One of the very first things you're likely to think of when wedding planning is your wedding dress. Whether you're daydreaming about voluminous ballgowns or slinky slip dresses, the gown is a truly iconic part of any wedding day. 

Choosing a dress that suits your wedding aesthetic, your personal style, your venue, and your budget can be a challenge. But, with some planning and persistence, you will absolutely find one that's the perfect fit for you.

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It can be easy to get lost in all of the details of wedding dress shopping. Keeping track of samples of fabrics and colours, numerous different silhouettes, and appointments for try-ons, fittings and alterations, finding your dress can quickly become a daunting task.

This guide is designed to break it all down for you, with info on the ideal timeline for appointments and what to expect at each one, to understanding the numerous different styles, fabrics, and fits that wedding dresses come in.

finding inspiration

Picking out your wedding dress is something that should happen very early on in the planning process. You should be thinking about it around 12 - 18 months before your wedding.

Once you've got your aesthetic and venue decided - or even before, if you're happy to design the rest of your wedding to suit your dream dress - you should be gathering inspiration images. Just like when you're deciding on an overall aesthetic, mood boards are a fantastic tool for helping you to figure out what type of dress you'd like. You can easily gather inspiration and see at a glance what common threads you keep being drawn to.

Making Pinterest boards or using Canva templates are easy and effective ways to do this digitally. Cutting out images from magazines and prints and creating a physical scrapbook is a fun choice if you’re more tactile - this definitely takes more effort and is more work, but it can make a really cute keepsake.

This early in the planning process, feel free to add any dresses that catch your eye to your mood board, but, if you've decided on them, you should still consider your venue, season, and overall aesthetic. Light and airy fabrics or shorter skirt lengths are well suited for summer weddings and beach venues, while thicker, heavier fabrics and longer sleeves are better suited for winter weddings and ballrooms.

It's helpful to keep track of the sources of any images you save, so you can look up details of designers and stockists. It's also a good idea to make note of what style the dresses are called or tagged with. I've listed some common terminology below, as knowing these names is really helpful for finding similar inspiration on other sites, and for explaining what look you're going for to bridal consultants and / or designers.

Once you've got a good sized collection of inspiration images, you can look through them for patterns. Are you saving a lot of dresses in rich, heavy fabrics like mikado silk, or are you gravitating towards lighter fabrics like chiffon, or even more detailed fabrics like lace? Do you keep saving dresses that are more figure hugging, or are you finding yourself drawn to fuller skirts, or lengthy trains? Is there a particular neckline that keeps showing up, or a certain colour?

You might see a dress that has every feature that you want, or you might find bits and pieces from different designs that you'd like to combine. Whatever the case, you've now got a starting point for your shopping.

 

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wedding dress shopping

You want to aim to have your wedding dress ordered around 10 - 12 months before your wedding, or 9 months before at the absolute latest.

This is because the vast majority of bridal gowns are made-to-order, and there's usually a wait of 6 to 9 months between you making your final decision and your dress either arriving at your salon, or being ready for you to try on, if you're having one custom designed. You also need to factor in time for fittings and alterations, which you definitely don't want to be rushing.

That said, you don't want to rush the process. It might just so happen that the first dress you try on is the one and you know it immediately, but that's rare. It's probably going to take you a few appointments at different bridal salons to find exactly what you're looking for, so make sure to give yourself time to have multiple try on appointments and time to consider your choices.

If you've left it later than that and need a dress in a shorter time frame, you need to ask if there's any possibility of a rush order, or any dresses that you can buy off-the-rack. Rush orders will incur an extra fee, and won't be available for every dress. Ones that you can buy off-the-rack will be those that were sample dresses; They'll have been tried on by other brides-to-be, and are commonly from previous seasons, so may not be as fashion forward. This means that they're generally a fair bit cheaper than to-order dresses, but they may need extra alterations to make them fit you properly, so keep those costs in mind when making your decision.

early appointments

Your first appointment should be just to narrow down exactly what style of dress you'd like. Bring in any inspiration images, names of designers you like, and dress names or numbers if you have them. Even if they don't have that specific gown in stock, the consultants should be able to find something similar for you to try on. 

