By Alysa Seeland
You know the feeling: It was Halloween and you were a princess. It was prom and your hair was high. Or, maybe it was your faithful cocktail dress and someone gave you that look and you knew, you looked good. When it comes to your wedding day you want to be the fairest of them all - and I’m here to tell you how to make that happen. Here are 6 foolproof ways to find your PERFECT wedding dress.
Look Like YOU:
Looking good means looking like you and you may not look good as Kate Middleton’s mini-me. Why? Because you are you! You have your own curves and a unique style and especially on your wedding day you don’t want to be caught looking like a Kardashian Copy-Cat.
Too many girls see a beautiful woman and want to duplicate them instead of realizing that the same thing that made that woman so beautiful is the thing that can make you the most beautiful woman too! Part of looking like you is shopping your shape. Local boutique and salons are especially good at recommending dresses that fit a particular shape. The knot.com and RealSimple weddings also have recommendations for your shape.
Do Not Shop Outside Your Price Range:
Wait, wait, wait isn’t this one a kill-joy? Just hear me out: You absolutely can find the perfect dress in your price range, in fact - that’s one qualification. It might sound harsh but girl it’s just a plain old lie that you have to spend $10,000 on the perfect wedding dress! There are plenty of mavens on Esty, plenty of local boutiques, plenty of options in plenty of places with prices in your range!
Money is only a kill-joy if you make it. Trust me if you look for something out of your price range you’ll hem and haw over whether you should buy it. Then your mom/you will cave in a buy it and then you’ll spend the next 4 months feeling guilty. Then you’ll decide to return it and then the place you bought it from will no longer let you return it. Please let me save you from this pain - just put those price-blinders on!!
Choose Your Entourage Wisely:
If your unmarried Aunt Mable is still scarred from her fiancé running the wrong way down the aisle - might be best not to bring her along. Why? Because one bad mood spoils the day.
And let’s face it: squeezing our bodies into all kinds of satin, tulle, and mesh whilst having the pressure of “finding the one” makes for a...delicate experience. Lots of tears, lots of tears. The most important thing is to only invite people that you TRUST when dress hunting. It will minimize the stress level SIGNIFICANTLY. Unless of course, you’re an amazing decision maker who is uninfluenced by the opinion of others and in that case - I bow to you sensei.
Go More Than Once:
If dress shopping is anything like love (and darling it is) then we like the idea of the perfect dress long before we actually find it. So to ensure that you’re not in love with the idea of being in love with the perfect dress - don’t commit until you’ve shopped around.
If worse comes to worst, and this is the ONLY time you’ll ever hear me say this: buy two dresses. Why? Well as long as the boutique/salon will let you return it, it gives you more runway to make an informed decision.
Be Drop Dead Gorgeous:
I want you to promise me that you will settle for nothing less than drop-dead gorgeous. Go all out if you always wanted a boat-neck top with an exposed back - DO IT. If you always wanted a cage veil - don’t settle for anything less. You can be drop dead gorgeous in your price range and according to your shape. How? Well I didn’t say it was going to be easy - think of it as a hunt!
Found on Offbeat Bride - love the red shoes :)Don’t Look Back:
Once you decide darlin’, don’t turn back! You have too many decisions to make and likely too many personalities trying to live vicariously through your perfect day. Sure they mean well and probably don’t know they’re doing it, but take it from me, and your own personal experience, each of our mothers is a closet Mrs. Bennett!
What tried and true tips are you using to find your perfect dress?
Be sure to check out these other posts in our Frugal Bride Series:
Bridal Bootcamp: Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married
The $50,000 Lie: Why An Overly-Indulgent Wedding Hurts More Than Your Wallet
His and Hers: Who Pays For What and How Coco, Kelly, and Monroe Can Help
Anatomy of a Satellite Bride: What I Learned Planning my DIY Wedding from 1,000 Miles Away
DIY Bride: The Cost-Efficient Way to Be Unforgettable
And don’t forget our Frugal Bride Pinterest Board!
