How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?

PrettyGirlLost · April 2013

Just curious how many shops you ladies went to and how many dresses you tried on until you found The Dress?

Did anyone have a hard time choosing one or another?

How many months before your wedding did you start looking?

GoodLuckBear14 · April 2013

Honestly 5 minutes. First store. My mom saw it, I tried it on, it worked, we were done.

SlothGoals · April 2013

I went to a few stores by myself first to figure out what I wanted. When I went shopping with my family to find "the dress" I already had a really good idea of what I wanted and it took about 30 minutes to make a decision (and that's only because my family wanted me to try on a bunch of different dresses).

Salsera29 · April 2013

I found mine, or so I thought, on the second shopping trip. Then 9 months later I decided I hated it, tried on some more, and bought a second one. So in the end, 10 months, 3 shopping trips and about 15-20 dresses.

Maggie0829 · April 2013

I spent one weekend and went to three stores. The last store 10 dresses in is when I found "the one". Kind of wish I had started with that store to begin with because it would have saved me a lot of time and stress.

As to how far in advance of the wedding date...it was about 10 months before.

lyndausvi · April 2013

I had a unique situation that lived in the islands. So I flew up to the states 11 months before the wedding.

first store I had an appointment the staff sucked. I asked for NO bling, NO lace, NO train, NO beading. I wanted strapless with a corest back. They showed me every kind of dress except what I asked for. I just left.

2nd store I walked in and saw the dress from across the room. Tried it on and the sample fit perfectly. Loved it. It had a small train, but could be bustled without a problem. It was higher than my budget - boo.

3rd store same as the first. Kept giving me lace and bling, sleeves. UGH. So annoyed. Nothing that I wanted.

I just cancelled the last appointed. Raised my budget and bought the dress from the 2nd place. Which was exactly what I had pictured, but never saw in any magazines or online.

Shopping for me took about 2-2.5 hours combined over 2 days.. Plus lunch with my mom and sister, which was awesome since all 3 of us live in different states.

misshart00 · April 2013

Second shopping trip. I tried on maybe 20 or 30 dresses. I never had a 'this is my dress' moment. I was between two that I liked and one was 500 cheaper. I decided to sleep on it and I ordered the next day.

JennaMichelle88 · April 2013

It was in the first store I went to and maybe the 4th dress I tried on. I tried on 2 more afterwards but just wanted to put the other one back on. So I took up the whole 90 minute appointment but it could have taken 20 minutes. I went about 7 months out.

AddieCake · April 2013

I started looking about a year before b/c I thought it would take me much longer to find it. I ended up finding it in the 2nd store I went to.

Sierra524 · April 2013

I had 2 in mind prior to going into DB. We went, I tried on both of the dresses. I loved the 2nd one (my dress), but still tried on like 6 more. I kept going back to the 2nd one. My mom took a pic of me in the dress and when I saw the pic & how awesome it looked, I got it. I went dress shopping 2 weeks after getting engaged, because I was already off work & had the time. It was about 16 months before my wedding.

PrettyGirlLost · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_how-long-did-it-take-you-to-find-the-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:876e9c39-d436-4788-bcbc-87c53f8d2f59Post:c19c07dd-6cfe-4f25-a156-5c34571c6389">Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?</a>:
[QUOTE]I found my dress two months after we got engaged. I picked two I really wanted, but picked the one my mom wanted. Five months later I went back to the store and exchanged the dress for the one I really wanted. Just to be on the safe side I did try 4 other dresses that were different styles. I did have a hard time choosing the one my mom wanted vs the one I wanted. I did not want to disappoint her, but at the end of the day I will be the one wearing the dress! <strong>ALSO the advice I was given here really helped : once you find the dress do NOT keep looking at other dreses.</strong> Good luck :)
Posted by colorindark[/QUOTE]

Yes, I agree that is uber important.