Some online guides and accounts will say that you should try on as many dresses as possible during your appointments, but I strongly recommend that you stick to 8 dresses as a maximum. Any more than that and you'll find yourself mixing up details and forgetting exactly how each gown looked and felt, which isn't helpful. 

Even if your mood board is full of mermaid cuts and no other silhouettes, picking out a dress in each of the silhouettes (which I go into more detail about below) to try on is what I always recommend for your first appointment. It might turn out that you were right and mermaids are made for you, but even if that is the case, it can be great for your own peace of mind to know that you did try on and properly rule out the other cuts. It can also help satisfy any family members or friends who insist that you need to try a totally different silhouette just because that's what they've always pictured you in.

And don't be surprised if it goes the complete other way - You might try on the style of dress that you've got your heart set on only to discover that, actually, you don't really like that silhouette on you. As a former bridal consultant, I can promise you that this is a really common occurrence. And even though it can be surprising and a little disheartening, a good consultant will help steer you towards the right fit.

Speaking of good consultants, they should be warm and welcoming and make you feel at ease, as they're going to get very close to you over the course of your appointment. Once you've got your dresses picked out they'll be hung up in a changing room for you and your consultant will leave you to get changed into a robe. You should take off everything except for your underwear (wear a light colour) and socks before putting on the robe; The dresses are designed to be worn without a bra, and it's usually recommended that you don't wear one for these try-ons. 

Once you're ready, they'll come back in and start helping you into the dresses. The vast majority of them will be ones that you'll step into, but some may be pulled over your head, depending on the sample sizes and the cut of the dress. A lot of the time you'll be able to keep your robe on until the dress is in place and ready to be done up, but sometimes the robe may have to come off earlier in order to get the dress on.

If this happens, try not to feel too self conscious - I guarantee that the consultant is deliberately not looking anywhere near your chest, and if they do happen to glance that way, it's not a big deal at all. They help so many women try on dresses, chances are high that they won't even register it.

And even if you don't flash your boobs at any point in the appointment, you'll probably find yourself standing there at some point with your consultant's hands up your skirt pulling down the different layers of lining, tulle and overskirt so that it all falls properly into place. It's just part of their job and they really don't mind, so try to be a good sport about it and recognise that it's not awkward for them, so it shouldn't be awkward for you, if you can.

A big reason that your consultant will be getting so up close and personal during the try-ons is because of the sample sizes that the salon stocks. Each dress is usually only available to try on in one size, or sometimes two, if they have a 'standard' sample and a 'plus size' sample in store. It's unlikely that the sample dresses are going to fit you perfectly, so there'll be some adjusting to get them to sit as close as possible to how they will once they've ordered your size.

If the dress is too big, they'll clamp the excess fabric at the back so that the dress is fitted at the front and sides. If the dress is too small, they may add a removable panel at the back and leave it undone - or, if it's really too small and won't go on at all, they might put you in a better fitting dress that's the same cut and then hold that one up in front of you. In any case, you'll have to use your imagination to picture what it'll look like when it's the right size, as any patterns in the fabric and the panels themselves will be positioned slightly differently. You should be able to get a good idea of what to expect, however.

Remember that you don't have to go out and show your entourage every single dress you try on. There'll probably be some that you'll put on in the changing room, take one look at yourself in the mirror, and immediately nix - and that's totally okay! But if you do like a dress, or even if you're unsure about it, it's nice to go out and look at it in the nicer lighting, and get others' opinions.

Most salons will be fine with your entourage taking photos so that you can look back at them later, to get a different perspective on all the different angles of the dress and to help you remember the details of each one.

Once you've found the silhouette that you like the best, you can then try on some more dresses in that style but with different details, to really narrow it down. You can do this at your first appointment, depending on timing, but I usually recommend booking in a second appointment for it, so that you don't feel too tired or overwhelmed.

your entourage

Please don't bring a dozen people to your dress appointments. It's very easy to find yourself getting pulled one way or another based on other people's opinions, and you want to make sure that you're listening to yourself and thinking about what you want when you're picking a wedding dress - you're the one who's going to be wearing it for the entire day, and you're the one who's going to be looking at photos of you in it for the rest of your life, so you need to love it.

