When to buy my wedding dress?

[Hedgehuggy]

Getting married November 2019. Lots of people asking if I have got the dress yet and shocked when I tell them that I haven't even started looking!! I have an idea of what I want and we have worked out our budget but I have never tried any on. When it comes to trying on I will be open to lots of different styles and will be open minded. When did you all or are you all planning on getting yours?

I knew what I wanted ( cheap and slim fitting). Bought it from high street and within a few weeks of looking. I love it .No one else was that keen on it.
Then I went wedding dress shopping and ended up buying completely the dress as well ( found the same dress half price on StillWhite so bought that).
Now I have seen photos taken at other weddings at our venue and have seen the dress I should have bought.

Set a budget . You can get whatever the dress you want within your budget. There are thousands and thousands of dresses out there, new, high street, samples, second hand, made in China et etc. Do not panic!

If you want one from a bridal shop they like to have you signed up 10 months in advance so your dress can be ordered and altered. If that's your budget/style bear that in mind. However I would seriously consider spending the time up to Christmas thinking about styles, trying some on and deciding if it matchs your venue and wedding style. That gives you all of next year to get a dress from a bridal shop or finding the same dress from a different source.

I would definitely agree re timescales - it takes so much longer than you'd think from a bridal shop! I ordered my dress the second week in January and it only arrived at the end of July!

If you’re ordering from a proper wedding dress shop, it’s generally a minimum of 8-9 months before the wedding because they’re all made to order and you’ll need fittings once it’s arrives.

I’m going to start looking early spring next year like March for an April 2020 wedding

Start now. It all takes longer than you think!!

I'm getting married at the end of September 2019 and I've just started looking now.

I knew exactly what I wanted, and wouldn't settle for less (pure white, princess ball gown, zip back even though I was pregnant, sweetheart neckline, long train, tulle and sparkle that didn't look 'silver' as my jewellery was gold so didn't want it to clash. And a long two tier veil with sparkle). We were engaged for 3 months and planned the wedding in 2. And I was pregnant.
Got engaged January 13th 2015, set the date middle of February, got married 9th April 2015. I got my dress as soon as we'd set the date. I had to. Went to one bridal boutique, tried on 2 dresses and the 2nd one was made for me, it was perfect. I didn't have to settle at all.

I am getting married December 19 and I picked my dress in January this year.

Backstory: My brother got married 2 weeks ago - I went in the dress shop to look for bridesmaid dresses for me (they were planning it from Australia so it made sense as one of the bridesmaids to start shopping around on their behalf ) and my mum picked a wedding dress and asked me to try it on (even though the appointment was for bridesmaid dresses) - I fell hopelessly in love with it. The dress shop is local and the owner does a "payment plan" so I nip in occasionally with the money and she will only order it when I've paid over 50% of the dress value or I can pay it off completely and she will order it when I'm ready to.

I had been to another dress shop a few weeks prior, just because we set the date and I wanted to go and try pretty dresses on - I went with no intentions of making a decision, but just wanted to get a feel of what was around at that time of year and what I could budget for.

It soon comes round so I would say to start looking now so you're not rushing about :)

Thanks everyone for your replys :)

My mum and I were passing a bridal shop a couple of days so we went in no appt needed, had a look round, and BAM before you know it I have not one, not two, but five dresses lined up ready to try!! I tried on in order of what I thought I would like the most to the least, and I ended up liking the last one the most!!

So much so that I can't stop thinking about it and am booked back in to try on again on Sunday, this time taking my mum back with my maid of honor and mother in law to be!! If it comes to it I will buy it there and then and just stop looking. Although I feel its a bit early (15 months to go) the dresses are off the peg and when they are gone they are gone!!

It fits me perfect now but I plan on losing weight before the day. I have been assured that their recommended seamstress will be able to adjust the dress by 2 dress sizes if needed but there's lots of detail in the top lace layer throughout with a lace finish along the edges, I just don't get how they will do it?! And breathe....

Hedgehuggy you would be amazed at what a good seamstress can do. The one who works with my bridal shop altered my youngest brothers suit for the other brothers wedding.

He's 13 and they got him a small adult suit from M&S - it was HUGE on him.

She altered it perfectly and it looked amazing on the day (we never thought it could be done).

Congrats on finding the one ! Its an amazing feeling :)

I’ve got 2 friends who do bridal alterations. If the shop says it’s doable it is; they’re both absolute sewing wizards (I’m a decent dressmaker and have done simple wedding dress alterations for family and I still can’t understand some of the magic they can pull off)

I bought mine 7 months before when I was extremely stressed at work. By the wedding I was much happier and so half a stone heavier, so I’d recommend not getting your alterations too early! (I squeezed in and it looked great once on, but took 2 bridesmaids and my dad to crowbar the zip past my waist )

If you love the dress but it. I bought mine back in November, lace dress with lace trim at bottom too.

Just had my final fitting - while of lace border off, dress taken up and lace reattached. You would never know that it had been done and the dress was not made to measure!

A good seamstress is what you need - could not recommend my seamstress enough!! She is awesome and I would so very much recommend her!

Wedding in just over 4 weeks!! Xx

If you love it and it’s your only chance to get it, get it! I’m from an Irish family where it’s normal to have 2-3 year engagements and many people get their dress shortly after booking the date.

It’s totally true that you end up loving something you thought you’d hate. Maybe try one more shop focusing on the style you love? And if you still love the original, it’s the one for you.