For most brides-to-be, finding ‘the one’ can be the most exciting, if not a little daunting, part of planning for your special day so to give you a helping hand we have pulled together some top tips and advise!
When should you start looking?
Although delivery time-scales may vary from different designers, we always recommend to allow at least 6 months before your wedding date. This will allow time for most designers to get your dress in, and time to have your fittings. For last minute weddings, some designers will arrange a ‘rush cut’ order which means you can get it in sooner at an extra cost…but as it’s one of the biggest parts of your planning it’s never too early to start looking and put one big tick on your ‘to do’ list!
Do you make an appointment or just drop in?
Here at Wedding Belles Bridal, we will always attempt to look after any brides that drop in, however we do recommend that you make an appointment to ensure you can secure one of our private dressing rooms!
Who should you bring with you?
It’s usually best to limit yourself to 1 or 2 close family or friends whose opinion your trust, and you know will be honest with you. Sometimes having too many thoughts and opinions can confuse you!
What should you wear?
If possible, it’s good if you wear a strapless bra, or at least bring one with you if you don’t fancy wearing it all day. But don’t worry if you don’t have one, you can always tuck the straps out of the way. Also, try not to wear any fake tan or heavy make-up, as a number of dresses will need to be put on over your head, and you don’t want to leave smudges on the diamond white dresses (it’s such a shame when that happens).
Knowing what’s going to suit you
Although it’s good to research designers and styles before your visit, do try to go along to your appointment with an open mind as it’s good to try a couple of different styles and designs. Sometimes what doesn’t look great on the hanger can look fabulous on you!
In fact, 80-90% of my brides end up walking away with something totally opposite to what they thought they would pick.
Where are you getting married?
It’s sometimes useful to know what type of wedding you will be having as quite often this can help your decision making – is it a church wedding, what is the style of your venue, do you have a theme, what time of year will it be, or are you getting married abroad? Different venues will suit different styles of dress – for example, if you are getting married in Thailand in the height of summer, you probably wouldn’t want a dress with a multitude of thick layers of material and netting.
Don’t forget to accessorise your look!
When you have narrowed down your dress choices, we will talk you through our range of tiaras and veils. Even if you’re not sure whether you want to wear one, this will help you to decide, and give you an idea of your completed look – it can sometimes make all the difference!
Ordering you dress
As we are only able to stock each dress in one size – this is known as a “sample”. And it is our sample that you will be able to try on – the sample size will vary, but if it’s not your exact size, then it can be held or pinned-in to allow you to get a good idea of what it will look like in your right size. You’re measurements are then taken and your dress will be ordered to the size according to the designers size chart.
When to book your 1st fitting?
We generally recommend a fitting around 4-6 weeks before your wedding date. You will also need to have with you your wedding shoes, or at least shoes with the same heel height that you will be wearing on the day to make sure your dress is the perfect length. Also take along with you the underwear that you intend to wear on the day, as a padded bra can add a good inch or so on to bust measurement, or you may decide that you don’t need a bra as most dresses are fully corseted – either way, it’s important to know at this stage to make sure the fit will be perfect.
After this point, it’s important to try and maintain your size – but if you do change by one or two pounds, it’s not the end of the world as you will have your final fitting a week or so before your wedding, and last minute alterations can always be made if required.
Finally and most importantly……have fun and enjoy yourself!
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