Attire & Accessories Forum

Wedding Dress Shopping

I will not be getting married until September of 2012. First of all is it too soon to be dress shopping? And I'm not exactly sure what I want or within what price range I need to be aiming for. Is it wrong to try on dresses to get an idea of what I want even though I know I won't be purchasing a dress for at least a year?
Next to being married, a girl likes being crossed now and then. - Jane Austen

Re: Wedding Dress Shopping

  • Hmmm.... I would look through magazines first and see what you may want. The first thing is what the theme of your wedding is going to be! Will it be tradtional or non traditional, at a church or beach, outside or a different venue. Then you start to look for 'the" dress. If i were you I wouldnt do to the bridal store just yet, you may be tempted and fall in love with "the" dress.! And then want it.. which isnt bad..but it will be in your closet for a year. When you are ready to find your dress, then you can find what style it may be like simple, elegant, flashy,or even vintage. then you will "the" dress...YOUR dress!!!

    Hope I helped good luck!!

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  • I would say it is too early to go dress shopping. Maybe start looking around online and in magazines to see what you like, So many different styles are going to come out over the next two years.
  • I would wait until you are closer to a year out to start trying on dresses. Like the PPs said, start by looking through magazines and getting a feel for what you want your wedding to be like.
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  • If you have a self-service type salon near your home, I don't think there's any harm in going and trying on a few things, just to get an idea of what sillhouettes will look best on you.  That way you aren't holding up a consultant and you can guide your own selections by trying a couple of each - a-line, trumpet, sheath, etc.  Once you know what sillhouette you prefer then you can guide your magazine and internet browsing until it's closer to the wedding.  Even if you fall in love with a dress this early, if you can go to a self-serve place, you won't feel guilty over cheating a consultant and over the year or so before you go shopping, you'll probably find things that will be even better.
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  • yeah it's too early. i'm getting married aug 2011 and i still think it's too early for me! i'm not going to buy my dress til october prob. if you go too early and fall in love with something but don't want to buy it yet you run the risk of the dress being discontinued when you are ready to buy it. as well girls thend to change their minds when it comes to fashion. i know it's exciting but i'd wait till around a year out.
  • I would say that if you are not ready to buy a dress, don't go.  I think you need to be prepared to purchase, or put a deposit down on a dress when you go.  But if you are ready to do that then I would do you research and I don't see why you couldn't go.  I purchased my dress a year and a half before our wedding.  I went with my mom when I was home for Christmas, we didn't really have any intention of buying a dress that day, but we had money ready if it was needed.  I love it, it is my dress.  I think it just depends, I can't imagine liking any dress more than I do this one.  Also, remember to stop shopping after you've purchased it.  One thing I would think of too is that you can try to shop trunk sales and sample sales since you do have so much time.
  • I would start right away. It is good to try stuff on in all different styles so you know which one you are looking for.

    Once you know the fit, neckline, etc. You can wait a little bit and do research on designers and price ranges.

    I do have to say though I just bought my dress for a summer 2011 wedding and they said that I just made it! It takes about 11 months to make.

    I know that you still have plenty of time but knowing the type of fit and neckline you like can take awhile so I would figure that out first.
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  • Two things I'm concerned with is knowing what does look good on me before I just love something in a magizine but then the shape doesn't look good on me. And I"m the type of person that I won't to know how much something costs and then save for it. Is there a good site that lists actual prices and not just a price range. I watch shows where girls spend $10,000 or more on a dress, and I'm not against spending $2000 but I need to know if its neccessary so I can start saving because I'm a student and paying for things myself.
    Next to being married, a girl likes being crossed now and then. - Jane Austen
  • I would not do shopping yet. Styles and your taste are going to change. I bought my dress a year out and it took 3 months to get in.
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  • If you KNOW what you want, I would order whenever you find THE dress you want. This is important if what you want is not trendy in your area. Example, I wanted a very slinky, sleek formal gown. All I could find in my local area (St. Louis) were heavily beaded/ ruffled/ "cupcake" gowns. I could see how other brides would feel like a million bucks in them, but they just didn't fit my modern aesthetic. 

    We're getting married Memorial Day weekend, but I found my gown in Chicago this past weekend and ordered it. Knowing my luck, they would discontinue that style if I waited 3 more months before ordering it, lol. 

    If you don't know what you want and have an open mind, I would wait about 6 months prior your wedding. That's when the designers will start presenting the new collections for the next season, so you will get the most current design and trends. 
    "I liked it, so I put a ring on it" - future Mr. Box
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