To ask what to expect at a wedding dress appointment?

If you’re bigger than a size 12 be prepared for them not to have anything you can try on 😢

I went on my own. my sis brought a hang with her for hers and I hated the comments etc from them my mother kept saying it doesn't have the wow factor all the time 🙄 it's not like say yes to the dress tv show. I went in they asked a few questions etc. wore no tan nor male up and had good underwear on. be prepared for the dress not to fit etc as they only stock one size. it's not about what other people think it's how you feel in it. I wanted a light dress that I could move and dance in and one I could wear a proper bra in not strapless or cups. you will pick some and the assistant will pick some. listen to their advice they know their stuff. more importantly stick to your budget you remember you have to add alterations underwear etc costs on top of it.

God I wouldn’t go near a dress shop now if you aren’t getting married for 3 years! So much could change between now and then, I’d not be looking at dresses until 18 months to a year before. Otherwise you could order something now but change your mind nearer the time and be stuck with a dress you don’t like and won’t be able to sell easily.

The first question they asked was “what is your budget?” This completely floored us as we hadn’t discussed it. I plucked a figure out of the air as my DD looked at me like a startled hare - £500 ish? I had no idea what dresses cost. This was back in 2012. The assistant rudely (I thought) shoved a row of dresses to one side saying “well, we won’t be needing these”! DD tried on a couple of meringues but the attitude completely ruined the experience.
We then went to a shop recommended to us - it was completely different. The lady was lovely. She really took time to talk to DD to find out likes/dislikes. She then brought out a beautiful cream lace straight dress and said she thought it would suit DD. And she was absolutely right. DD looked stunning and knew immediately she had found ‘the One’!

You’ll be made a fuss of and feel really beautiful ❤️.

The organiser/shop owner will ask you your preferred style and if you are intending to wear a veil, what shoes you’d prefer. They should take measurements and write this up with the other details.

Then they will get gowns out to gauge your reaction. And this will give them a better idea of what to get you to try on.

You’ll try things on with big clips on the back to pull the shape in as most dresses need altering to fit perfectly.

you’ll be able to see all sides of the dress in the many mirrors.

Some places serve fizz.

Wear undies that you’d wear on the day if possible. I’m a larger lady and I wore some Marks and Sparks tummy control pants. But any undies will do. If you are self conscious wear a light weight chemise over your undies.

Oh, don't panic about the dress sizes, wedding dress sizes are a law unto themselves and bare no comparison to real life!

What everyone else has said about underware, go with an open mind, I had an idea of what I wanted, I couldn't have ended up with anything more different if I'd tried...... it was perfect for me but so different to what I had anticipated! (My MIL came with me to every shop I visited, she did this on the condition she got to pick a dress for me to try, NOT BUY, JUST TRY, she picked the most hideous meringue you have ever seen then proceeded to giggle at my face, fell about laughing when I put it on and told me to take it off immediately 😅 - thank god there are no pictures of me in that monstrosity 🤣)

I wore leggings and a vest top and tried dresses over them. Enjoy it. I wish I went to more shops and tried more dresses on. I ended up with the 1st dress I tried on (I did try others).

My only snippet to contribute is if you wear thong style knickers, maybe take a short petticoat to wear when trying on different dresses...

My friend worked in a wedding dress shop for a decade or more and her tales of bum cheeks in her face when buttoning brides to be into potential dresses were not for the faint hearted 😂

I went to 5 different shops, and ended up back at the first shop buying one of the first dresses I tried on.
Wear nude pants (seamless if you have). Bra probably doesn't matter because they got me to take mine off in all the shops anyway.
Let the shop assistants suggest dresses, the one I ended up buying, I didn't pick out. The assistant pulled it as she thought it would suit me and she was absolutely correct.
Don't dismiss things based on how they look on the hanger, they look way different on

I only went to one shop. They gave me some yellow clip things and let me wander round the store looking at the dresses and told me to put the yellow clips on the hangers of the dresses I liked.

Try on each style I’d say. I went for something completely different to what I thought I would like.

Make sure what you pick is what YOU like and not your mum and grandma. You’re going to be the one wearing it!

I wouldn’t buy a dress this early though because your taste and style might change. I bought my dress about a year before my wedding to allow time for it to be made and for alterations etc.

Have fun! Congratulations!

@ElleBelleLou I would like to make it clear this dress shop will the shop I get my dress from, that's something I've believed since I was a little girl if that changes the opinions that I am taking the mickey at all

Yikes. Why restrict yourself? The more you post, the more it sounds like you're potentially going to end up with a dress tomorrow. This shop might not stock the best designer for you. Keep an open mind.

Also, I wouldn't worry about shoes. The dresses are incredibly long, it's impossible to get an idea of what they'd actually look like unless you're about 6' 6.

wear good underwear and ideally the shoes you think you’ll wear or very similar ones (height wise) - this way you can see how exactly the dress would look like.
also ask your mom to take pictures of the dresses you like- some I tried looked great on me/ up close and terrible in pictures.

It's a bad idea to go shopping so far in advance. If you get your "this is the one" moment, you'll be tempted to buy in and in 18 months you might have changed your mind entirely on what you like. Secondhand wedding dresses, even unworn, have very, very little resale value.

They won't be particularly happy about a 2028 bride just "trying to figure out her style" as these appointments are designed to sell dresses especially on emotion BUT if you get a particularly nice sales assistant she might help you enjoy yourself for a bit

be respectful, if a proper customer comes in or is waiting don't drag it out as you have an appointment but also be prepared to walk away & look somewhere else if they're not interested or professional towards you

You will know the right one. It will be comfortable and you will feel the "swish".

I think the economics work more like buying a car than a regular fashion shop. They know most customers will attend multiple appointments to research and try on (in fact most shops limit you to trying on just a handful of dresses in each appointment as they take time and care to take on and off and have a good look at)
I expect most of their appointments each day don’t result in an immediate sale, but as each dress might cost £1000+, they can afford to only sell a dress at one in ten appointments, for example

Definitely recommend starting with trying on the main shapes - mermaid, ballgown etc. That's what I did as I needed to see what suited. Plus try a few different styles and fabrics, sleeves/strapless, lace, satin etc. Also try on something super beaded/sparkly. The first dress I tried on after falling in love online was beautiful but the very beaded bodice and skirt scratched my arms and I decided to avoid heavily beaded gowns after that. Some shops carry a small number of colourful gowns including blush and champagne. Ask to try them to get a sense of alternative colours on you even if the dress itself isn't for you.

The main thing is - have fun. It's normal to shop around (I went to 5 different shops to try on various dresses I'd seen online, easily done once trying different shapes narrowed it down to a ballgown).

Dresses can be changed a lot I.e. you can add a lacey cardigan to give sleeves to a strapless belt, add/remove sleeves and belts from some. The shop will advise.

Also, bear in mind the season you're marrying, the type of venue etc. If you have a church wedding some do have rules about dresses (no strapless or see through etc), so worth checking that.

@ElleBelleLouive done the same with my shoes and bag - am so pleased as have saved a fortune

I brought a crocodile clip so I could alternate depending.

My first appointment was with the nicest man, he got me to try on the 4 broad styles, a line, ball gown, mermaid and empire line and then we went from there. My only regret was the tiny pants 😂🙈