Setting out on the Dress Hunt

It can be daunting, but choosing a wedding dress should be an enjoyable and exciting experience. We've outlined everything you'll need to know to set out on the hunt armed and ready.

While you may have been thinking about it since you were little, choosing a wedding dress isn't the easiest shopping experience. People sometimes put a bit too much pressure on brides to choose a dress. Yes, it is an important decision, but if you know your own style, and you have friends and family who are open and honest with you, than you really have nothing to worry about.

Before you pick up the phone or walk through the door of a wedding boutique, make sure you've done a little bit of your own research. Flip through a few wedding magazines, window shop online and think about what style of dress is going to suit you.

THE FOUR S's OF SHOPPING
When shopping for your dress, remember these FOUR key elements:
1.    Your personal STYLE: Just because you're getting married, it doesn't mean you have to conform to some "traditional" standard if you aren't a traditionalist! Think about the type of bride you'd like to be: dramatic and glamorous or ethereal and natural.
2.    Your body SHAPE: Speak to the designer or salesperson about the style of dress that will best suit your curves...trust your friends who come with you to fittings to give you an honest opinion as to what looks good on you.
3.    Your wedding SUBJECT: Your wedding dress should match your wedding theme...if you're having a garden party wedding, what about a tea length dress made of beautiful eyelet fabric? Or if you're planning more of an old Hollywood theme, maybe a bias-cut gown made of pure silk and accented with a beautiful vintage wrap.  
4.    Your SPOT: If you are having a casual beach wedding, a dress with a three-metre train and lots of taffeta probably isn't the way to go. On the other hand, if you're getting married in a castle, than a slip dress to your knees with a pair of ballet slippers may look a little out of place.  Think about your surroundings and how your dress will fit in - your gown will help set the tone for the wedding, so make sure it coordinates with all the other elements. Also, it may sound crazy, but consider whether you'll be able to fit into the venue's toilets!

Make appointments at a handful of bridal boutiques and bring along your bridesmaids, mother and/or any other personal confidant. Make sure you bring along a notepad as well, so you can write down the details of the dresses you like or the particular necklines, silhouettes or fabrics that suit you best. Make sure as well, if you can, to try and book dress fittings on weekdays or times that are not going to be crazy. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are no doubt boutiques' busiest times, so if you can, make a girly mid-week afternoon of it!

Before setting out on the "hunt", ask the boutique:
1.    Do I need to make an appointment?
2.    How much will it cost for a fitting?
3.    Do I need to bring anything for the fittings (i.e. any special lingerie)?
4.    Do you have shoes available for me to try on with the gowns? And accessories?
5.    Which designers do you carry?
6.    What is the general price range of your dresses?
7.    Make sure they carry plus size gowns, if you require this sizing.
8.    Do you have any special designers in store in the coming months?

If you're setting out to visit designers' boutiques as well, some special questions would be:
1.    Do you have a selection of dresses to try on, which I can then order in my size?
2.    Do you design custom-made gowns? 
3.    Can I supply my own fabric?
4.    What is your payment plan? What is the deposit?
5.    How many fittings will we need? How often should I plan to schedule these with you?

If the salesperson at the bridal boutique suggests you should try on a dress, and you don't think it will suit you...try it on anyway. You would be surprised how many brides have ended up walking down the aisle in a dress they hadn't looked twice at when it was on the hangar.

Don't stop at one! If you love the first dress you put on, that's fantastic...but maybe you shouldn't stop there. Another dress might fit you even better, flatter your skin tone that much more or just simply steal your heart. You want to make sure you try on a range of dresses to ensure you are making an informed choice. Visit more than one bridal gown shop as well. It's important you give yourself options and time to figure out which style of dress will fit you and your personality. When it comes down to it though, follow your gut - it's probably never wrong!

When trying on gowns, remember that the samples are tried on by more than just you, and they may have been in the store for quite awhile. As such, the colour may not be exactly the same as a brand new dress. Be sure to request a swatch of fabric from the gown(s) you like and put them against your skin, to ensure the actual dress will match your skin tones.

Any dress can be altered in size, style and design to suit your taste, so don't feel like the dress you buy is a closed book. Very often you can order a gown in a particular colour or with specific additional features. You can also take a gown to a designer to be altered, so feel free to think outside the square. Just remember: each addition or alteration will cost money.

Don't hesitate to ask questions, as well. It's most likely going to be a pretty expensive purchase, so you want to make sure you know everything you need to know. If the salesperson is not giving you the answers you need, then it's probably best you take the hunt elsewhere! You want to be able to trust their expertise and feel comfortable around them.

Jillian Forsyth, owner and director of Brides on Thorndon, has a few helpful tips for the brides to be:
*    If you don't wish to purchase your gown "off the rack", you should start looking for your wedding dress a good six months ahead of the wedding date. Placing a new order for the gown of your choice, colour, size, and in some cases, special length, could take as long as 4-6 months to arrive in store.
*    To avoid disappointment when shopping for your gown, I would advise you ring ahead and make an appointment.
*    If you wish to take someone along with you for moral support and advice, I would suggest you bring a few selective friends or family members, and keep it to a minimum. 
*    Avoid trying on bridal dresses if you've recently had a spray tan and try to wear as little makeup as possible.
*    Undergarments are usually available at most bridal stores, and it is not necessary to bring shoes along to the initial appointment.

If you've decided you are going to have a designer make your wedding gown, you are in a bit of a different boat. You will still need to meet with each designer, view their portfolio, discuss your vision and work with them to create a design that you'll absolutely love. The same trust therefore applies...even more so, in fact! Your complete wedding gown will be in their hands. You will be spending quite a bit of time with them in the months leading up to your wedding day, and you need to feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly with them about what you want.

Finally, make sure you understand the terms, styles and looks associated with wedding gowns, so you walk into the boutiques understanding the language. Stay tuned for the article "Wedding Dress Language 101".