How soon did you buy your wedding dress?

seedlessmango

Hi Ladies!

I'm recently engaged but the wedding is still over a year away, we have a June date in 2011. I'm wondering when I should start looking at wedding dresses - I know the more time the better but I dont want to fall in love with something now and then really love something better in next year's collection.

When do new collections come out? Is it yearly or by season? I'm clueless as to bridal fashion!

Kmgreen2

I'm not really sure when the collections come out, but I was in the same boat as you.  I got engaged in Dec. 08 and the wedding is July 10 so I had a while.  I started looking in May 09 and bought my dress in Sept. 09.

I wouldn't worry about *looking* at dresses right now, but I would wait until at least a year out before I bought anything.  It also depends on how long they take to come in.  Some designers take about 8-10 months from what I've heard to come in.  Mine only took 3 months cause I ordered it online at Pearl's Place.  HTH.

felicia220

Too Soon.  I bought my dresses (I'm wearing two) in AUG 09 for my JUNE 10 wedding.  Since then I have found dresses that I know would look a lot better on me.  I bought so soon because I really didn't like dress shopping and just wanted to get it done.  Oh well, I guess it is just a dress.  Don't get me wrong my dresses are very nice and they look good but I know of a one or two dresses that would look better on me.  

kls114

I think it is never too early to look, but wait until at least the year or less mark to think about buying.

I starting looking right off the bat for our July 2011 wedding. Went out twice last year to get an idea, once already this year and I am going again in a couple weeks. I found one dress that I absolutely LOVE but right now I am keeping an open mind to others. I would like to purchase the dress by the end of the summer or year.

HTH & GL!

Jimbos76

Bridal has two collections - Fall and Spring.  The fall collection usually comes out in mid-summer and the spring collection comes out in mid-winter.  I would say purchase 8-12 months in advance.  Ordering times will vary depending on the designer and the last thing you want to worry about is will your dress be there in time.  And once you find your dress, stop looking!  That will stop the second guessing.  I will say, I experienced a few pushy bridal salons.  Make sure you are 100% in love with your dress before buying and don't let the sales people pressure you into buyinjg something you don't love.  It is "just a dress" but it's the most important dress in your lifetime!  Good luck!

jagore08

You can start looking now but wait to purchase until about 9 months before your wedding date.  A lot of bridal consultants will try to get you to purchase so if you're easily persuaded then I would wait a little while before trying them on.

hippie4yahweh

My timeline was almost the same as yours! We were engaged Feb '09 to be married June '10.

I started looking around June '09, but I had a REALLY hard time finding a dress and I didn't order until the end of November '09, which was really almost too late (It won't be in until the end of April, JUST in time to not have to rush alterations.)

If you're picky, I'd start looking soon- but DON'T BUY yet! Even if they offer you a "super great deal" you have more than enough time to find a better deal!

kee80

I started looking about ten months before, but didn't buy anything until eight months out.  I wanted to be sure to leave plenty of time for shipping & alterations, but I was nervous about committing to a dress too far ahead of time. 

I still ended up in the very first dress that caught my eye, though

cswaldon

I bought my wedding dress right after getting engaged, nearly 2 years before our wedding date. I have absolutely no regrets!

I went into the bridal salon KNOWING which dress I was going to get, and once I bought the dress, I stopped looking. If you're likely to change your mind, I would recommend waiting. But if you know what you want and find it, I say buy it! And then STOP LOOKING!

Another perk I received from buying a dress that wasn't from the current season's collection was that the salon offered me a 10% discount (which will cover the cost of alterations) if I ordered the dress that day. Since I was deadset on that dress, I had no problem ordering right away. 

Also, since the dress was bought so early, the salon agreed to hold onto my dress for me.

Good luck!

jenn.daniel

Our date is also in June 2011.  I bought my dress Sept 2009.  I hadn't thought I'd find the perfect dress in the 3rd stop I went to!  I love my dress.

mjmartel

Heyyyy!!!!

Our wedding is June 2011 as well and I purchased my dress in February!!! A lot of people would say that is wayyyy too early but i think when you know you know. I also had the fear of purchasing a dress too early and then finding one I like better later but I have forced myself to stop looking. Once you find YOUR dress don't look anymore and that will help the doubt you may feel from buying too early.

Again, it is never too early to look. I spent a while looking around and trying on a few dresses to really find out what I liked and what I really didn't like!

Also, take into consideration the alteration process and the time it takes for your dress to come in. I got my dress in FEB but it isn't coming in until the end of JULY. Then I need to have it altered which could take 1 to 2 months, so that puts it at SEPT till I actually get my dress. Still like 9 months before my wedding but that gives me a better option of when i want to take my bridal pictures... in the fall or in the spring.

In other words, if you find the dress you know is the one... get it and stop looking! good luck

mb2712

I am getting married in June 2011 as well, and I have my dress.  We went dress shopping, and I found it, and I love it!!  Dress shops say sometimes it takes as many as 4-6 months to order the dress in, plus they say if you are getting married, you should start your alterations in March.  Given all this information, I don't think it's too early to start at all. 

peyton.ballew

Me and FI have been engaged since October of '08 and the wedding is in October of this year, and I bought my dress about a month ago.

[Deleted User]

i am getting married may '11, and i already have my dress.
i was worried it would be discontinued if i waited; and, sure enough!, it was.

luckyme502

I bought my dress right away, but we are only having a six month engagement, so I needed too!