The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress
Image source: @thedresstheory
Nobody warns you about the wedding dress spiral. One minute you are casually browsing and the next you have seventeen saved folders on Pinterest, strong opinions about necklines you never knew you had, and a mild obsession with the difference between ivory and champagne. Welcome. You are completely normal.
Finding your wedding dress is genuinely one of the most exciting parts of planning your wedding. It is also, if we are being real, one of the most overwhelming. There are thousands of options, approximately a million opinions from people around you and a budget that is very much real.
But here is what we know: every single bride finds her dress eventually. And when she does, she knows. So let’s get you there a little faster and with a lot less stress.
Image source: @thedresstheory
Know Your Silhouette First
Before you set foot in a single boutique, get familiar with the main dress silhouettes. This one piece of knowledge will save you so much time and so many tears in a fitting room.
Ball Gown
Fitted bodice, full dramatic skirt that starts at the waist. This is the fairytale silhouette. It is grand, it is romantic and it photographs in a way that is just completely unreasonable. Best for formal and black tie weddings. If you have ever wanted to feel like an actual princess, this is your moment.
A Line
Fitted at the top and gradually flares out from the waist downward in a gentle A shape. Possibly the most universally flattering silhouette in existence. It works on almost every body, moves beautifully when you walk and reads as elegant without being over the top. Truly, if you are unsure where to start, start here.
Mermaid and Fit and Flare
Both of these hug the body through the bodice, hips and thighs before flaring out. Mermaid flares at or below the knee. Fit and flare has an earlier flare point, usually at the hip. These are dramatic, confident silhouettes. They require you to be comfortable in a snug dress for a whole day of celebrating so do a chair test and a dance test before you commit.
Sheath
Slim, straight and sleek from top to bottom with very little flare. This is the minimalist bride’s silhouette. It is effortlessly chic, incredibly modern and looks stunning in clean fabrics like crepe, satin or silk. It also means there is nowhere for the dress to hide anything so a really good foundation garment is your best friend here.
Tea Length and Mini
Shorter hemlines are having a genuine moment in bridal right now and honestly we are fully here for it. A tea length dress is flirty, unexpected and perfect for a more casual or vintage inspired celebration. A mini is bold and fashion forward and absolutely counts as a wedding dress if you want it to.
Dress Styles by Body Type
We want to say something before this section: every body is a wedding body and you should wear whatever makes you feel incredible. That said, knowing which silhouettes tend to work with your proportions can help you shop smarter and spend less time in dresses that just are not singing for you.
Petite frames:
A line and sheath styles elongate your frame beautifully. A high waistline or empire waist can also create the illusion of more height. Be cautious with very full ball gowns as they can overwhelm a smaller frame, though if you love it, wear it anyway.
Curvy and plus size:
A line and fit and flare silhouettes are genuinely stunning on curvy bodies because they celebrate your shape rather than hiding it. A structured bodice with boning gives great support. Avoid styles with no definition at the waist if you want to create an hourglass effect, though again, wear what makes you feel like you.
Tall and slender:
You can genuinely wear almost anything. Ball gowns look incredibly regal. Sheath dresses are long and elegant. Mermaid silhouettes are dramatic and striking. This is a great problem to have. The main thing to check is hem length since standard samples are often designed for shorter heights.
Athletic or straight figures:
Fit and flare and A line styles create curves where your natural shape is more linear. A dress with ruching, fabric gathering or texture at the hips adds dimension. A full ball gown skirt can also create a dramatic waist contrast that looks stunning.
Image source: @debrasbridalshop
Fabrics and Details: A Quick Cheat Sheet
You do not need a fashion degree to understand wedding dress fabrics. You just need to know a few key things so you can have an actual conversation with your stylist.
Satin:
Smooth, shiny and luxurious. Photographs beautifully but shows every bump and wrinkle so consider your undergarments carefully. Best for sleek modern and classic styles.
Lace:
Romantic, intricate and timeless. Can be delicate and light or heavy and structured depending on the type. Chantilly lace is soft and flowy. Guipure lace is heavier and more graphic. Lace sleeves and backs are having a major moment right now.
Tulle:
The stuff of princess dreams. Light, airy and great for full skirts. Layers of tulle create incredible volume without too much weight. It can feel a little scratchy against bare skin so ask about lining.
Crepe:
Matte, smooth and modern. Drapes beautifully and is incredibly forgiving on the body. The go to fabric for minimalist and contemporary bridal looks.
Chiffon:
Lightweight, flowy and romantic. Perfect for beach, garden and boho weddings. Does not hold structured shapes so it works best in softer, more relaxed silhouettes.
Image source: @debrasbridalshop
How to Actually Shop for Your Dress
Start Earlier Than You Think
Most bridal boutiques need four to six months to order and alter a dress after you say yes. Some designers need even longer. This means if your wedding is in twelve months, you should be shopping now. Not next month. Now. Great boutiques and popular designers get booked out fast and you do not want to be rushing alterations in the final weeks before your wedding.
Who Should You Bring
This is genuinely one of the most important decisions of the whole shopping process. Bring people whose opinion you actually trust and who will support you rather than project their own preferences onto your choices. One or two people is honestly ideal. More than four starts to feel like a committee meeting and committee meetings do not find wedding dresses.
If someone in your life tends to be negative, overcritical or makes everything about themselves, it is completely okay to go without them. Protect your shopping experience. You can share photos after.
What to Expect at an Appointment
A bridal appointment is usually sixty to ninety minutes. You will be assigned a stylist who will pull dresses based on your preferences and budget. You will try on more dresses than you expect. Some of them will surprise you, in good ways and occasionally not so good ways. Stay open minded. The dress you end up saying yes to is often not the one you came in picturing.
Image source: @debrasbridalshop
What to Bring to Your Appointment
A little preparation goes a long way here.
- Nude or seamless underwear that you feel comfortable trying dresses in
- Strapless bra if you think you might try strapless styles
- Shoes with a heel height similar to what you plan to wear on the day, even rough approximation helps
- Any inspiration images saved on your phone, be honest with yourself about whether you actually love them or just liked them at 1am
- Your actual budget, not the one that sounds good out loud but the real number you are comfortable spending
- An open mind, seriously, because the dress that makes you cry is often the one you almost did not try
A Word on Budget
Wedding dresses range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands and everything in between. Be honest with your stylist about your budget from the very start. A good stylist will not judge you and will work within your number. What they cannot do is un-show you a dress you have fallen in love with that is three times your budget. So set the boundary upfront and stick to it.
A few ways to stretch your budget without sacrificing the dress: trunk shows and sample sales are where you can find designer dresses at significant discounts. Online retailers like BHLDN and Azazie offer beautiful dresses at much lower price points. Consignment and preowned bridal sites like Still White and PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com have genuine gems if you are patient and thorough.
And remember. The alterations are almost always separate from the dress price and they add up. Budget for them from the beginning.
Image source: @debrasbridalshop
You Will Know When You Know
Everyone talks about the moment. The one where you put on a dress and something just shifts. Some brides cry. Some just go very quiet. Some laugh because they cannot believe it. However it happens for you, trust it.
You are not looking for the dress that looks the best on a hanger or photographs the most impressively or gets the loudest reaction from the people with you. You are looking for the dress that makes you feel like the most yourself version of yourself walking toward the person you love. That is the one. And it is out there waiting for you.
Image source: @debrasbridalshop
