I made my appointment at David's Bridal and had an absolutely wonderful experience! I remember being a little overwhelmed because the store seemed so crowded. My consultant explained to me that February is a very busy time for them because many people get engaged around Valentines Day. So, because Valentines Day is upon us, I thought I'd share some tips that I had about wedding dress shopping!
I absolutely love weddings! I'm obsessed with anything and everything wedding-related. But not in the way that most girls that I know are. My friends have been dreaming about their wedding days since they were about six years old. I was never that girl. I was more focused on the fairy-tale romance that I wanted. I always knew that I'd figure out the wedding details when the time came. Plus, I'm too frugal to dream about a fancy wedding. But I have always been addicted to wedding shows, especially Say Yes to the Dress and Four Weddings. I love seeing how creative people get and just how much they can come up with. And of course, my favorite part of weddings has always been seeing the beautiful brides in their wedding dresses. So, I was very excited but hopelessly nervous the day that I picked it out. If you're a bride-to-be, you may be experiencing some of the same things that I did. I really hope that this helps you.
1. Don't be afraid to try on different styles- I'm a very short person, so I figured that a ball gown would swallow me up. I didn't even bother trying one on, even just for the fun of it. I went into David's Bridal with the sole purpose of buying a trumpet or mermaid gown. I figured that it would accentuate my curves and give me just the right amount of personality at the bottom. I only tried on those styles of dresses and it did work in my favor. But part of me wishes that I had at least tried some others on and kept an open mind. Wedding dress shopping is something that you're only going to do once. Have fun with it. Make the most of it. This is one of the most fun parts of the planning process.
2. It's okay to like everything but you'll know when it's 'the one'.- Liking multiple dresses was one of the few problems that I had. I remember thinking, "What am I gonna do? How am I gonna pick one? I don't have time to love everything! My wedding is in three months!" But I had to take a step back and realize that the gowns are supposed to make me feel beautiful and it's okay to feel beautiful in more than one gown. I made my decision when I realized that I found a gown that made me feel more beautiful and confident than the others. That gown was 'the one' as soon as I put it on. I instantly forgot all about the other dresses.
3. It's okay to speak your mind- I vividly remember the third dress that I tried on. I liked it. I didn't love it. But my mother did. She absolutely loved it. I remember staring at myself in the mirror, trying to make myself love it because she did. But she looked at me and said that she could tell by my facial expression that I didn't love it. I told her the truth and without hesitation she said, "Okay then, onto the next one!" She didn't care that I didn't love the dress. She just wanted me to love whatever I ended up picking out. That really meant a lot. I ended up buying the next dress that I tried on. I told the consultant that I wanted something more simple and she picked out the perfect dress. My mother loved this dress more than she loved the third dress. She even cried when I put the fourth one on (She didn't cry for the third one). Having her blessing on a dress that I chose meant the world to me. I would not have ended up with my dress had I not spoken my mind. It's your day, your wedding, your dress. Make it the most magical day of your life by getting what you want. Everything else will fall into place.
So those are just a few tips that I hope will enhance your dress shopping experiences! I can't explain just how much fun I had the day that I picked mine out. I ended up buying my dress at my first appointment and I love it now, almost two years later, as much as I did the day that I bought it. Enjoy your shopping! I hope that your weddings are everything that you want them to be!
-Chelsea
