the vocabulary around them, so you’ll have some idea of what you’re after. Save pictures of the styles and features you love most, then share them with salespeople or designers so they’ll know exactly what thrills you.

• Start shopping six to nine months before your wedding date. That will leave plenty of time to get everything perfect, from initial selection to final alterations.

• Take time to research various bridal salons online: It can give you a pretty clear picture of where you’re likely to find what pleases you. When you call for an appointment (required by most), ask whether the choices that impressed you on the website are still available.

• Don’t try to cram more than two appointments into one day, and shop on a weekday if you can.

• Bringing along two close people can be wonderfully helpful. Bringing a crowd, or anyone you tend to argue with? Not so much.

Dresses from Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique.

Right: Dress from IdPearl Boutique.

For your final fitting, bring or wear everything you plan to wear on “The Day” to make sure it all works.

Do check out the sale section for off-the-rack choices. If the perfect dress happens to be there, you can save money and time.
Carry a notebook where you can jot down descriptions of gowns on the “maybe” list. Many places don’t allow pre-purchase photos.
If you have jewelry or other accessories already chosen, bring them along. Wear your hair in the same general way—up, down, braided—that you’ll wear it for the festivities.
Keep an open mind. Salon staff are experts and may have an inspired idea for you.
Schedule at least two fittings and be brutally honest about the fit and feel of things. Comfort matters. For your final fitting, bring or wear everything you plan to wear on “The Day” to make sure it all works, and move around a little to make sure nothing slips or pinches.