Saying “Yes to the Dress”
Things to consider and questions to ask when choosing your wedding dress
I recently had the honor and pleasure of joining our oldest, Shae, to go bridal dress shopping! We had the whole crew there, her Mom, her mother-in-law-to-be, one of her bridesmaids, and me, of course. Fallen in Love curated the most beautiful experience from the very start!
Shae had filled out a questionnaire about her likes and dislikes, and boy did they listen! They pulled 5 dresses and 4 were her top contenders at the end of the day, even after trying on several others that we found for her.
She ended up trying on those 4 again, narrowing it down to two, trying those on again before finally finding “THE ONE!” …and it’s so perfect! The staff at Fallen in Love was so energetic, upbeat, friendly, and patient! …and did I mention, knowledgeable and professional!! We loved the whole experience and can’t recommend them enough!
Now that I can couple my experiences as a wedding photographer with those of an actual client, I have some helpful tips for finding the perfect dress for your wedding day!
Questions to ask and things to consider when shopping for a wedding dress:
Where will I shop?
There are big box stores that give you the big box experience…and small, local boutiques that will give you a personalized one-on-one experience.
Are you wanting tons of options…or options tailored to you?
Will you have someone that is there with you, waiting on you and helping to ensure you have a great experience from start to finish?
From our experience, we loved having two professionals in our room the whole time. It really felt like she was getting the royal treatment.
How does it look on the hanger?
Don’t judge a dress by how it hangs on the hanger. Trust the process and the opinion of your professionals at the boutiques. At the very least, try them on! You might be surprised.
How does the dress make you feel?
If “beautiful and confident” weren’t the first two words that came out of your mouth, keep looking.
Okay, now that you feel amazing in it…here are some additional things to consider to help you narrow them down:
Is the dress comfortable?
Can you sit down?
Can you raise your hands?
Could you dance in it?
Does it fit the overall vision of your wedding?
Is it comfortable for an outdoor ceremony?
Will it suit a ballroom, garden, church, or beach setting?
How will the dress photograph?
Look at yourself from every angle. If you like everything about it, EXCEPT “this,” heavily weigh how that will affect your mood when you also notice that in pictures.
How does the fabric move?
Does it wrinkle easily?
How does it look when you sit, hug, and walk?
Is it easy to fluff?
Does it have a bustle?
What is the timeline for ordering and delivery?
The dresses in the store are often times just to try on. As a wedding photographer, I know that we are often waiting for the dress to arrive so that we can schedule bridal portraits. If that is important to you, the dress should arrive 2 months before your wedding to also allow time for any alterations.
What does shipping cost? What does it cost to rush the dress?
What’s your budget?
Knowing your budget is so helpful for every vendor. Dresses range from $100 to $10,000 and up! Knowing a number you’d like to stay below will ensure you aren’t trying on a bunch of dresses you’ll never be able to afford.
Your wedding dress should make you feel confident, beautiful, and yourself. If you’re trying to narrow it down between several, consider which is more comfortable, best fits the overall theme, will arrive on time, and is within your budget. The more informed you are, the more relaxed and joyful the experience will be.
Walk in prepared, ask questions, trust your instincts, and remember: the best dress is the one that makes you light up when you see yourself in the mirror. Think "must feel beautiful and confident!”
A few photos from our amazing experience at Fallen In Love, High Point, NC