How big were your dress shopping entourages ladies? Less is more right?

harper0813 · April 2013

I fell in love with a Jenny Packham dress at the second store but I hated the service they provided, so I passed on the dress. I bought a dress at the third store where the customer service was so wonderful that I wanted to support their small business. I loved both dresses from the second and third shops, but I never expected to have that big moment you hear about and although I'm a crier, I didn't want to cry over a dress... So in the end, it came down to where I had the best experience.

ally91 · April 2013

I went to a small local boutique and thought I found THE dress. There were tears and joy and I was ready to get it. I had an appointment with David's Bridal the next day and my mom urged me to keep it simply because she thought it would be good for me to sleep on the decision. The next day just me and my mom went and I tried on a few dresses, none were comparing. Then I tried on a Vera Wang that I had picked up just to have something to try on. Everyone else in the shop stopped and stared, my mom started crying, and I sent back every other dress I hadn't even tried on yet. I KNEW it was the one, and so did my mom. We ordered it right then and there, no sleep required. Any time I start to second guess I only have to unzip the bag hanging in my closet and I remember why I love it.
Sooo about 2 hours spread over two days in two stores.

MuppetFan · April 2013

1 store, 2 hours, dress #6

Peledreamsofrain · April 2013

I went on a super secret solo mission for my first visit because I didn't want to get overwhelmed by other opinions. Then I reserved the dresses I liked, told my very amused attendant 'you've never met me', and scheduled my second appt. The second I brought a friend, my SIL, and my MIL. I tried on their picks, had fun, and mysteriously the reserved dresses at the end were sooo nice! All in all, I think I tried 20 dresses, including their picks.

smalfrie19 · April 2013

I had about 3 different shopping trips. I initally was going to go with one style as i had DREAMED of getting married on a beach in Hawaii so me and my MOH went to DB one day and tried on some sheath dresses but i wasnt set on any one dress and it was sort of far out and i just wanted to go for styling. Then a few months later I took my MOH again and my baby sister to Alfred Angelo and I tried on about 6-8 dresses and i found a few i really likes but because it was Alfred was WAY outside my budget. I went home that night and was looking at similar dress styles of the ones i liked from Angelo but at DB. There was one at Angelo that was while with a pink inset and i thought the style was pretty but pink was NOT my color nor was it in my wedding pallette so we dismissed it. Well while i was perusing DB I found pretty much the same dress but with a blue inset. I fell in love! And it was on sale...and being discontinued. So i hurridly set up an appt with the only DB in my area that had the dress style but wrong size..and the salon was and hr and half drive away. But i went and i took my aunt. I ended up trying on a dress from the same collection in my size to be sure of fit and then i tried the right style dress on for looks and it was love. I ordered the correct size (and color dress) right there on my cell phone in the store. I am 18 months out for my wedding and I have not second guessed my decision once..and im wearing my shoes that im going to wear for my wedding right now.

ETA: my dress is in my sig picture, top left

shaylagirl · April 2013

1 store, first dress. 1 hour or less. 6 and a half months prior to the wedding is when I started.

To be fair, I had looked and prowled online trying to figure out what I liked and what I didn't like about multiple dresses so I would be prepared when I went out to go shopping.

Found "the one" online though. Loved EVERYTHING about it; except the price. I was going to buy from one of those places in China until I started prowling TK and seeing just how huge a gamble that was.

Decided that you DO get what you pay for, so upped my dress budget, and with the help of my mom and my bestie/MOH, put the deposit down, which really only put my dress $100 over budget with their help.

Now...I'm just waiting on it to come in.

misssunshine17 · April 2013

1 store, 45 minutes, dress #1 out of 10.

PrettyGirlLost · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_how-long-did-it-take-you-to-find-the-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:876e9c39-d436-4788-bcbc-87c53f8d2f59Post:15dbd482-0ac8-4e7d-9ddd-b71c7479f108">Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?</a>:
[QUOTE]1 store, 45 minutes, dress #1 out of 10.
Posted by misssunshine17[/QUOTE]

Damn girl! lol. You and GoodLuck Bear are the fastest so far, I think.

daria24 · April 2013

I went to 4 stores. The first two, the selection was really terrible. I tried on about 8 dresses in each store, but none of them were really anything that I liked.

I tried on about 10 dresses at store #3 and found one I liked, but didn't love.

Store #4 was Kleinfeld and I tried on about 12 dresses, I think the one I chose was #9 or so.

