Dress shopping advice...

JediElizabeth

Ok, so I'm trying to figure out the best thing to do after a sting of bad luck (only tangentially mine). Here goes:

I was supposed to go dress shopping with my mom & FMIL last weekend, but they both cancelled at the last minute. They live about 2 and 6 hours away, respectively, and my mom doesn't drive, so it's hard to do anything with either of them. I don't think I'll see my FMIL again until September.

I then started to make plans with my MOH and one of my bridesmen (who I'm much more keen on going with).  In the span of the past week, the MOH had a good friend pass away, and the bridesman found out about a terminal illness diagnosis in his immediate family. I'm obviously not going to ask them again this soon, because both of them need some processing time.

I don't want to go with anyone else, and I really don't want to go alone. Now, obviously I have time. I need to order my dress around July or August (the 8-9 month point), but I might want to shop around a bit. 

What would you do? How long would you wait before talking to these friends about wedding stuff again? Is June enough time to try to make plans, or should I avoid it and figure out a Plan C?

CMGragain

You could always try going by yourself to pre-shop - selecting a few dresses that you are considering, and then bring others to help make your final decision.

ernursej

I really like @CMGragain's advice.

Personally, I would give it a solid month before bringing it up again. I might also suggest that you just pick 1 person to go with and that will make logistics easier.

JediElizabeth

Thanks! A month sounds like a good amount of time, and I like the idea of pre-shopping. It's just one of those difficult things you never really know how to handle, being a good friend and trying to be selfless when you have your own stuff going on.

Thanks again.  

MesmrEwe

I'd make a trip to go with your Mom somewhere near her for the first trip... Just because...  Go pick her up and go casually, don't make it into an over the top big deal type trip.  Then plan the big dress shopping for June unless something changes (you find a dress off the rack shopping with your Mom that you say "THIS IS IT!" and it fits perfectly).. 

hyechica81

go with your mom first and then try some things out and see what you like and dont like, then ask everyone else to come with you at x date. 

some tips bring undergarments you may wear with the dress ex spanx underwear and a strapless bra or you could ask if salon has bras you could use to try on.  

if you know what heal hight you want with your dress bring a pair you have lying around in your house so you can see what it would look like

if you need larger sizes make sure the salon has plenty for you to try on 

CMGragain

Do keep an open mind about styles.  My daughter didn't even want to try on the dress, but I insisted after picking it from a rack.  After she tried it on, she was stunned at how beautiful it looked on her.

JediElizabeth

You ladies are great. Thank you

My friends actually reached out to me yesterday, and we made plans for next Wednesday. 3 wedding party members and I will go, I have 2 ball gowns I want to try on, and I'll be open minded about whatever else they want to see me in, and then we'll all go for dinner. I'm really excited!

madamerwin

CMGragain said:

Do keep an open mind about styles.  My daughter didn't even want to try on the dress, but I insisted after picking it from a rack.  After she tried it on, she was stunned at how beautiful it looked on her.

This happened to me. I had planned to go dress browsing alone, but my sister (lives out of state) convinced me that it would mean a lot to our mom (lives near me) if I invited her. Then I let my local sister know, and she really, really wanted to come. I tried on a few dresses I didn't really like, and then my sister picked a tea-length dress off the rack and insisted I try it on. I refused at first, but tried it on to humor her. I loved it, and it ended up being the dress I chose!

ETA: Try on different styles, even if it's not something you think will work. You never know what you'll like!