Written by: Alexandra Sferra
Produced by: Blush Bridal
When shopping for your dream dress, there are a number of things that could come into play and a number of things that you must think about before going! Visiting a bridal shop in the Reading Bridal District is much different than hitting up the mall, and it works much differently than anything else when shopping. Here is a guide that helps you keep track of what to keep in mind!
Arrive on Time
Arriving on time is very important for the bride AND the stylist! Most importantly, stylists do NOT want to rush the appointment (especially bridal stores in the Reading Bridal District). We want to give our brides the best and perfect opportunity to find their dream dress, and if we have the full appointment to do so, we’ve got it under control. If you show up late, we can still make some magic happen but if you don’t have the full amount of time, then we can’t get down to the nitty-gritty. We also have appointments for the next bride following immediately after yours(being a small boutique, with exclusive designs and only the best of the best stylists, we want to give all of our brides the opportunity to get in as much as we can!) so we want to give them our full attention once they arrive as well.
Avoid Conflicts
When dress shopping, we see drama happen all the time. It can happen so quickly, and easily. This is a HUGE moment, and every little thing matters. One bad look or remark can change the entire mood for the bride. Our advice will always be to put yourself in a bubble once any negativity surfaces. Tensions get high quickly in families and girlfriends, but this is YOUR moment! Remind yourself that, and ignore anything but positivity! Usually, your entourage will focus on solely being positive, but things do happen, and there could be that one person who throws it off. Again, just focus on yourself. It is YOUR day.
Be Honest About Your Budget
Here at Blush, we want to make sure we know your budget before really anything. The budget is such an important piece of information. We do not want to pull a dress off the rack for you, and you fall in love with it and then have your heart broken because it is out of budget. That’s like, the ultimate no-no. Also, if you want to keep it a wide range and aren’t totally sure, you should probably wait and go dress shopping until you absolutely know! We will find your dream dress no matter the budget, so you tell us and we will make the magic happen!
Choose Your Girl Group Wisely
Do not feel obligated to bring all your bridesmaids and family members. This is a very intimate moment, so it is smart to only bring the few people who’s opinion matters most. It can get very messy if you bring along people other than that, or it can just get loud and pull attention from why everyone is really there. If you are worried people may feel left out, don’t hesitate to bring them for when you pick up your dress at the store, or your fitting once you take it to your seamstress. But remember, this is YOUR day.
Let the Stylist Lead the Way
Once you let us know all the fun details about your wedding that we are so anxious to know, and once we get an idea in our heads about what you are going for, let us lead the way! Usually, we will let you relax while we do all the work pulling the gowns that you will love. It is our job after all! And we are pretty darn good at it. Unless we ask you to help us pull the gowns off the racks, go ahead and relax and hang out with your girls! We got this! Once it is time to try on, we will take you into the rooms and help you into the dress.
Don’t Be Afraid to Tell Your Stylist Your Opinion
It happens and I promise you we will not get offended if you don’t like the dress we put you in. We need all the honesty to find your dress, and if you are vague or if you do not want to speak up, then finding your dress will be super hard! Let us know how you feel about the fabric, neckline, silhouette, the lace and the embellishments – we want to know every detail on how you feel! We will try and get it out of you real quick, so help us help you girl!
Be Open to Other Styles
I think the biggest surprise our brides encounter is not liking the style they think that they would like, and liking what they didn’t think they’d be into. It’s one of our favorite reactions to see because our brides are so caught off guard! It happens to the best of us. If a bride comes in showing us a Pinterest picture of a model in a pretty fit and flare gown, we still want to put her in something else like an A-line or another silhouette. The gowns look different on literally everyone, it’s almost like an entire different dress on each body. The biggest shock is the strapless gown. Usually, people associate strapless gowns with their strapless prom dresses or literally any other strapless article of clothing. We PROMISE it doesn’t compare! These gowns have belts that keep your dress up no matter how hard you dance, plus once they are your size they will fit you like a glove. These gowns don’t compare to anything else you have ever worn, so don’t shove any style to the side because we promise you, wedding gowns are a whole other world!
Shop Earlier Rather than Later
When it comes to gown shopping, the earlier the better! The less time we have, the less options we have available to our brides. We really want to make sure we can get you everything you want in a gown, and if you don’t have a lot of time before your wedding, then we may not be able to get you a specific gown, or get it the way you want it.
Do Your Research
Before visiting a shop, do your research. Find out what designers they carry, and what type of dresses they have. If you find a designer and find a gown you love, call the store and see if they have it. If they don’t have that exact dress, they can sometimes get the sample gown in store as a loaner just for you! (Here at Blush, we love to do that for our brides!)
Try and Shop on a weekday
Making an appointment on a weekday is one of the best things you can do when it comes to bridal gown shopping. During the week, less people are in the store, which means we can spend all of our attention and time on you! During the week, if our stylist has a question for our manager, or if we need anything from another employee, we have their full attention! You may even get a few stylists at once, which is seriously the best situation. Saturdays are our busiest days, so keep in mind we are open during the week and even on Sundays!
The photo featured on this blog was taken by a beautiful engagement and wedding photographer The Citrus Collection! The dress is a Justin Alexander Mikado ball gown with a sweetheart neckline. It is the perfect classic look with modern style details that features a back cuff and illusion beading that is absolutely show stopping!