GoodLuckBear14 · April 2013

<div align="left">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_how-long-did-it-take-you-to-find-the-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:876e9c39-d436-4788-bcbc-87c53f8d2f59Post:f7aa431b-2a8f-4372-88f6-7d1883b72a67">Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress? : Damn girl! lol. You and GoodLuck Bear are the fastest so far, I think.
Posted by cmsciulli[/QUOTE]

For me, I never thought anything had to be "perfect". Neither did DH which made wedding planning a breeze.

I also knew I did not want a peanut gallery there throwing in their two cents. I thought I would take mom out just to look and then when I got back to Philly, go on my own to actually buy it. Mom pulled this dress and it worked for the venue and went perfectly with her veil that I wore.</div>

B2Z728 · April 2013

About a year out from my wedding, I scheduled two appointments for one day. I probably tried on 20 dresses total during my search, but I found my dress at the first appointment. I think it was dress the 5th dress. I tried on a bunch more after that, but had a very strong feeling I had found "the one" with dress #5.

I wanted to honor my second appointment, and told them so at the first store. They understood and let me know that if I came back to purchase my dress that day, they would discount the dress. I had lunch, went to the second appointment, tried on some nice dresses, but nothing lived up to dress #5. After that appointment I went back to original store, tried on the dress again and purchased it.

PrettyGirlLost · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_how-long-did-it-take-you-to-find-the-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:876e9c39-d436-4788-bcbc-87c53f8d2f59Post:784c05b2-1481-4118-b2c7-88a32c752614">Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress? : For me, I never thought anything had to be "perfect". Neither did DH which made wedding planning a breeze. I also knew I did not want a peanut gallery there throwing in their two cents. I thought I would take mom out just to look and then when I got back to Philly, go on my own to actually buy it. Mom pulled this dress and it worked for the venue and went perfectly with her veil that I wore.
Posted by GoodLuckBear14[/QUOTE]

What did your dress look like? Aw, that's nice taht your wore your mom's veil.

[QUOTE]Store #4 was Kleinfeld and I tried on about 12 dresses, I think the one I chose was #9 or so. [/QUOTE]

I would be intimidated to go to Kleinfeld. They seem so high end and huge, I don't know. What was your experience like?

GoodLuckBear14 · April 2013

<div align="left">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_how-long-did-it-take-you-to-find-the-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:876e9c39-d436-4788-bcbc-87c53f8d2f59Post:337dd3f1-2304-4244-ab6d-699fa7bbd5fd">Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress? : <strong>What did your dress look like?</strong> Aw, that's nice taht your wore your mom's veil. I would be intimidated to go to Kleinfeld. They seem so high end and huge, I don't know. What was your experience like?
Posted by cmsciulli[/QUOTE]

Hers was a Juliette (think Romeo and Juliet) white satin with short sleeves, criss cross (lattice) pearls on the bodice, empire waist and a really pretty lace overlay below the bodice. I probably would have worn it myself if it weren't for the fact that my mom is 5'4" and when she married was about a size four. I'm 5'7" and a size ten.

My dress was an ivory colored chiffon that had pearl detailing on the spaghetti straps and under the bust line of the layered scoop neckline.

The veil's headband was a puffy white satin with pearl crisscrossing. I attached new ivory tulle to match the dress and it atttached at teh ends of the headband.</div>

PrettyGirlLost · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_how-long-did-it-take-you-to-find-the-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:876e9c39-d436-4788-bcbc-87c53f8d2f59Post:755e88f0-198a-4eca-97e9-5e6591e870ee">Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress? : Hers was a Juliette (think Romeo and Juliet) white satin with short sleeves, criss cross (lattice) pearls on the bodice, empire waist and a really pretty lace overlay below the bodice. I probably would have worn it myself if it weren't for the fact that my mom is 5'4" and when she married was about a size four. I'm 5'7" and a size ten. My dress was an ivory colored chiffon that had pearl detailing on the spaghetti straps and under the bust line of the layered scoop neckline. The veil's headband was a puffy white satin with pearl crisscrossing. I attached new ivory tulle to match the dress and it atttached at teh ends of the headband.
Posted by GoodLuckBear14[/QUOTE]

Both sound lovely! Did you have a train at all?

I see a lot of gorgeous dresses in different styles that I really like, but I think at heart I am a ball-gown and train type of gal. We shall see though, once I start shopping!