Three to four people is the most I'd recommend bringing dress shopping with you. It depends on your personal relationships, but mums, sisters and maids of honour are usually invited; and bridesmaids too, if there's not a lot of them. 

Whoever you bring, make sure that they have your best interests in mind. You want them to give their honest opinion, but you also don't want them to steamroll over you and try to force you to change their mind.

If there's any tension or the vibes are off, your consultant will usually chat with you while you're in the dressing room and ask you if you'd like them to step in and be a bit more forceful with centring your opinion above those of your entourage. This is usually done by making a comment about how you "really like this one" as they help you walk out, or by interjecting that "we need to hear the bride's opinion first" before your entourage can cut in with their own comments.

If anyone tries to body shame you, your consultant may call them out, and remember that you're free to either ask that person to leave or to cut the appointment short if you have to. Hopefully that doesn't happen, but if it does, know that you're not alone, and you're welcome to come back without that person, or on your own.

A lot of brides will come with a group for their initial appointments and then return by themselves to re-try on their favourite dresses and make a final decision, just to confirm how they feel about it without anyone else there to influence them.

The only person I recommend not bringing with you to your appointment is your fiancé. Not because of any superstitions or anything, but simply because I think revealing the wedding dress on your wedding day, either as part of a first look or when you step onto the aisle, is a very romantic notion (and makes for some great photos, too).

sizing

As I mentioned above, it's unlikely that the sample gowns are going to be your size. Try not to be disheartened by sizes when it comes to wedding dresses; They tend to run quite a bit smaller than streetwear, and the numbers don't really matter when they all end up being altered to fit you like a glove anyway. 

When you've picked your dress and it's time to order it, the salon will measure your bust, waist, and the widest point of your hips and use those measurements to figure out which size to order. If the dress is extremely fitted they may take some extra measurements. If your hips measure as a size 12 and your bust as a size 10, they'll order the 12, because it's always easier to take a dress in than it is to let it out. 

Similarly, if you're planning on losing weight for your wedding - which you absolutely do not have to do - I recommend ordering in the size you are now. The dress can always be taken in, but if you order too small and don't end up losing that weight due to whatever circumstances, there's a chance that it might not be able to be let out enough to fit. That would leave you with next to no time to get a dress off-the-rack or rush ordered in, and is just stress that you don't need.

 

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fittings and alterations

Once your dress arrives at the salon - or reaches a certain point in construction, if you're having it custom designed - you'll come back for fittings and alterations. 

first appointment

This is usually 8 to 10 weeks before the wedding, and is the appointment is when the major alterations are made, such as adjusting the hem to make the dress the right length for your height, taking in the bodice so it fits you perfectly, and adding all the bust support you need to feel secure.

You'll want to wear the underwear and shoes that you're going to be wearing on your wedding day, to ensure that all measurements are as accurate as possible.

Depending on the material of your dress and how drastic the changes are, these alterations can vary greatly in terms of time and cost. If you have any questions about any part of the process, your seamstress will be able to give you more information about why they've recommended the changes they have, or why they cost what they do.

second appointment

A month out from the wedding, you should head back to try on the dress with all of the alterations done. I recommend wearing any jewellery or accessories you want to wear on your wedding day, and timing this appointment to be on the same day as a hair and make up trial, if you can, so that you can see what it all looks like together. 

There may be some final little tweaks that need to be made, like adding a bustle, but, at this point, the dress should be close to perfect.

third appointment

You should pick up your dress roughly one week before the wedding. If you'd like to, you can do a final try-on at the salon and have the seamstress show your maid of honour or family member how to do up your bustle so that your train is out of the way for the reception.

The dress should be completely finished, pressed and put in a garment bag for you to bring home and keep safe until the big day.

 

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wedding dress styles

As I've mentioned, there's some specific terminology that'll be really useful to know when you're looking for a dress. Using specific names can help you search online for inspiration images and for suppliers, as well as ensure that you and your bridal consultant are on the same page at your appointments.

If you visit each category by clicking on the heading, you'll find specific information about the different styles of dress, including silhouettes, skirt and train lengths, necklines, materials and popular colours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding your wedding dress is not just about looking beautiful - it’s about finding a dress that makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Take your time, trust your instincts, and you'll be saying yes to the dress before you know it.