Say Yes to the Perfect Dress: Your Ultimate Guide to Nailing Your Wedding Dress Appointment

I used to work as a wedding dress consultant, and I just loved that job. I helped brides find their dream dress and picked up some interesting insights along the way.
Trust me, I know how overwhelming dress shopping can be, but with my insider tips, you'll be able to breeze through your appointment and snag the perfect dress that you've been dreaming of. I've got some pointers that aren't usually mentioned in similar articles.
Let's chat and make your dress shopping experience as enjoyable as possible!

Before the appointment:

FINDING A WEDDING DRESS SHOP: Start with stores closer to your home, then expand your search if necessary. Remember, you'll likely visit the store 5 or 6 times between the first visit, the try on, the alterations, an accessories appointment and the pick up, so find the dress shops near you to make it easy on yourself. If you don't find the dress at the closer shops, you can go visit some that are further away. 

SET A BUDGET: Call the stores ahead of time to get an idea of costs. Different stores carry different dress lines with varying price tiers, so it's important to know before you go. Also, remember to budget for alterations. The cost can vary but count on spending at least $300 on alterations once the dress you order comes in.

PLAN AHEAD: Ordering a dress can take 8 months or more to have it made in your size, and they are often made overseas. Start your wedding dress shopping well in advance (at least 10 months) and remember to add 2 months for alterations after receiving your dress. With supply chain issues, you may need to start even earlier.

If you need a dress for a wedding in less than 4 months, call and ask if the store has off-the-rack options available, or if they have some "rush" options; some designers have dresses that have a quick turnaround time.

Check if the wedding dress shop has a seamstress available for alterations and ask about storage fees if you need to keep your dress at the store before the wedding. If the shop doesn't have a seamstress, you'll need to find one who can do your alterations.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT: Let your chosen store know how many people will be accompanying you. The shop will be less crowded during the week, and super crazy on the weekend. During your phone call, the staff will provide you with any relevant details regarding their store.

UNDERGARMENTS: Wear a strapless bra and "good" undies. The store associate will be helping you get in and out of the bridal gowns so don't wear any underwear you would be embarrassed being seen in. The bridal salon will have a strapless bra to wear during the appointment if you forget yours. The wedding dress shop I worked at never washed the bras that customers wore. I always thought that was disgusting, so that's why you definitely want to bring your own!

SHOES: It doesn't hurt to bring along shoes in the height that you would probably wear on your wedding day (they don't have to be white, you're just considering the height) but you really don't need them. You won't have time to try on your shoes with every dress, but for your favorite choice, you can slip the shoes on. 

LOOKIN' CUTE: Doing your makeup before you arrive ensures you look your best in pictures. Most stores don't mind if your "TeamBride" takes photos of you in the dresses. Also, take a little time to fix your hair the way you may wear it on your wedding day. Having it up or down can really make a big difference in the overall look. If you have very long hair though, having it in a ponytail or bun will make it easier to get in and out of the dresses.

At the Appointment (make sure you are on time!):

LEAVE THE COFFEE IN THE CAR: Avoid bringing food or drinks into the store. Most bridal shops prefer to keep food and drinks, even water, away from the dresses. If you want to bring champagne, be sure to ask first and bring glasses or cups too, so you come prepared, if they allow it.

SETTING EXPECTATIONS: Tell the store associate the shape, color, fabric and overall look you would like. You can bring pictures or show her on your phone the styles of dresses that you are interested in. She may ask you about the venue, wedding size, and time of day, to get a good idea of how formal the dress needs to be. Keep an open mind when choosing dresses. While you may have a style in mind, trying on a few dresses outside of your comfort zone may surprise you.

BUDGET FRIENDLY OPTIONS: Be sure to state your budget so she can steer you towards dresses in your price range. You can save money by purchasing a discontinued floor model dress. Ask to see what is in your size, or close to it, on their discount rack. The advantage of this is not just the price, but also you won't have to order your dress and wait several months for it to arrive. 

You can inquire about trunk shows too, where dresses by one designer are marked down for a short period of time.

CHOOSING DRESSES: Dress appointments are often around an hour and fifteen minutes. This goes by really fast so stay focused; pick just 3-4 dresses you like best to try on first before going back to the racks to find more. And again, you may want to grab a couple that are completely different styles. 5 or 6 dresses will be a good number to start. 

You might realize after the first few dresses that you actually prefer a different style than you had initially wanted, so you can always have your consultant pull some new choices for you.

When you look through the dresses on the rack, remember they look very different on the hanger. They look flat, for one thing, and the shape is completely different than when you have it on. They may also be hung on the rack in a clear plastic bag. It can be hard to envision the dress in this situation so ask the consultant if she has photos of the dress you can look at.

