Who did you take dress shopping with you?

MaggieF1990

I see in the sticky thread at the top of this (and heard elsewhere) not to bring a bunch of friends shopping with you. I had always assumed you bring your bridesmaids with you, but my sister was just her best friend's maid of honor and said they just had the bride, her mother, cousin, grandmother and maid of honor. I have a maid of honor, three bridesmaids (two close friends and a cousin) and will obviously include my mom. I'm not sure if I should just have my mom and sister/MOH, especially the first time around. Who did you bring with you and what do you think is a good amount?

hellohkb

I included only my mother but sent pictures to my grandmother, BM/Aunt, and my FH via text message. My sister is my MOH but not remotely interested in wedding things, especially if it has to do with shopping. I didn't really want to ask my BMs because I wanted it to be intimate.

Bring who you feel comfortable bringing, but I wouldn't recommend more than 4 or 5 people. I just wanted my mom there because if I started inviting more people it would have been a circus. Bridal shops tend to small and kind of cramped, anyway. 

justsie

I went with my mom twice ( and sent pictures to my best friend, who I will be asking to be MOH) and then went with that friend once (and sent pictures to my mom). Taking more than one person would have been way too many opinions. 

mrscomposer

I went with my mom, sister (MOH) and my two BFFs/BMs.  I live in a different province from the rest of them, so it was also the only chance I'd have to see any of them before the wedding.

They were a good group, though - good constructive comments and not just a bunch of yes-heads.  My one BFF was actually the reason I picked the dress I did - I wasn't loving it, and she suggested a belt, and it completely changed it.

hyechica81

i went to two places i had my mom aunt and sister the first time second time i had my other aunt my mom and sister come. i kept it very small 

snakeylady

I was planning on inviting the BMs and my FMIL (She only has sons) to come, but I found my dress at the first shop I went to, which was an impromptu stop with my mom and grandma. I sent a picture to my FMIL though.

AddieCake

The first time, I took just one bridesmaid, and the second time I took both of them.

southernbelle0915

My mom, my dad, and my sister/MOH.

pinupbride6189

I took my mom, sister (MOH), and one of my BMs. It was a good group, and my sister was shopping for her wedding dress at the same time, so it was a fun experience to share.

Knottie91800232

The first time I took all  BMs, mom, FMIL, and aunt. Way too many people, and one "yes-head" as someone else said, who kind of shouted down everyone. Realized my mom's opinion was the one that mattered most (and MOH/sister, but she lives out of state, so she couldn't go to the next appt.). Second appt, I took mom and FMIL. I included FMIL because she wasn't super vocal and she only has sons, so she was really excited about the experience. Found my dress at the 2nd appt.

lachattefatale

I went alone once, on a whim.

To my only formal appointment, I took my mom, his mom, my gramma, and all two of my bridesmaids (consisting of sister and FSIL). FSMIL was invited but couldn't make it. It was definitely a crowd, and I wouldn't have taken as many if I expected any tension whatsoever, but my ladies are all pretty relaxed and everyone gets along with everyone else. We all had pizza at FMIL's house afterward and it was great.

After the big appointment, I took just my bridesmaids to the walk-ins-only shop where I ended up buying my dress. None of the moms were available for that trip or I'd have taken them with me again, but left Gramma at home because she gets worn out easily. The only real difference between the two was that they all waited to be asked their opinions at the big appointment, whereas the two bridesmaids spoke up immediately when there was less danger of interrupting someone else.

If I'd anticipated any tension, I would probably have taken only my mom and sister.

CMGragain

I also went alone.  My only problem was that the consultants did not take me seriously because I didn't have my mother with me.  She didn't want to come.  After I had chosen my dress, Mom came and paid for it.  Her attitude changed a bit when she saw me in the dress.  I was so lucky to find a sample gown that I loved.
(This was 1976, and the tradition of the bride's family paying was still around.)

redheadbride15

I did all of my dress shopping alone, and don't regret it for a moment. But I'm also pretty confident in my body type and my style, so I sort of knew immediately upon trying something on whether or not it was a contender. And when I found something that was in my price range and worked, I just bought it, instead of deliberating forever and asking lots of people for their opinions.

Plus it was kind of fun that no one had seen my dress before the wedding - it was a surprise for everyone, not only my husband!

emmaaa

I went with just my mom both times. I had a MOH and 7 BMs, plus my FMIL that wanted to go. However, that is way too many people. While I love them all dearly, that is a lot of differing, and in my case, very strong opinions.

