Wedding Etiquette Forum

People who have done the dress thing.

I have a dress shopping question - how long can I reasonably put it off? This is a serious question - I don't want to live life on the dress-buying edge, but for several reasons, I want to put it off as long as possible. The wedding is in October of 2010. I know there are some people who would say I'm already pushing it, and some people who will tell me "Oh, go buy something off the rack the week before."

So, what's the middle of the road, reasonably answer for how long I can really hold out here?
On bed rest since Groundhog's Day and every day since has been exactly the same.
BabyFruit Ticker
Blog

Re: People who have done the dress thing.

  • I would probably start shopping in January.  It can take up to 6 months for a dress to come in, and then you have to get alterations, which can take Lord knows how long.
    Photobucket
  • I got a dress 10 months out. 
    my read shelf:
    Amber Lea's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf) imageTell Me A Tale
  • I found my dress 3 months in advance and still had to put a rush on it so I'd have time for alterations. So yeah, don't do that. I'd say you need to really start looking 6 months in advance and get it ordered 4 months in advance.
    image
    image
  • mag - The board has been painfully messed up for me, showing posts that are days old. Combine that with too much work (big project) and I've only had time for reading, not talking.

    Thanks for the timeline advice so far - helpful to be sure.

    By any chance, did any of you happen to live across the country from where the wedding will be?

    I have NO IDEA how to work out the dress logistics. I can't fly back and forth for alterations - can alterations all be done within a few weeks if I go out to PA a few weeks before the wedding? Or should I have it shipped to Arizona and get alterations here and ... ship it back to PA for the wedding? What the hell!
    On bed rest since Groundhog's Day and every day since has been exactly the same.
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Blog
  • Mine came in 3 weeks before my wedding, and that allowed for 1 alteration a week until the wedding. I ordered it 5 months prior to wedding day.
    image
  • HI!  I ordered my dress in May for my October wedding.  It came in in August and I started alterations 3 weeks out. 
  • I would say that they can be done a few weeks beforehand, depending on what needs to be done. If you just need a hem and a bustle, and a small nip a tuck, you should be fine. If you're doing serious alterations in areas with lace, beading, lots of detail, then it's going to take longer. Personally, I would have it shipped to me, just so I could be on top of everything and be sure it's all done in time.
    "In the old days my ass would be in your back yard picking cotton, so excuse me if I don't put much stock in how f*cking awesome the old days were." -Nuggs
  • I ordered mine in March for my September wedding.  It came at the beginning of August.
  • It depends what type of dress you want and how long ordering takes for that gown, really. I was told 3-4 months (for the dress that never arrived), but I think that it varies depending on the manufacturer. I would at least go shopping to get an idea of what you like/dislike soon, even if you don't want to order anything as yet. 
  • It really depends on the designer. Some take 8 months, some take 3. If you can do a quick once-over of designers and pick a few you might like, I'd call them and ask them how long they usually take.

    Otherwise, if you really don't want to worry about it, go the preowned route or buy off the rack. One of my friends bought an off-the-rack the week before and was really happy, although she's definitely a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-done-dress-thing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:1da28f04-7a64-4e7e-838e-991f147b976ePost:3f71dac7-c99b-4df7-9bc3-b1d6b382e3f9">Re: People who have done the dress thing.</a>:
    [QUOTE]mag - The board has been painfully messed up for me, showing posts that are days old. Combine that with too much work (big project) and I've only had time for reading, not talking. Thanks for the timeline advice so far - helpful to be sure. By any chance, did any of you happen to live across the country from where the wedding will be? I have NO IDEA how to work out the dress logistics. I can't fly back and forth for alterations - can alterations all be done within a few weeks if I go out to PA a few weeks before the wedding? Or should I have it shipped to Arizona and get alterations here and ... ship it back to PA for the wedding? What the hell!
    <p>Posted by temerityjane[/QUOTE]</p><p> </p><p>Can you not purchase the dress from nearby and just bring it with you for the wedding, or perhaps sometime after you've got it but before the wedding so that you have time to have it steamed so it's not crushed etc? I would imagine that would be easier than having to fly for fittings.</p>
  • Are you flying or driving to PA?

