Now, I know there are hundreds of these articles; I probably read every single one of them when I was about to go dress shopping. Here are some pieces of advice that I would offer brides based on my own experience:
1. You Probably Aren't Going to Find Your Perfect Pinterest Dress
I'm not saying your dress won't be perfect, but I am saying that the dresses on Pinterest tend to be a little far-fetched for the budgets of brides I have encountered. I mean, if you have $10,000 saved up for your wedding dress then you go, girl. The reality is that most brides can't afford the elaborate gowns with dazzling jewels or intricate lace that we post on our Pinterest boards. (Even though I definitely pinned about 100 of those anyway!)
My advice is to find aspects of those dresses that you truly love and write them down or print out a picture for the salesperson that will be assisting you at the dress store. I don't mean to burst your bubble in any way because you will have nothing to worry about. Wedding dress stores have SO many gorgeous options; they just might not be as extravagant or elegant as the dresses that Pinterest boasts - ones that cost as much as a used car.
2. Bring WHOEVER You Want With You!
When I went dress shopping, I wanted my mom, sister, bridesmaid, mother-in-law, and three sisters-in-law to be there. When I shared that information with people, most of them laughed and told me I was going to hate it. Well those people were all wrong because that group was PERFECT.
I had all the essential types of ladies in my shopping group: the critical, (Who may have told me I looked like I was wearing a doily on one occasion) the sensible, the fashion savvy, and others who would simply boost my self-esteem with "oo's" and "ah's".
The reality is that you should invite people who love you and are excited for your big day. The next thing is to have confidence in yourself; it is your wedding and whatever you prefer is most important! If you love a dress, don't bow to someone's negative opinion because you are afraid others will feel the same way.
3. Make Sure You Are All Well-Fed
This is probably a goofy piece of advice, but I'm sure most of you can already agree with me when I say shopping goes a lot smoother when everyone has a full stomach. The women in my family are also extremely susceptible to the "hangry" epidemic..so we definitely thought that part through.
4. Don't Be Surprised if You Like 15 Different Dresses
Designers create beautiful wedding dresses. That's all there is to it. Most women will look fabulous in many of the dresses they try on because the dresses are all so gorgeous. As I shopped, I started to get worried because I liked most of the dresses, but was worried I wouldn't find one that stood out.
5. Play with Accessories!
The wedding dress I chose did not cause me to burst into tears the second I put it on. I liked aspects of it and the unique satin lining along the top, but I didn't think it was the dress I would choose.
My sister-in-law suggested that we add a belt to see if that would make it more unique and I agreed. The saleswoman tried belt number one...number two...and then my sister-in-law handed her number three, the last belt we had liked. As she wrapped the belt around the dress, I had "the moment".
My tears blocked the image of myself in the mirror, finally the image of a bride. I didn't feel like a princess, a movie star, or a girl going to prom in this dress. I felt wholly and completely like a bride who would soon be walking down the aisle to marry the love of her life.
And I will never forget that moment for as long as I live.
So don't stress about dress shopping, ladies. Be confident, be decisive, and most of all, be excited. Because it only happens once. And in that moment, it's all about the you, the beautiful bride-to-be.
