it's time to look for a dress....

andreapnyc

hi!!   looking for some advice here... for some reason im not incredibly estatic about looking for my dress. i think bc there is SO much hype and pressure... and im just nervous about finding 'the right one." ... ive been excited about everything else so far, and booked most of our other vendors using that as my excuse to slack on looking for a dress. but i have a feeling that once i get there i'll get really excited, i hope!  (our wedding is next july, so i have time)

soooo i made an appointment a while ago at kleinfelds for this sunday, which is their august sample sale.  however i'm a little weary of going bc its a sample sale and i haven't looked in person at dresses yet, so im not sure if my first time should be during a sample sale.  what do you girls think?   part of me thinks i should look around first then go back to their sample sale with more of an idea of what i want/like...
bc i started 2nd guessing myself, i called priscilla of boston in short hills and made an appt for sunday just in case you girls dont think i should not go to kleinfelds this sunday.  if its a no go for kleinfelds, then maybe i should book a few appts in the short hills area so i can bang out a few all in one day?  i was thinking P of B and bella bridesmaid? anywhere else? sorry..  i havent done a ton of research on where to go just yet.
sorry im all over the place!  thanks for your help!

Laurms15

DO NOT go to a huge sample sale for your first time. You won't know what to look for. If you have an idea of what style you like  (try on all of them first) then you will have better luck searching at a sample sale.

I went to Kleinfeld and had a great experience. Not everyone on this board does.

I found my dress at Kleinfeld but ended up buying it at Priscilla of Boston and was very happy (w/ the short hills one) my seamstress was fantastic!

kwilkinson14

I wouldn't suggest for your first time shopping for a dress to go to a huge sample sale especially at a store like Kleinfields. You will become really overwhelmed with all the people and selection of dresses. You can definitely go back once you have gone to a couple of stores. You will receive one on one attention from a consultant and also narrow down what you like.

Also, I wouldn't suggest making more than 2 appointments for any given day. Dress appointments tend to be 1-2 hours depending on the bridal store. You will become too tired running from store to store. But most importantly relax and have fun!

leah2b

After going to a ton of different places, I found my perfect dress at Cymbeline NYC.  Located at 19th and 5th.  Beautiful, unique dresses for a reasonable price.  My sister went with me for my fitting and ended up buying her dress there as well!

In short hills area, you could check out Exquisite Bride in Milburn - though I think they are moving to a new location soon.  They have a good selection of dresses. 

cutiepie12702

I just wanted to say that you are not alone in the boat of not being excited to go dress shopping....I have a feeling of dread myself and keep putting it off (I'm getting married next August). I keep saying I'm going to start looking next month...then next month comes and I push it out again. I have no clue why, I feel like maybe I'm worried I'll buy something and then regret it a month later...or maybe because it's one of my last major decisions to make (all major vendors are booked except the florist). I'm actually more excited about bridesmaid dress shopping..lol

With that being said, I don't think I would go to the sample sale for your first time trying on dresses. I feel like it will be mass chaos and since the whole process is overwhelming to begin with, this would just make it worse. If I were you I would go look around first before going to that appointment, so you can at least feel more comfortable and mentally prepared.

littledaisies

I know it's a little further away but I highly recommend The Wedding Store in Andover. I'm not from that area at all so it was recommened to me by someone else. At first I wasn't sure about it but I feel in love with the store. It's a very nice store and everyone is so helpful. I got my dress there and I absolutely love it.  Everyone has been extremely helpful every time I go there.

jrgoogrl

I would suggest starting out with appts at stores, not going to a sample sale as your first outing. I got my dress from Exquisite Bride in Millburn. They are fantastic to work with and it's pretty close to P of B in Short HIlls.

uppereastgirl

I agree with the others about not going to a sample sale first.  I'd probably want to go in with some idea of what works and what doesn't work on you.  Note: that is often not what is in your head so keep an open mind, but on the other hand, you'll have a better idea after actually trying a few dresses on.  I'd imagine going right into a sample sale -- particularly a ridiculously popular one like Kleinfeld's -- could be ridiculously overwhelming.  Kleinfeld's can be an overwhelming enough experience on its own on a Tuesday afternoon

 

I disagree about not looking at more than one place in a day.  As long as they aren't all over the place geographically, I think you could fit 2-3 in.  Appointments are typically 1-2 hours depending on the salon, but you can ask when you book.  When I went shopping, I went to Vera Wang in the morning, then lunch, then Kleinfeld's in the afternoon.  It was not an overwhelming day, and I liked that I could compare the dresses because they were all still fresh in my mind.  I went shopping with my best friend when she was planning her wedding, and we went to Amsale, lunch, Kleinfeld's, and then Mark Ingram.  Again, very manageable (particularly because it was a weekday so the salons weren't crowded).  I would not do four in a day.

uppereastgirl

And I forgot something important -- please don't be too nervous!!!  It really isn't that awful.  I was DREADING it, and I was the kind of person who was nearly in DO NOT WANT tears when they would put a veil on me in stores, but even I found my dress pretty quickly.  It is just important to be somewhat realistic -- the first dress you try on may be the love of your life, but it may also just be something you love because its the one that made you discover that you look pretty in wedding dresses.  So it never hurts to try more on before committing, even if you may end up buying #1 anyway.  And if you aren't someone who is wired to find The One that will make you cry as soon as you try it on, just be realistic that you may not burst into  tears even when you're in the right dress for you.  That's okay and doesn't mean that you need to keep looking.  

andreapnyc

thanks everyone! i changed my kleinfeld appointment to the september sample sale date, and im going to P of B and equisite bride this sunday.  thank so much for the advice!!!!   and im so happy im not the only one that's been dreading this. makes me feel wayyy better about it!