Buying dress a year in advanced??

soccerash21

Hi all!

My Faince and I have just set our wedding date! We will be getting married October 24, 2013. We recently moved from Chicago to California because my fiance got a job offer. Our wedding will be held back in Chicago because all of our family is back there and we didn't want to make them all pay to come out here. My question is, my mom will be coming out here to vist us the last week of August this year. She has offered to pay for my dress, and she said she really wants to. My fiance and I can't afford for me to fly home to look for dresses before the wedding, nor can we afford to fly my mom back out here later on to look for a dress. So when she is out here this August/early September is really the only time that will work for us since she will already be out here. I'm just worried that it's too soon to look? I have been the same weight since high school, and I'm 25, so I'm not super concerned about gaining weight. I'm just not sure about alterations (sp). How long before the wedding do brides typically wait to get their dresses altered? As I said, I won't be able to afford to go home before the wedding to look for a dress, so this is really the perfect chance for me to look. But is it too early? Thanks!

saacjw

I'd say go for it. Some people might say it's too soon, I can say that I bought my dress on the same timeline (in October 2011 for a December 2012 wedding). No harm looking. The biggest caution I'd have though is if you are typically indecisive or like to change your mind, it might be too early because you might keep looking at other things and have dress regret. I havne't had that problem, but you see a lot of dress regret on this board. 

Alterations are usually done 2ish months prior to the wedding. 

Winnertag1

I ordered my dress in Feb of this year & I wont be getting married till May 2013. A year before the wedding is fine, they usually take about 6 months to come in once youve ordered it & you can just hold onto to it till alterations. 

JoeAnne2013

You are the first person I have ever heard of that is actually getting married on a Thursday!

My wedding is the following day, I put my deposit down on my wedding gown in early April this year and its taking nine months for my dress to come in.

soccerash21

Hi!!

Thanks so much to all of you for your help! I am going for it! 

We are getting married on a Thursday! The venue we chose offered a significant discount if we bumped it up a day- close to $4,500 off plus free charge of their chapel! So we couldn't say no, especially since we are trying to keep everything under a certain amount. We figured that since it's a year ahead of time, we should be okay!

meganb1977

I got my dress almost 20 months out and it was fine.  Wasn't planning on it but found a bargain I couldn't pass up.  If you're sure of what you want and it's beating out all the other dresses you see, go for it and then shift your focus to other things and you can use your dress to set the tone.

jneelpsych88

I bought my dress 13 months before our wedding. :-) I still love it!! Just had alterations last week. If its the one, you'll know it!

CarolineandDean

You may want to consider going shopping one or two times before your mom visits, that way you can get a good feeling and idea of what you like and how the process works. That way, when you're with your mom, you'll have good, quality dress shopping time. I happened to find my dress the first and only time I went shopping, but I know not everyone has the same experience.

lumilumi

I tried on maybe 40-50 dresses before I found my dress.  I needed to get a feel for the dresses with different silouettes, necklines, etc. and see how they look on my body type.  Sometimes the dresses you think you'd like from looking at pictures will be totally different when you actually try them on.  I agree that you should go shopping before your mom is in town to see what kind of dresses you are really looking for.

cwaggoner07

I would typically say to wait awhile, but with your situation, it makes the most sense.
The best advice I have, though, is once you have your dress STOP LOOKING. Just STOP.

erbear84

I bought my dress last March for my April 2013 wedding and I still am thrilled with my choice.  I can't wait to try it on again!  Like PP have said, if you DO find your dress - stop looking!  Don't try on any more.  I like to still look at dresses but I see them and think, damn, my dress is awesome.  

aro1589

I got my dress 11 months before the wedding.  Still love it and can't wait to wear it (October 27th!).  It was on clearance so I didn't want to wait an risk it not being there.

elizabethpark321

I actually bought my dress way in advance! I went shopping just to "look around" and feel out some different silhoeuttes. I had gone to a bunch of stores and found stuff I liked every place but nothing I fell in love with. My last stop was JLM Couture flagship salon...I actually love all of this companies gowns so I figured it would be best to leave it last. Turns out I ended up falling in LOVE with a gown that was part of the trunk show and it was meant to be. I got a 10% discount and got to meet the designer who helped me decide on custom changes perfect for me. I say when you find the one you KNOW is your dress..its never too early!

babeecutee

I'd say go for it. I wishes I did. I got my dress in January for my wedding in July. So as of now it really stressful. I wouldn't wish it on someone else.

[Deleted User]

I bought my dress in October 2011 for my September 2012 wedding because I really wanted my mom to be involved. She was getting ready to leave in November to go overseas for a year for work.  She gets to come home for 3 RR's, but we weren't sure if it would be too late by the time she came home for the1st time in March.  So we decided to go the 2nd week of October and I tried on around 9 or 10 dresses.  It came down to 2 dresses and 1 of those 2, I thought was "the one".  We decided not to buy anything that day, and made an appointment to go back a week later.  When we went back to the store it was obvious which one was my dress.  My dad even came up there, and his face said it all.  Just like some of the other people said... do not keep looking once you've made the decision, though. 

noahark1

Will be ordering my dress next week for my June 2013 wedding.  Was told by my Alfred Angelo consultant that it can take 8-9 months to come in plus alteration time.

I understand your decision for a weekday wedding.  We had our hearts set on a certain location but they require a large minumum number of people attending.  As this is a destination wedding, our numbers are no where near what they are looking for.  So we asked them about a mid-week date and we not only have the facility we wanted, we are paying almost half the per person price and getting all the same perks.  

One drawback to a mid-week ceremony is if people have to work and may not be able to get time off.  We're not running into that since , as a destination wedding, people will already be taking off as vacation - so we're taking the money we saved on the wedding and putting it towards the hotel rooms for our guest so they can enjoy the wedding and a few days vacation without breaking their bank