It’s finally time for another wedding update! Today I am sharing with you all the things about my wedding dress shopping experience Q&A style.
Where did you find your wedding dress?
I found my wedding dress at Clarice’s Bridal in St. Louis, MO. My Bridal Consultant that I was fortunate to work with was the Manager, Katie. If you are local to St. Louis and in search of a dress, I highly recommend Clarice’s. They also carry bridesmaid and mother-of-the bride selections!
How far ahead of your wedding did you start shopping for your dress?
I started shopping about 10 months ahead of my wedding, but it is never too early to start looking especially if you need alterations.
Who did you bring with you to your appointments?
This one was tricky for me because I was dress shopping in the middle of the second round of coronavirus lockdowns. Unfortunately, due to this there were capacity restrictions. That said, I am someone who prefers shopping with less people. I may be in the minority here but too many opinions can be overwhelming for me. My very first appointment I brought my bridesmaids and my mom. I didn’t end up finding my dress that day, and wanted to keep trying on. After that appointment I would go alone, or bring just one person to take photos and videos for me to reference later. Once I narrowed it down to my final two dresses, I invited everyone back including the bridesmaids, moms and my aunts to say yes to the dress.
Let’s normalize shopping alone for your wedding dress!
Should I shop at multiple bridal shops?
I definitely recommend shopping around, but not to the point where you are overwhelming yourself.
When you are making a big purchase it is smart to shop around and go with the place that makes you feel the most comfortable and supported. Not only is budget super important throughout this process, but the customer service you receive is key. This is why I ultimately chose Clarice’s Bridal. By the end of my dress shopping experience, the bridal consultants felt like my best girlfriends. I knew I was going to look perfect on my big day because of them. Every bride should walk away feeling the same way!
Start with looking at bridal shops in your area. The Knot and Google is an excellent place to start. Based on what you find, I highly recommend reading reviews from past brides on their experience. I would also see the shop’s policies and what designers they carry. Based on that, start with 1-2 shops and go from there.
How many dresses did you try on?
A lot. I was definitely not the person that tried on one wedding dress and knew I had found my dress. I wanted to try on a bunch and I certainly did! If you do this, be sure to take pictures and videos to reference later. There were a lot I thought I liked when I tried them on, and when I looked at photos and videos of them later I realized they did not look like I thought they did at certain angles. If you start shopping far in advance I say enjoy it and try on as many as you’d like! Just don’t give yourself too many decisions and try to narrow down as you go.
Did you pick the style you thought you wanted?
NOPE! This makes me laugh looking back because I was so set on a particular style going in to my appointments. If you looked at my Pinterest boards, everything looked pretty similar. However, once I started trying things on I quickly realized what styles flattered my body the most and what I felt most confident in. My original vision was still beautiful and while I did try many of those dresses on, Katie at Clarice’s helped me come to the conclusion I felt my best in something different.
Here are some of my runner up styles from Clarice’s Bridal! All of these dresses are currently available at their store:
Should I look at styles on Pinterest ahead of my appointment?
Absolutely! Most bridal shops will actually ask you to do this so they understand your style inspiration. What I loved about Clarice’s Bridal is they have all of their available dresses saved to their Pinterest so I could save my favorites to my personal boards ahead of my appointment. This will give your Bridal Consultant an idea of the fit and detail you are looking for in a wedding dress.
What about budget?
My advice for budget would be to have a number in mind of what you’d like to spend on a dress, but don’t let it dictate your entire shopping experience. For me, I had a range in mind that I was comfortable with but I didn’t want that to stop my consultant from pulling my dream dress from the rack and allowing me to try it on. Be sure to communicate this with them during your appointment. Most bridal shop’s will give you an idea of the price range their dresses run, and you can let them know where you fall within that range. Also, don’t forget there are extra costs associated with your wedding dress such as alterations, your veil and accessories.
What should brides know about finding a wedding dress?
There was SO much I did not know about finding a wedding dress until I actually got there. Here’s a few things you should know before your appointment:
- Wear the right undergarments. A nude strapless bra, nude undies and/or spanx if you want to try on with those as well. You’ll likely ditch the bra as soon as you start putting on dresses.
- Prepare to get really close to your bridal consultant – if you know what I mean! Some shops will let you get undressed and slip into your dress privately then zip you up, others will be in the room the entire time. Just let your consultant know your comfort level.
- Trying on dresses is EXHAUSTING! Websites may tell you to make an entire day of it, but I would not recommend trying to do more than 2 appointments per day. Usually each is 90 minutes and you will be very tired and hungry after the first one.
- Don’t feel pressured to make a decision. No one wants to walk away with buyers remorse. Stay true to yourself and even if making a decision that day comes with a discount, don’t let it pressure you into buying if you are unsure. A great shop will encourage you to sleep on it if you aren’t 100% ready to take the plunge! If you aren’t rushed, take your time.
- Last one, you can make customizations to your wedding dress. Awesome, right? Just keep in mind your budget because alterations cost $$$! If you don’t like the straps, change them. Your consultant should be very familiar with alterations and can help you achieve your vision. This was probably the most surprising to me. My dream dress got even better and will be unique to me because of the slight customizations I am making!
Did you have that overwhelming “the one” moment?
Yes and no. I personally feel like this “moment” people refer to is what ends up putting so much pressure on brides when they are shopping for their dress. Especially those who tend to process their decisions at a different pace. When I found my dress, I would describe it as feeling the most confident and like a bride. I pictured myself walking down the aisle in that dress and it brought tears to my eyes. I was comfortable and at peace with the decision so I knew it was “the one”. If you don’t have an overwhelming reaction, that’s okay! Everyone processes decisions completely different.
