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Choosing a wedding dress can be a difficult choice and there can be a lot of pressure to find the perfect dress. There is also the ‘when’ to consider. When should you buy your wedding dress?
Are you wondering when you should buy your wedding dress?
When Should You Buy Your Wedding Dress?
Most brides start looking for their wedding dress eighteen months to one year before their big day. This allows time for the dress to be made and alterations to made if needed.
When it comes to buying your wedding dress there are a lot of different factors to consider.
The first is time.
Will you find your dream dress on your first appointment? Or will it take weeks, or even months to find that perfect dress?
Start booking appointments at bridal stores as soon as you get engaged. They can often be booked up months in advance, so even if your venue is booked for two years time – or isn’t even booked yet – get this step started as soon as possible.
When Should You Buy Your Wedding Dress? Custom Dresses
If you choose a dress that is made to order, you can expect to wait between six and nine months for it to be ready. Why does it take so long? Well, the dress will be made to your measurements, may have instracate layers or hand sewing required and components may need to be sourced from other countries.
Even then, you may still need a few last-minute alterations, so expect as many as three fittings in the months leading up to your wedding, once your dress has arrived back with the bridal store. These later appointments can also be used to choose accessories such as shoes and a hairpiece or veil.
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When Should You Buy Your Wedding Dress? Off the Rack / Secondhand
For a dress that is off the rack, less time is needed, but you may want to still allow time for alterations to get that perfect fit.
You may also want to choose this option if your wedding is less than six months away.
Choosing a dress off the rack has lots of benefits, including being significantly cheaper and much better for the environment as you’re usually buying a sample or second-hand dress.
Another option is to choose a dress from a high street chain such as Monsoon. These dresses tend to be less elaborate and more simple in their design, meaning less effort is needed to get them to fit well.
Styles tend to be floaty rather than fitted meaning you can grab your usual clothes size and it should be a good fit. These make the perfect option for brides looking for something last minute that won’t need any altering at all.
What About Brides That Want To Lose Weight?
I would never say that anyone needs to lose weight for their wedding. Your partner, I’m sure, loves you exactly as you are and please don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself while also planning a wedding.
However, there are some people who feel more confident and happy in their own skin after shedding a few pounds and may be concerned about buying a dress that could end up being too big or too small.
One option is to buy a dress that has a corset back. A corset back allows a lot of wiggle room to be bigger or smaller and can often fit several different sizes. So it doesn’t matter if you lose weight or don’t lose it – your dream dress should still fit either way.
Who To Take With You When Wedding Dress Shopping?
Most brides like to take one or two close friends with them when shopping for a wedding dress and maybe their Mum too.
Having too many differing opinions can be overwhelming, so sometimes having just a couple of people with you rather than your entire extended family can work well.
You want to choose people that you know will be honest without being harsh or making unnecessary comments about your appearance, weight, hair colour, tattoos etc and so on.
Conclusion – When To Buy Your Wedding Dress
For A Custom Dress – Allow at least 18 months to 1 year.
For Off The Rack– Allow around 6 months so alterations can be made if needed. For a last-minute elopement, for example, try buying directly from the high street.