Before you start your wedding dress shopping process it’s important to differentiate between reality and reality TV. TV shows and movies add dramatic moments surrounding saying, “yes” to your wedding dress for entertainment. At best, they give you an outline of the wedding dress shopping process, at worst, they put so much pressure on you, brides, to have a specific reaction, or emotional moment that it sabotages your experience. We are here to help you have a successful dress shopping process by differentiating fact from myth.
Myth #1- “If you do not cry, it’s not your dress.”
Truth: There is so much thought and pieces that go into a dress shopping appointment. Most brides are so shocked they found their gown they do not cry at all. Even brides who are “criers” are often so confident with the wedding dress they fall in love with they react calmly. Other brides who are usually very stoic, cry like they never have before. It’s an experience we only do once in a lifetime. You don’t know how you’re going to react until you experience it. Don’t put pressure on yourself to react a certain way because a TV show says it’s a must.
Myth #2 “You can’t try on a veil until the last dress of the day.”
Truth: We do not wear bridal veils with a wedding dress every day. If you do not try on multiple styles of veils you won’t know what options exist. Veils can also change the feel and look of a wedding dress, so it is important to try them on with your favorites. TV shows like to make putting on a veil a magic moment. Sometimes it helps you realize you are truly, finally a bride, but it is important to envision yourself as a bride in multiple different styles to determine which is your favorite.
Myth #3 “You have to bring all your favorite people with you to go dress shopping.”
Truth: Only bring people with you who you know, for a fact, will support your wedding dress vision and style. It seems fun to bring all your friends and family, but it quickly turns into negative chaos with too many opinions. No two people have the same exact style preferences, body types, or wedding day visions. It is important to only bring people with you who will put your wants and needs over their own. There are so many wedding planning related events you can share with your friends and family together. Keep dress shopping only with your closest family members or confidants.
Myth #4 “There is only one wedding dress that is ‘your dress’.”
Truth: Dress shopping is fun because wedding dresses are made to make us all look beautiful. You truly can fall in love with multiple dresses from multiple different stores. The most important thing is to keep in mind your budget, time frame, wedding day vision, and comfort. Then, choose the wedding dress that checks the most boxes. You can go dress shopping forever, but if you don’t narrow down your bridal shop options, style, or price point you will never get a gown in time for your wedding day. The most bridal shops you should go to is three shops with different designers. That is more than enough options to find a wedding dress perfect for you. Extra Pro-tip: Don’t go to more than one shop in a day!
Myth #5 “You will not be able to sit in a mermaid dress.”
Truth: No dress silhouette should restrict your movement if it is fitted correctly. Bridal sizing runs very small, do not pay attention to the number of size in which you measure. The goal is for the wedding dress to fit. The last thing you want to do is order a smaller size because the number sounds better and have your wedding dress come in way too small. Trust the consultant with the size they recommend with your measurements, even if the number is much bigger than your normal size. When the gown comes in the consultant recommended size, a good seamstress will ensure you can sit, squat, stand, dance, and move so you can dance the night away on your wedding day.
We hope helping you learn myth from truth will help you have a great wedding dress shopping experience. Always remember every bride, wedding, dress, and shop is different. Find the combination of those things that work for you and enjoy planning your wedding!
Image: Magda Fou via Unsplash
