Know your price range.

It’s easy to get sucked into a vortex of over-the-top expensive wedding dresses (hello, you’re wearing it once), which is why it pays to start shopping with a budget—or at least a price range—firmly in place. Don’t forget to factor in extra, such as alterations, shoes, veils, and accessories. That said, it’s best not to even try on gowns outside of your price range when you’re shopping for fear that you’ll fall madly in love with a gazillion-dollar gown only be a let down by every other dress you try.

Have an open mind.

Yes, it’s important to know your own style—and not compromise—but you might be surprised how good you look and feel in a style, cut, or length you normally wouldn’t have expected. Likewise, dress styles you filled your Pinterest boards with might look terribly unflattering IRL, so there’s nothing to lose by trying on as many dresses as you can.

Skip the entourage.

Indeed, we’re aware that many brides consider dress shopping the ultimate time to bond with their mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, BFFs, college roommates, neighbors, colleagues, second cousins, gay BFFs, and mother-in-laws, but it comes down to this: Too many cooks in the kitchen will absolutely muck up the experience.

Between differing tastes, generations, opinions, and levels of knowledge about your personal style, you’ll only end up confused and in desperate need of some Advil (or a strong cocktail.) Plus, the decision is—when it comes down to it—nobody’s to make but yours. Instead, we suggest bringing one or two people who know you and your style well, and who are calm, honest, and modern.

Underneath It All

Wear—or bring—the right undergarments.

Without wearing proper undergarments to try on wedding dresses, the trip can pretty much be considered a waste. After all, there’s not a woman alive who hasn’t experienced the transformative powers of the right shapewear or bra. If you’re going shopping without a clear-cut picture of what type of dress you’d like, bring a few different options, such as a strapless bra, a push-up bra, a thong, and various pieces of suck-it-in shapewear.

If The Shoe FIts

Already have the shoes you’re wearing to your wedding? Great, bring ‘em along. If you don’t, it’s key to bring footwear you know will be similar, both in heel height and in silhouette. Various shoe structures can dramatically alter the way clothing falls, especially dress hems.

For example, a sleek stiletto with a low vamp and a super-skinny kitten heel will make the hem of a gown lay quite differently than a shoe with a thick ankle strap and a huge platform, or a shoe that’s adorned with embellishments or hardware.

Silhouettes

The Ballgown Dress – This dress has a fitted bodice and then flairs at the waist. It is ideal for most body types and gives that fairy tail or princes look. This dress can be overwhelming on petite figures because of the full skirt.

A-Line Dress – This dress resembles an uppercase letter A, thus the name. It has a fitted bodice and then flows out to the ground.

The Trumpet Dress: This silhouette is not ideal for anyone trying to hide there middle section as it is fitted through the body and flairs mid-thigh. The cut is between a modified a-line and a mermaid cut. This dress is good for those with small waists, such as the hourglass.

The Mermaid Dress: This one is fitted on the body from the chest to the knee, then flares out close to the knee. Ideal for slender frames and hourglass body types who are willing to show off their curves. Not good for apples and plus size body types.

If you have question on what the best style if for you or want to try some dresses on please come by Follia Bridal Boutique.