WEDDING DRESSES
Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress
These expert-shopping tips will help you find the perfect consultants and bridal stores in Sacramento for your big day.The choices can seem overwhelming for sure. No matter your budget, your personal style, or your timeline, check out our wedding dress shopping tips for finding the gown of your dreams — the one you'll love today, on the big day, and in 30 years from now when you look back at your wedding photos.
Research
Rip pages out of magazines, click through bridal boutiques online, explore on Pinterest, and check out what celebrity brides are wearing to compile a visual file of your favorite dresses. Then look for a connecting theme — are they all very embellished? Lacy? Voluminous? Have open backs? Find a couple commonalities of styles you like and bring your ideas to your first appointment.Be Open
This is the mantra repeated over and over by bridal consultants. So take their advice, even if what they urge you to try on doesn't seem like your style. Some dresses don't look like much on the hanger but look great on. On the other hand, never let yourself be talked into purchasing a gown you're not in love with.Brace Yourself for Bridal Sizing
Bridal gowns run two to three sizes larger [than your regular size]. Once you get your head around that, be realistic; pay attention to how it looks, not what the label reads. Even if going bigger sounds horrifying, remember that no one will know the number but you and your consultant.Shop True to Your Size
Even if you plan on losing weight before the big day, shop for dresses in your current size rather than going smaller. It’s much easier to take a dress in than trying to work with one that’s way too snug.Shop Early But Not Too Early
Many gowns take four to eight months to be produced, and once it arrives, you still have to factor in more time for alterations and accessorizing. If you’re having a long engagement and immediately start shopping for gowns, the one you end up buying might be out of style by the time your wedding comes around, or you might find one you like even better closer to the date.Figure out Your Budget
Figure out how much you want to spend, and tell the salesperson before she starts bringing out gowns. That way you won't lose your heart to a dress you can't afford. Typically, a wedding ensemble, including veil, undergarments, and any other accessories, accounts for 10 percent to 15 percent of the total wedding cost. Factor in extras, such as alterations—which can add a few hundred or a few thousand dollars depending on how involved they are—and shipping fees. Once the dress arrives, it may require professional pressing or steaming, which can tack on a hundred dollars or more.Know Your Wedding Theme Beforehand
Before you start dress shopping, decide whether you want a casual garden party-themed wedding or a formal, romantic affair. Always keep the venue and theme in mind as you browse gowns, because the last thing you want is for your dress to clash with your overall wedding style. Perhaps you're more the type who wants to look classic and timeless on your wedding day — think lace. Or maybe you're a fashionista who loves being up-to-the-minute — if so, try on some of the hot bridal runway trends for 2019, including capes, detached sleeves, and short hems.Find a Great Bridal Salon
Do your homework before you start making appointments, since you don't want to waste time at a shop that doesn't carry dresses you like or has terrible customer service. Get referrals from married friends and check online reviews to find shops with solid reputations. Don’t waste your time shopping at a store that doesn’t have the style, designer, or price range you had in mind. Call the boutique or salon ahead of time to get the low down on their inventory before you make a visit.Start Inexpensive and Work Your Way Up
Make your first appointment with the least-expensive bridal shop and keep scaling up if you don't find anything. Same goes for trying on dresses during your appointments — try on the most affordable one first, and work your way up to the bank-breaker; you may fall in love before then! If you can't afford it, there's no point in trying it on — you're just torturing yourself and making a standard that no dress you can actually have will live up to.Pick 3 Adjectives to Describe Your Dream Dress
Whether you want to feel classic, vintage, and comfortable or romantic, glamorous, and beautiful, go into dress shopping with a clear vision of how you want to look on the big day. Choosing three specific words to describe your dream vibe can help narrow down your dress selections.Shop on a Weekday
Bridal salons are packed on the weekends, meaning you may get less personal attention or that the dress you love is being tried on by someone else. It's worth using some personal time from work to have your appointment on a weekday. It's surprisingly time-consuming to put one wedding gown on and off, let alone three or four, and you definitely don't want to feel rushed to make a decision. Instead of making plans for brunch after your appointment or trying to fit it in between other errands, leave a few hours so you can take your time browsing and trying on dresses.Choose Your Crew Wisely for Appointments
The reason you can’t decide on a wedding dress might not be the dresses you’re trying on, but who you’re shopping with. If you’re bringing a huge crowd with you to dress shopping appointments, you might find that their differing opinions are stressing you out—and making you think that the perfect dress doesn’t exist. Sure, you may have loved that ball gown you tried on, but the fact that your maid of honor didn’t love it gave you pause. Next time you go shopping, bring just one family member or friend—or even try shopping by yourself. You may find that fewer opinions make finding your dream dress easier.Bring Your Accessories
Take anything you know you want to wear, such as a special necklace or your grandmother's veil. Boutiques will often provide bustiers, strapless bras, and shoes, but you may want to bring your own. You'll also need the advice of a few trusted confidantes, but not too many: An opinionated entourage can be confusing and frustrating. Invite one or two people who know your taste, will be honest with you, and whose judgment you trust.Wear Heels to the Appointment
Some bridal salons have communal high heels you can borrow, but that's a little icky, and a dress will look a lot different with flip-flops than stilettos. Be prepared by bringing heels of the same height you think you'll likely wear for your big day, so you'll have a better idea of how the dress will look.Pick Your Silhouette
Details are important—a long row of teensy pearl buttons and a well-placed ruffle or two can mean the difference between a good wedding dress and a great one. But before you start nitpicking the details, "first figure out the silhouette that works best for you.Keep Travel Arrangements in Mind
If you're flying to your wedding destination, look into airline regulations beforehand. You don't want to fall in love with a ball gown style dress, only to have it exceed airport size specifications come travel time.If You're Plus Size, Call Ahead
Nothing is worse than getting to a bridal salon and finding they only stock samples to size 10 (unfortunately, that's the case for many, even though they sell sizes up to 26), and you have nothing to actually try on. Call ahead to make sure your shop has plus-size samples for the style and designer you want to try on, or if not, whether they can get some in before your appointment.Shop Vintage
Pre-owned vintage gowns can get a bad rep because they’ve been worn previously, but you can slash costs and find a totally unique, timeless style for your wedding dress. Shopping at vintage boutiques is a win-win.Stop looking for the “perfect” wedding dress
So we hate to break it to you, but there may be no such thing as the “perfect wedding dress.” If you find that you can’t decide on a wedding dress, stop searching for one that’s totally flawless and start looking for a dress that just makes you feel amazing—even if you aren’t obsessed with every detail. In the end, it’s really not about the dress itself—it’s about finding something that makes you shine.
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