I did send everyone pictures after the first time of my top dress and then the second time of the one I ended up choosing. When I went in to pick my dress up, I brought them all with me and tried it on there.

lildropofsunshine

So far, I've gone just with my FI, but I have plans of going with my roommate soon. Most likely I'll also go with my FMIL and FI's aunt (FMIL doesn't speak English well but the aunt does, and we get along really well)...and when I go out to California for Christmas, I'm going to go with my mom and maybe one or two of my [5] sisters. I want to include everyone, but not all at once, and I probably won't be buying a dress from a store, I'll probably have my aunt make me a custom one.

lyndausvi

My mom and sister (MOH). 

I lived OOT and went dress shopping near my sister's house.  My mom came into town to join us. My MIL was about 4-5 hours away from us.  She doesn't travel.   I had only met her once and that was only a few months earlier when we got engaged.    I never thought of inviting her.  

My BMs were OOT.  I didn't bother inviting them.      For my fitting one of my BMs came with us though.

laurad75

My mom and one of my BM's came shopping with me the first couple of times and the third (and most unnecessary time) I brought the other 2 BM's.  By that point I had already decided on my dress but my mother really wanted me to try on a few more.  It was definitely more chaotic and confusing with more people.  I ended up ordering the very first dress I tried on.  

Maggie0829

I took my Mom and sister.  I didn't want a huge group of conflicting opinions and ideas.  I knew that my Mom and sis would be honest about what did and did not look good on me and neither would pressure me into something that I didn't like.

[Deleted User]

I took my god mother and her daughter.  I met my Godmother in 2004 when I converted, so we've only know each other about 10 years.  That said, I knew she'd be honest in a polite way when asked for her thoughts.  Her daughter is about 10-11 years younger than I am an very creative and I call her a little fashionista.

I had a relatively small budget for my dress, $700 or less; so I was going to look at bridesmaid dresses that could be "amped up" a bit, and I felt her advice / creative ideas would be useful if I had to go that route (I didn't).

They were the perfect people to bring!

My mom is thousands of miles away and wouldn't have been able to come.  Also, we butt heads a lot.  And she has even less fashion sense than I do.  My mom wears jeans, tennis shoes and t-shirts with wildlife printed on them EVERY DAY.  I don't think she'd have been much help; she seemed to agree- ha ha.

As far as a good amount, I'd generally say no more than 2; too many opinions can make things more stressful.  And make sure they are people who will be tactful, but ultimately support what you choose.  Meaning, just because they personally would never wear a blush colored gown, doesn't mean they can't be helpful in giving you constructive criticism about the ones you wear. 

ETA:  words

bb2016

I've been twice so far, both times were kind of random with one of my bridesmaids. I'm pretty certain I've found my dress this last time, but I wasn't expecting to find it so I didn't buy it. Since I'm fairly certain it's the one I decided to invite all the other local bridesmaids, FSIL, FSMIL and FMIL. I'm not one to want to be the center of attention, but I know FI's stepmother and mother will really enjoy coming and I like spending time with them. 

doeydo

I brought just my mom and I was very happy that I did.  Big entourages can sometimes be a horrible idea, as the bride just ends up being bombarded with differing opinions and has an unhappy shopping experience.  Also, the first time you go shopping might be the time you find your dress.` If you would like to "include" more people you could maybe bring them to one of the fittings.

primafaba15

I brought my mom, dad, and sister (MOH) for most of my dress shopping, and my 2 other BMs for a couple of the appointments including the one where I actually bought my dress. It was kind of a crowd, but mom and dad were not optional (they bought the dress), and MOH kind of parrots whatever my mother wants, so I actually really wanted FSIL and my other BM there to be on my side. Unfortunately my mother vetoed bringing the other BMs so they only got to go to the 2 appointments that I booked back-to-back with BM appointments. 

DarthV8r

First time only my mom. I plan to go a second time with my God mother (moh) and my mom.

beautyofdreams

I took my mom and 3 of 4 bridesmaids. My Future mother in law had a fit I didn't invite her. So much drama over it. 

lembaslover

I went with my mom, my aunt who's been like a second mother to me, and my cousin also a bridesmaid. It seemed like a good amount of people who were able to give me feedback but not overwhelming with differing opinions. The 3 of them know my style more than anyone except myself and maybe my fiance but he isn't going to get to see my dress until I'm walking down the aisle.

For my first fitting I took my mom, my FMIL, and my FI grandma who I adore! At first I was nervous about taking them because I don't really like being AWWed at but it ended up being a lot of fun and I took them to brunch afterward.