How soon is TOO soon to dress shop?

ltetidrick

Hi Knotties!

So my wedding is not until March 24, 2012..however, my mom and most of the bridal party live in the Tampa area. 

How soon is TOO soon to go dress shopping?  How long did it take you to find your dress? 

Thanks for the advice!

Lauren

ltetidrick

Oh yeah, I am from Tampa and will be shopping in the Tampa Bay area...I just live in Alabama...sorry if it looked like I was a random Knottie posting! lol

lisanunez73

I got my dress 1 year and four months before my wedding. The only downside would be if you later changed your mind about the venue since the dress might be too much or not enough. GL!

Bre2Be

I would say that it's never TOO soon to start looking.  But, after reading some recent posts from other brides who bought their dress 1-2 years before the wedding, a lot of them are regretting it.  Only because there are so many new designs coming out and then they start to rethink their own.

My advice would be to start looking online for different dress styles that you like, but wait to actually go dress shopping until 8-10 months before the wedding.  I printed out a bunch of dresses I liked online but when I tried them on they didn't look at all like I was expecting!  I didn't try my first dress on until about 7 months before the wedding and I found one that same day.  It only took about 10 weeks to come in and every time I put it on I fall in love with it all over again!  

I'm going to my final dress fitting this Saturday

Once you do find a dress and purchase it, my advice would be to STOP looking!  GL

ceeceed80

I don't think it's too early to look... Buy maybe... You might change your mind... But if you find something you fall in love with get it... Then if you start losing the love for it look for another and sell the first one.

mego36

I bought my dress a year and a half before my wedding.  I knew I loved it after trying on a bunch it was the one I kept going back to.  The hardest part was not seeing it from May '09 to July '10.  I was so nervous when it came it, but I went with my heart and I love it!

Brandles17

I think it is never to early to start looking for a dress although I wouldn't purchase a dress more than a year in advance because like other posts said you may change your mind. HTH

TTnoles

I second all those posts...the only upside to finding something early is to write down the style number and designer and see if you can find the dress online from someone selling it used.  There are SO many out there.  I know i ran across my size and style at least once in researching and it was half the cost I paid for it.  GL!

ltetidrick

THANKS SO MUCH!!! I can't wait to start looking and trying on things

jtritch

It's really all a matter of personal opinion, however, I went out about 10 months prior to the wedding and bought a dress.  This was before I had a clear picture of what I ultimately wanted my wedding to look like, including my dress, so now I'm probably going to end up with a 2nd dress. 

My best advice is to have a somewhat clear vision before plunking down that money.     My two cents. 

missy1954

I bought mine about a year and a half before the wedding. I love it like crazy. I think it's like finding my true love. When you find it grab it fast.

[Deleted User]

I would hold off a little. You can go look at dresses now, if you really want, but your tastes will change. Mine did. I bought one dress a little over a year before our wedding, its 6 months away now, and I've bought a 2nd dress because I've changed my tastes. You can go try dresses on now, but I'd hold off buying THE DRESS until a closer date when you've got your tastes and details down to specfics.