To ask what to expect at a wedding dress appointment?

[ElleBelleLou]

I have my first appointment tomorrow at a bridal shop to try some dresses on, we're planning for a May 2028 wedding.

I know there's a LOT of time before May 2028, but I don't have even a slight clue what style of dress I might like or would suit me, so I wanted this initial appointment to try different styles on and hopefully get a bit of an idea.

My mum is coming, and my Grandma - we recently lost my Grandad so my mum and I thought this would be a nice little thing to do with my Grandma and get her out.

I am nervous as I have no idea what to expect - do I just turn up, tell them I am clueless and follow their lead?! What do I wear? Should I have some kind of Pinterest board with me? (joking .... I think)

If anyone can give me a heads up as to what to expect, and anything I may need to know or do I would appreciate it. I have anxiety hence the panicking about the unknown!

Thank you in advance

If you have tick tok there are loads of wedding dress shops that show wedding dresses. For some reason they are coming up on my for you page. It might give you some ideas of what you like or dislike.

Once you start trying on you'll get a feel for the sort of style. I thought I'd like something sleek & fitted but ended up going a bit princessy/corset! Also depends on your venue, what would work time of year etc. Exciting!!!

Definitely baring in mind style (and my taste) likely to change over time. I think if I come away after tomorrow knowing my definite do not wants, I will feel better.

@purplecorkheart I've looked on there and other sites for inspo, but it feels so hard because I just have no idea what will suit me. For example, I've seen some gorgeous blush styles but no clue how that will suit my skin tone! I think the only real way to get an idea is to see yourself in them. Especially as I haven't worn anything like a wedding dress in my life I have nothing to go off.

I went to 3 different shops each time wore nude knickers and no bra and easy clothes to get on and off. I didn’t actually find the right dress for me but did find the right style and then found one I loved on vinted 😂 . It was handy as I knew my wedding dress size and also the style and the vinted dress is perfect for me. Obviously not for everyone but I got an £800 dress for £60

I had no idea - (unless you wear formal gowns often, it’s hard to know what suits you!) so on the first shop, I tried on one of each style, ballgown, mermaid etc etc and it helped rule out styles and fabrics so I could focus more then on what I wanted! Happy shopping!

@ChateauProvence I bloody love a bargain so I am 1000% open to a second hand dress if I know exactly what I want 🤭 I am sure my DP would be happy with that too lol

@Psychologymam I think I need to try a big princess one on even though I am so convinced it's not what I want just to confirm to myself it's not what I want lol. I'm excited!

Tey on a lot of different fabrics. They weigh differently, they hang differently, they give a different image.
I went in the first place expecting to like satin (it was 30 years ago. ) and came out with tulle.

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 😂🙈

Do I wear my hair up or down? I am 99% sure I'll want it down on my wedding day - but can I assess the dresses better with my hair up? I wish I could just turn up and enjoy it without stressing

I brought a crocodile clip so I could alternate depending.

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

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.

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

I'd actually been worrying about this first post, so I rang the shop - they confirmed they don't expect to sell me a dress at this first appointment, they'd love to help me work out what I might want but most importantly enjoy the process - so phew!

I imagine it is one of those things you kind of shop around for - it's a big purchase and a big event so not a one and done in my eyes. Hopefully anyway!

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

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

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.

@Waterweight they're aware of my wedding date as I gave that when I booked the appointment, and they had no issues then - hopefully it will be okay but I have no expectations so it is what it is!

@Impostersyndicate I wouldn't say I am going shopping, as I can't see myself coming away with a dress tomorrow at all. Just hopefully a step closer to knowing what I actually want.

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 🤭

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.

@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.

@owlexpress I don't know about restricting myself, maybe more a gut feeling - or wishful thinking! But no dress tomorrow, financially not an option to walk out there with my dress due to a previous big purchase this month, not to mention my Grandma there to talk sense!

I'm 5 foot 7 and pretty sure I'll be wearing flats on the day as I don't like my height, so I reckon I can get away with any comfy flat shoes tomorrow

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!

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

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 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).