Looking for your wedding dress is one of the most exciting aspects of wedding planning. It can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be if you have a studious strategy.
Once you’ve selected your theme and venue, it’s time to look for dresses. Follow these five simple steps to find your perfect ‘wow’ factor wedding gown effortlessly.
Before getting too carried away, it’s essential to know your budget for a wedding dress. These specialised gowns can be quite expensive. Research different dress prices to establish a fair estimate of what a good quality dress will cost you.
Once you have ascertained what you’re willing to spend, you can start browsing your options.
Top Tip
You can plan to shop the sales and save thousands. There are frequently wedding dress sales at bridal shops in South Africa. Don’t worry about the dresses being ‘last season’. Many wedding dress designs are timeless, so unless you are a serial fashionista, these brand new, discounted beauties are well worth considering.
Hiring a dress rather than buying is also an option. This is up to you, though. Most ladies like to have their very own dress, which you deserve. It allows you a future reflection on your special day.
The last thing you want is to worry that your dress won’t be ready for the wedding.
Give yourself loads of time to find, order, pay for, and fit your dress. If you're ordering from a designer or dressmaker, it can take around six months for the dress to be completed. Therefore plan to:
1. Start the process 9 – 12 months before your wedding.
2. Finalise the dress 4 – 6 months in advance;
3. Do your last fitting six weeks before the big day.
Before you beeline to the first shop on the list, it helps to know what you’re looking for.
Consider:
1. What colour or shade of dress you would like.
2. What textures and detailing you prefer.
3. Would you prefer a simple dress or something with intricate beading or lacework?
4. The kind of neckline you’d like best;
5. And if you’d perhaps adore having a dress with a unique feature, e.g. a backless dress.
If you’re not sure what’s out there, discuss different options with your wedding planner, friends, and family, and do some of your own explorations.
Pinterest is a fantastic platform for checking out wedding dresses (and all things wedding, to be honest). The amount of content available may be a bit daunting, but you can narrow down your search by focusing on particular styles, etc.
Top Tip
Create an inspiration board or journal of dress ideas to take along with you to fittings, so the shop assistants know what you like. You can easily set up a digital space for this on HAPPLY, so it’s available for you to review conveniently from your smartphone at any time.
It’s also a good idea to go for a casual fitting to see what designs you like and which elements compliment your figure.
There is a lot of emotion surrounding choosing your wedding dress. It’s not a decision to be made on facts, figures, and logistics alone. While doing your searches, you’ll notice you’re drawn to similar elements time and again. This shows you what you like. Follow these little indications.
Be aware that sometimes the dress style you like may not suit your body shape. To feel beautiful and poised on your special day, ensure you select a dress that enhances your best features and downplays your least favoured ones.
The right dress will feel like an extension of you. It will be comfortable to wear, and you’ll feel great about how it makes you look.
It’s true; there is a massive amount of wedding dress resources out there. Don’t get caught up in all the fuss. Ultimately, go for the dress that makes you feel the most sparkly, confident, and excited; within your budget, of course.
It’s kind of like finding love – when you see the right dress, you just know!
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