I'm going to make my 1st appointment at a shop that I used to pass all the time as a child when going to the mall with my family. I wasn't the type of girl who planned her wedding from age 5 or anything, I just thought the different dresses in the window were very pretty. Then, when I began dating FI, turns out he grew up in the area of the bridal shop, so whenever we'd visit his parents I'd try to not let him catching me checking out the dresses as we drove past. . . I didn't want him to think I was wedding crazy!

The 1st coherent thing I said after he proposed and I stopped saying, "Oh my God!" when he showed me the ring was, "Yeeeeees! I can finally go into (name of bridal shop)!!!!!"

Brittywest05 · April 2013

I tried on over 100 dresses and still don't love my dress. It was the best of my options though. I had decided at about dress 75, that I loved Maggie Sottero gowns and after trying on everyone the salon had I just went with what fit the best. I started shopping 7 months out from my wedding and ordered at 6, I was only engaged for 8 months. Looking back I wish I had more time to find the perfect dress.

winelover123 · April 2013

I found my dress withing 15 minutes of looking on the internet. Stephanie Allin - Nina. Unfortunately I can't afford it, so I went with my mom and sister to DB to try on dresses to see what looked best for the waistline. After I tried on stuff for 2 hours for the sole purpose of seeing which length and waistline looked the best (and I really wanted to try on a fluffy Ver Wang - I felt like I was inside a pink marshmellow!), we got a drink and I found a seamstress to make my dress.

staar987 · April 2013

I went to one store. I only took my mom.

I told the staff what I wanted and they started pulling dresses. I walked over to the rack and pulled one out. I said this one. They put that one in the dressing room for me. I tried on a clearance dress first and hated it, then I tried the one I picked. Loved it. I tired on 4 dresses after that because I was already there and I probably will never get to try on wedding dresses again.

So while it was the 2nd dress I tried on, it was the only dress I pulled.

ETA: spelling and clarity

GoodLuckBear14 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_how-long-did-it-take-you-to-find-the-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:876e9c39-d436-4788-bcbc-87c53f8d2f59Post:e2da86d8-b7e6-4529-ba02-35a561bf310a">Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How Long Did it Take You to Find The Dress? : Both sound lovely! <strong>Did you have a train at all?</strong> I see a lot of gorgeous dresses in different styles that I really like, but I think at heart I am a ball-gown and train type of gal. We shall see though, once I start shopping! I'm going to make my 1st appointment at a shop that I used to pass all the time as a child when going to the mall with my family. I wasn't the type of girl who planned her wedding from age 5 or anything, I just thought the different dresses in the window were very pretty. Then, when I began dating FI, turns out he grew up in the area of the bridal shop, so whenever we'd visit his parents I'd try to not let him catching me checking out the dresses as we drove past. . . I didn't want him to think I was wedding crazy! The 1st coherent thing I said after he proposed and I stopped saying, "Oh my God!" when he showed me the ring was, "Yeeeeees! I can finally go into (name of bridal shop)!!!!!"
Posted by cmsciulli[/QUOTE]

Her dress was a column dress. Mine was A-Line with a skirt that would twirl out like a dress you'd see on Ginger Rogers. The veil was Cathederal length.

[Deleted User] · April 2013

I bought my dress the Sunday before Christmas, roughly 10 months out from our wedding. 4 appointments (cancelled 1 of them, though) at about 10-12 dresses/appointment. Last store (Mom's pick), dress I didn't even consider when I was looking. I think it was the 8th dress I tried on in that store. And then I tried on two more after it.... but I went back to it.

lyndsay782 · April 2013

Do we count the hours spent looking online? If so, 100+ just to be safe. Picked out the one I liked on DB online (and no matter how many I looked at, I kept coming back to that one) .

So, I went to DB on this past Saturday, tried on 4 (one that I'd actually had picked out) was ignored by the sales lady in terms of price and style, and ended up picking the one I knew all along was going to be my favorite. Only hiccup was that the store "discontinued" the style I wanted with the zipper I wanted. (I'm too short for those corset backs). Turns out it was 60% cheaper to buy via DB online, and hopefully their online sizes are consistent with their store sizes. The sales lady tried her hardest to talk me into the more expensive dresses... then I showed her the website, and the price, and she said, "You know, I'd order it that way at that price too"..

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