The Bride's Ensemble
You may have dreamed about trying on wedding dresses since you were a little girl, but when you are looking for “the dress,” you may actually feel a little overwhelmed. It is a lot of work to live up to your dreams. Working with a reputable bridal salon or seamstress will help make shopping for your gown enjoyable.
Shopping for the Dress
You should begin shopping for your gown as soon as you decide on the style and formality of your wedding and set the date. Ideally, you'll order your gown six to nine months before the wedding; some gowns can take that long to arrive from the manufacturer. You will also need to allot additional time for alterations. If you don't have a lot of time, some shops can turn an order in three months, but there may be rush charges, and you may not be able to have your first choice.
Begin by asking friends, family, coworkers, and your wedding planner for recommendations for a bridal salon. Check the pages of your phone directory, and visit a local wedding exposition. Once you find a place you're seriously interested in, ask for references, check with the Better Business Bureau (to verify that no complaints have been filed against the company), and look for reviews and comments online.
To receive the best possible service, always call the bridal salon and schedule an appointment. That will give you access to a knowledgeable bridal consultant who will assist you in finding the perfect gown, veil, and accessories. Be sure to take the following items: the proper undergarments, such as a strapless bra or bustier; shoes, in a heel height you typically wear; and any “must wear” jewelry or accessories. You may eventually replace some of these items, but you'll have a good idea of what works and what doesn't.
Shopping Tips and Hints
It's a good idea to take only one or two trusted people with you, usually your maid of honor (or bridesmaid) and your mother, so that you don't have too many opinions. However, there are no “rules” about who should accompany you; some brides have taken their grooms. Here are a few tips to make your experience more pleasurable:
Always talk to the manager of the shop. Find out how long the place has been in business. (You would hope that a disreputable establishment would not be around long.)
Be careful of counterfeit gowns. Some shops will tell you they carry brand-name merchandise, when the gowns are cheap imitations, sold to you at a “real” price. (Call the dress manufacturer or check online to verify that the shop is an authorized dealer for a particular designer.)
Choose a delivery date that is several weeks before the wedding to give you time for alterations.
Make sure that the bridal shop doesn't try to get you to order a size that is much too big or small for you. Don't expect the size of your wedding gown to be the same dress size you currently wear; bridal gowns are sized differently than ready to wear garments. Ask to see the manufacturer's size chart to see where your measurements fit in their sizing chart.
Don't allow the shop to use cloth measuring tapes. Over time, the cloth begins to stretch, often yielding incorrect measurements.
Ask for verification of your order; and call periodically to check on progress. (Sometimes the shops will hold your cash deposit for months before actually ordering your gown.)
Get a written contract containing every aspect of your purchase agreement, including the delivery date, the cost of the dress, the cost of alterations, and any stipulations for refunds if the dress is not ready in time.
If you decide to have your dress made by a private seamstress, guard against the typical pitfalls. In addition, you may have to order your dress as much as a year in advance, because it can take that long to make a gown from scratch.
The Dress
The formality of your wedding is instrumental in achieving your vision. Traditional guidelines will get you started, but this is the twenty-first century and modern brides are forging their own path, and you can, too.
INFORMAL WEDDING:
Formal, lacy suit or formal street-length gown
Corsage or small bouquet
No veil or train
SEMIFORMAL WEDDING:
Chapel veil and modest bouquet (with floor-length gown)
Shorter fingertip veil or wide-brimmed hat and small bouquet (with tea-length or midcalf-length gown)
FORMAL DAYTIME WEDDING:
Traditional floor-length gown
Fingertip veil or hat
Chapel or sweep train
Gloves
Medium bouquet
FORMAL EVENING WEDDING (SAME AS FORMAL DAYTIME WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTION):
Longer veil
VERY FORMAL WEDDING:
Traditional floor-length gown (usually pure white or off-white) with cathedral train or extended cathedral train
Long sleeves or long arm-covering gloves
Full-length veil
Elaborate headpiece
Cascade bouquet
