For the next several months, I will offer tips each week on one aspect of your wedding. Today we will focus on GOWNS.
- Prepare to spend a little more. Remember that just because it’s a great price doesn’t mean it’s a great dress for you. And don’t forget to bring along a pad of paper and track styles, dress names and numbers.
- Choose the dress that’s best for you. As emotional as you are, don’t let sales persons or well-meaning family and friends talk you into a dress you have doubts about or don’t like. Pay attention to the first moment that you felt a tingle, that spark…the instant you saw yourself in the dress. That’s your gown!
- Consider dry cleaning and alteration costs when buying off-the-rack gowns. Look the gown over with a fine toothed eye for detail. When trying it on, sit-down and move around a lot to make sure there are no rips, tears or buttons missing.
- Before ordering a siren-sexy dress, check with your church to make sure that there are no dress code restrictions.
- Plan to attend bridal fashion shows – make a list of where, when and which bridal salons will be in your area.
- Spend lots of time at the local library browsing through bridal magazines and on-line websites. Get a feel for what the latest trends are. Get to know when seasonal gowns are special-orders or last year’s merchandise.
- Start dress-shopping at least nine months prior to your wedding. It takes time for the manufacturer to make your dress and for it to be shipped to your bridal salon. You also need to figure in fittings and alterations. Don’t procrastinate on this very important item.
- If you want a sleeveless gown, but a dress with sleeves fits perfectly, it can be altered.
- Only shop at reputable bridal stores and ask questions about anything in the contract that you don’t understand. Draw a line through things that you don’t agree with, write in options that protect your investment, and make sure that everything you agreed upon is in writing.
- Wedding dresses run small and short. Plan on paying for alterations and know the time it takes to get them done. Also remember, a long dress can always be shortened, but a short dress cannot be lengthened.
- Establish a budget when dress shopping, but be prepared to spend a little more. Remember that just because it’s a great price doesn’t mean it’s a great dress for you. Once again, remember to bring along a pad of paper and track styles, dress names and numbers.