BRING ALONG TEAMBRIDE: Check with the store how many people you can bring with you. Keeping the group to 3-4 or less is easier, (1-2 guests makes it less complicated) and make sure the store has enough space for everyone. While friends and family may offer their opinions, it's important to follow your heart and choose the dress that feels right for you. Remember, the ultimate decision is yours. 

Don't let well-meaning friends or family members take control of your appointment and distract you with dresses you're not interested in. If TeamBride starts pulling you in different directions, ask the wedding dress associate to help steer them back on track. 

Once you and your consultant are back in the dressing room, you can tell her what dress or style you love and that you are trying to "tune out" the strong opinions to the contrary. She'll be your ally and make sure your vision is the main focus. Remember, it's your day and you get to choose the dress that makes you feel amazing! Chances are, TeamBride will support you in finding the dress you love.

When trying on dresses, the sizes the shop has on hand will likely be too big, and the consultant will use clamps to give you an idea of the dress's shape. These may look like something your dad keeps in the trunk of his car, but they do the job.

MODIFYING A DRESS: If you love a dress but want to tweak it a little bit, ask your consultant if they carry a sparkly belt, sleeves or straps you can try with the dress. A sparkly belt really can "bling up" the dress, and your seamstress can sew it right to the dress, so it stays in place. If you invest in a sparkly belt, be sure to remove it after the wedding and add it to your wardrobe. Trust me, you will love wearing it again with your favorite "normal" dresses.

The seamstress may also be able to add sleeves or straps to a dress. Investing in customizing your dream dress may come at an additional cost, but it guarantees a unique gown tailored to your specific preferences and style.

FABRIC CONSIDERATIONS: Keep in mind the wedding location when selecting your dress. If you have a spot chosen outside in the summer, stay away from tulle dresses with lots of layers. Bugs will get stuck in there and it is a real pain to pick them out.

For a beachy wedding, consider if you want your dress blowing away in the wind. While many beach brides gravitate towards a soft light flowy dress, you may want something a little heavier or form fitting that isn't going to be blowing around as much.

But don't go too heavy. Dresses with lots of beading and rhinestones will be really heavy. You'll be wearing it for a long time on your big day, and you want to be comfortable.

At the end of the appointment: 

ACCESSORIES: The store associate may bring in a veil and jewelry to try on once you have narrowed down your choices and you have a favorite dress. Keep in mind you can buy wedding accessories online for much cheaper. Even Amazon has beautiful wedding veils for a fraction of the cost. 

You can always make an appointment another day to try multiple accessories on with the dress you chose. Some veils do take a while to order, so if you're considering a special veil from the bridal shop, ask how long it will take to order it. But be sure to shop online first to find some deals!

READY TO BUY?: You may feel like you need to make a decision right there and then and buy the dress that you like. Your consultant may put a veil and a necklace on you and even hand you a little bouquet. This is a sales tactic to try to push you toward buying the dress and veil today. They want you to see yourself in the mirror and imagine getting married in this bridal gown. 

Your bridal consultant will even bring another team member or two or even the store owner/manager to show them how amazing you look in the dress and the veil. The other team members will tell you very enthusiastically that this dress looks beautiful on you, and it is definitely the one for you. This is another sales tactic to try to get you to buy the dress today. 

The consultant or store owner may even come right out and say in a loud voice so everyone in the shop can hear, "Are you saying Yes to the Dress?" You might be ready to shout "Yes!" If you aren't ready, take a deep breath and realize it is okay if you don't buy today. If they try to pressure you to buy today, just tell them you need to text a photo to your grandma to get her input, but she (you look at your watch) is taking her nap right now.

IF YOU WANT TO WAIT: You can always take a few days to think about it. You may want to show your photos of your top choices to a trusted friend or family member (like sleepy grandma) who wasn't at your appointment. It might not be convenient to get your TeamBride back together for another appointment, but you can always stop by on your own or with just your mom. 

If you decide you aren't ready to buy a dress, ask the store associate to write down the information for the dresses you liked. You may have more dresses or styles you want to try on but ran out of time. That is a great reason to make another appointment. It is easy to get mixed up after trying on several dresses, especially if you hit more than one store. You'll want to have the prices and the designer's name written down to remember which dress you tried on where. 

One of your friends or your mom can also take notes while you're trying on, so after the appointment you can look at your photos and your notes, and you will know which dress is which. The store may also have an electronic customer file in their computer to keep track of your favorite dresses and accessories. Ask them to file away your top choices!

And you're done! Now go have lunch or some coffee with TeamBride! You made it through your appointment!

I hope my tips and insights will prove useful, and most importantly, I wish you smooth sailing, lots of smiles and a few tears of joy as you find your dream dress.