My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Chat to other Mumsnetters on our Wedding forum.

Weddings

tips for dress shopping

10 replies

littlemissmulledwine · 11/01/2013 18:09

going tomorrow for my wedding dress Grin

all hints and tips appreciated

OP posts:
Report
catinboots · 11/01/2013 18:14

Oooooohh.



Try on everything. Get a friend/the dress lady to randomly pick out about 12 dresses.

Wedding dresses are weird - you will have no idea about what suits you until you have it on. Even try on things that look hideous on the rail and you wouldn't have dreamed of trying on.

Be open minded about colour and shape.

Wear decent underwear.

Write down style names and numbers that you like.

Ensure you schedule in a pub lunch afterwards for a debrief.

Report
Novia · 11/01/2013 18:16

Wear nude underwear so it doesn't show through! Don't pre-judge the dress, it's amazing how different they look on - don't have too many pre-conceptions about the 'dream' dress. Take a pair of heels with you. If you find the one, negotiate! Shops will often give money off or throw in a veil, alterations, etc. so play down your budget. Take someone you trust with you to give an honest opinion.

Have a wonderful time - enjoy every minute!

Report
Novia · 11/01/2013 18:17

Also - amazing how often 'THE dress' is the first or second one you try on! :)

Report
jazzcat28 · 11/01/2013 18:24

Wear good underwear - they literally stripped me down in the first shop I went into

Agree with other posters - get a friend/mum/assistant to randomly pick out some for you - they look totally different on you than on the hangar

Experiment with material. I was determined to have a big fairy princess like dress with lots of floaty netting. Made me look like a fat christmas fairy. Structured satin was much more flattering on me

Make appointments and stick to them. Dress shop assistants don't mind a bit of unplanned browsing but if you start to make noises about trying a couple on they will go mental as they cannot cope with the pressure. Really they want to give you their undivided attention.

Try the dodgy-looking shops at the end of the high street next to the charity shops. They look naff from the outside but many of my friends have found their beautiful dresses in them.

Schedule in lots of tea and cake stops. It's knackering.

When your mum says "well if YOU like it, then I'm happy" she hates it and it's likely to be the wrong choice. When your mum starts dressing you up like a Barbie in veils, tiaras, shoes, gloves, it's a likely indication she thinks you look amazing and it could be a viable option.

Haggle over prices. We got my dress, veil and tiara from the same shop and they ended up giving us the £150 tiara for free.

I loved every minute of my dress shopping and took 4 months to find mine so most of all, enjoy it, you'll only get to try them all on once (fingers crossed Wink)

Have fun!!

Report
catinboots · 11/01/2013 18:39

I want to go dress shopping GrinGrinGrinGrin

I went with two of my bridesmaids about 3 times. We made a day out of it every time. Then the same with the fittings!

Report
paintedcat · 11/01/2013 18:48

Oooh I'm going for my second dress shopping session tomorrow!

Definitely try loads of different styles on. I only wanted lace to begin with, my shortlist of three only contains one lace one now.

Only take people who will behave! My mum didn't.

They'll ask you loads of questions if they're a good shop, stuff like when your wedding is, where, what colour any bridesmaids will be in. They can then help you find dresses that'll suit the venue and time of year and everything else too. Though if you really love a dress ignore all that.

Have you got any ideas yet? Come back and tell us how it went!

Report
littlemissmulledwine · 11/01/2013 20:09

The only thing i have in mind is that i want one that can be worn with half length sleeves as my arms arent my best feature

going with my mum, dad and maid of honour!

OP posts:
Report
catinboots · 11/01/2013 21:02

I said I wanted something plain and simple with sleeves

Look at my profile!

Report
TobyLerone · 11/01/2013 23:08

Have you made appointments? You might find they won't let you try anything on if you haven't, especially on a Saturday.

Report
littlemissmulledwine · 12/01/2013 07:08

yeah I've got a 2 hr appointment at 12

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.