6 Wedding Dress Shopping Traditions and Myths to Follow or Ignore
From “Say Yes to the Dress” to just about any wedding movie ever made, there has been a specific idea of what wedding dress shopping should look like shown to all potential brides. Shopping with an entourage of people, buying a white wedding dress, visiting multiple bridal boutiques to find the perfect dress, etc. All these so-called “traditions” have been guiding brides through their wedding dress shopping experience, but aren’t necessarily the right decisions for all brides. At LVB we often discuss the need for brides to build their own experience, breaking traditions if it doesn’t feel right, and creating a wedding experience that is personal to them. Wedding dress shopping can look different for every bride and doesn’t have to follow all the traditions that we’ve come to know over the years. If you’re just starting your wedding dress shopping journey, here are six traditions and myths you should follow or ignore!
Follow: Do Your Research
It’s important to do your research before you start looking for your wedding dress. This is not to say that you have to know exactly what you want, but you should have a general idea of the wedding gown silhouette and style that you’re planning to wear. This will save you time as you won’t have to try on or browse through multiple dresses before you find the style that you like the most. Going blindly into your wedding dress shopping without style or budget parameters can lead to feelings of frustration if you don’t find any dresses that you love.
Ignore: Buying In-Store
Brick and mortar bridal shopping has been the go-to for a long time, but as the industry is changing so should the method of shopping. Online bridal boutiques have become more popular in recent years and offer brides a more convenient way of shopping. The in-person experience is what many brides are used to, which can lead to doubts about the quality of options found in online boutiques. But, wedding gowns found online shouldn’t automatically be considered low quality. Many reputable online boutiques offer high-quality, affordable wedding dress options perfect for busier brides who don’t have the time to visit multiple bridal boutiques.
Photography by Joe Lee Foto
Photography by Emily Boudreau
Follow: Keep An Open Mind
While it’s important to do research and have a general idea of your bridal style, you also want to keep an open mind when wedding dress shopping. Not every bride will have a clear vision of the wedding dress they want and that’s okay. Sometimes your dream dress can be the style or silhouette that you least expected. Explore multiple options within your budget and don’t feel obligated to stick with one silhouette because that’s the style that’s supposed to flatter your body type or the style you always imagined yourself wearing. Not pigeonholing yourself can unexpectedly lead you to your dream dress!
Ignore: Bringing An Entourage
Don’t feel obligated to bring a large group of friends and family with you when you go wedding dress shopping. If you feel like you know exactly what you’re looking for and don’t want tons of opinions thrown at you while shopping, go it alone or keep it to three friends and family members. Stick to the people whose opinions you value the most and save the entourage for your try-on party or bachelorette weekend. Shopping with a smaller group of people or no one at all will give you more room to focus on what you think and the wedding dresses you love.
Follow: Trust Your Instincts
It can be easy to take others' opinions to heart when wedding dress shopping, but at the end of the day it’s all about trusting your instincts. You’re the person who will be wearing the dress and the most important criteria should be that YOU love it. It’s always said that you’ll know the one when you try it on and that’s true! It doesn’t have to be a super emotional moment, that “aha” moment can look different for every bride, but if you feel that a dress, or even pantsuit, is the one for you then don’t hesitate to make that purchase. While you may value your trusted friends and family opinions, your instincts are what should drive your wedding dress decision.
Ignore: Your Dress Has to Be White
The classic, stark white ballgown – a wedding dress that every bride considers to be traditional. While beautiful and the right choice for some brides, it doesn't have to be the standard you’re striving for as you shop for your wedding dress. Most brides wear a version of a shade of white like ivory or champagne. Don’t be afraid to try on a non-traditional wedding dress whether it’s champagne, blush, has floral appliques, or is a bolder color like red. A wedding dress is supposed to be a representation of your style and if the purest white doesn’t work for you, figure out the style that does.
Photography by Ria Mackenzie Photography
Remember, shopping for your wedding dress is supposed to be fun and the only person who truly needs to love your dress is you! Share this with a bride who is in the process of searching for their wedding gown. If you’re looking for a high-quality, affordable wedding dress – browse our collection of made-to-measure wedding dresses that are priced at $1,200 or less!
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