    I'm getting married in AL and I live in IN.  My parents are driving to AL.  I bought my dress here and they are driving it to AL.  We considered flying it with me as a carry on, but I thought that would be a pain.  You can always ship the dress, and have it steamed/presed when you arrive. 
    Jackson Allen ? 10.1.11 ?
    {Raising Jack}
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-done-dress-thing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:1da28f04-7a64-4e7e-838e-991f147b976ePost:8a224c3f-d06b-48bc-99f8-211db5b11a72">Re: People who have done the dress thing.</a>:
    [QUOTE]It depends what type of dress you want and how long ordering takes for that gown, really. I was told 3-4 months (for the dress that never arrived), but I think that it varies depending on the manufacturer. I would at least go shopping to get an idea of what you like/dislike soon, even if you don't want to order anything as yet. 
    Posted by thesuninherhead[/QUOTE]

    I agree 100%
  • I think it depends on where you are getting your dress from, i.e., David's Bridal or a designer salon. I used DB and got bought mine in April for my October 4th wedding. I wanted to wait longer because I was on a weight loss program and didn't know what size I'd end up being, but I didn't want to risk something bad happening and not having a dress. So my dress came in in less than two weeks! It sat in my closet for 4 months, then I got alterations in August. They had to take it in one full size because I bought it too early, which was freaking expensive.

    SO, it can help to wait if you're anticipating the dress fitting differently closer to the wedding. But if not, I'd say do it as early as you feel comfortable.



    image
    Taco cat: Always a palindrome. ALWAYS, okay J&K?

    "cool......insult my size 2 body or my natural brown hair...or the fact that my parents own a country club, I have no budget for a wedding, and I have horses. I really dont care. Its better then having roots." ~ futurepivko
  • custom made or retail?

    couture? It takes about 6 months just to be made.  add on 2 or three fittings for the bustle & length adjustments.

    retail? I think you can get it in a month or if you are a sample size, riight away.  Alterations perhaps a couple weeks.

    I'd get going on it either way
  • I'll be flying to PA - it's quite a long drive, several days. I'll be going out there a few weeks to a month before the wedding, but I guess the best thing to do will be to order it out where and get alterations done out here... then ship it or try to carry it on the plane. I just hate the idea of it getting lost in the mail and all, you know?

    I definitely won't be getting any kind of high fashion, super fancy dress, and I am also not a sample size, I don't think.

    Basically, I won't shop by myself, and I'm not going to be able to get out to PA to shop with my mom and sister for at least another month or two. Plus, with quitting smoking, I put on some weight and while, yay!, I quit smoking, the idea of shopping for a dress right now seriously makes me miserable. I do NOT want to do it. Not even a little. Hence the desire to put it off as long as possible - both to be able to afford to get out there to shop (non-negotiable) and also lose some of the weight I put on (because the shopping experience will be miserable for all involved if I don't).

    Thanks very much for all the advice.
    On bed rest since Groundhog's Day and every day since has been exactly the same.
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Blog
  • Also, oot - I really, really, REALLY need to hear about your sig quote.
    On bed rest since Groundhog's Day and every day since has been exactly the same.
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Blog
  • I ordered my drss in July, and they said it will be here end of this month or the beginning of January.  I would order at least 6 months prior.  At least.
    image

    If I wanted to hear the pitter-patter of little feet, I'd put shoes on the cat. image

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_people-done-dress-thing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:1da28f04-7a64-4e7e-838e-991f147b976ePost:fc7cc345-da16-4fe6-9c0c-701b4afcbc76">Re: People who have done the dress thing.</a>:
    [QUOTE]Also, oot - I really, really, REALLY need to hear about your sig quote.
    Posted by temerityjane[/QUOTE]

    It's an old one. It came back when they changed the boards two weeks ago.

    The OP was a teacher who made some stupid comment and got flamed and never came back.  wonder why
  • I ordered mine 11 months in advance. It arrived 7 months out, which was plenty of time to let it hang in my closet and be attacked by the kitten.

    In all seriousness though, my alterations took one week. My dress is completely done and ready to go and I still have 2.5 months. Then again, I also bought the size that I tried on in the store so I knew how it was going to fit me when it arrived. Alterations were really minimal (just a hem, bustle and got the straps taken in).
    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
  • Oot, I thought carriesme was a social worker who worked in child protection? Thus the being shot at while rescuing 19350328 babies from a living room?
  • My wedding's in October too and I told myself I would wait until February but then the whole six months to order and alter thing kinda got me started early.

  • sun, I think you're right.  She didn't ever come back on here, did she?
  • it definetly depends on the designer, but i wouldn't push it past 6 months out. i was told it will take 8-9 months for my dress to come in, so i'm glad that i started shopping early!

  • I'm also October. I told myself Jan/February. But I got ahead of myself, went when my mom was visiting, and found a dress. Oh well, check that off. But yeah, February. Unless you want to buy off rack, which means you'll have less options.
    my read shelf:
    Meredith's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)
    40/112

    Photobucket
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards