1. Set a Budget
First things first. Wedding dresses are expensive. A lot of work goes into them and good quality fabric costs. Depending on what you’re looking for, nowadays it ranges anywhere from 5,000 PhP to 150,000 PhP. So be realistic about what you can afford, and stick to it! Once you have a budget you can work out where to start. Every boutique has their own price range, it might be worth ringing around to see which fits into your budget. Bespoke designers often won’t list prices as each design is unique, but they will be able to tell you their starting prices. Most brides can frequently get quite nervous when wedding dress shopping; it’s a completely different experience to a normal shopping trip so it’s not surprising it might feel a little daunting. Remember that this is supposed to be fun and exciting, designers and sales assistants are there to help and guide you in this experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
2. Don’t try too many styles at once
The more you try in one session the more confused you’re likely to get. 5-10 dresses are a good place to start.
3. Take only your besties
It might be tempting to take a gaggle of girlfriends dress shopping, but often it can lead to confusing, conflicting opinions which might actually hinder rather than help. Take just 1 or 2 of your closest friends and relatives whose opinions you value, you can always bring along others at a later fitting.
4. Wear the correct undergarments
Its best if you can wear your wedding day lingerie and shoes to each of your fittings, you may not have decided on this yet but it’s important, so make sure you wear something as similar as possible. Heel height is very important too, different shoes can affect your posture and the overall fit of your dress!
5. Think about you
Are you self-conscious about your tummy? Or your arms? Asymmetric gowns can minimise hips, whilst A-line gowns can add to the hip line. Corsets can create a curvy silhouette – even if you don’t have one!
6. Consider fabrics
If you’re getting married in the middle of April, that duchess satin ball gown might just cause you to melt. Think light natural fibres, silks and cottons, for summer. Rainy season is a great time for accessorizing as you can layer – why not try a faux fur jacket and red lips for that bit of Hollywood glamour.
7. Take notes
After your first appointment, go for a coffee, have a chat about what you’ve just tried on and make notes. What did you love? What did you hate? Keep the names of the designers you tried. Does a pattern immerge? Perhaps you’re favouring floral details, or one particular designer. Be aware that most boutiques will not allow photography; this is usually due to copyright issues, so notes are important!
8. Do some research
Once you have an idea of what styles/designers you like, surf the web for dresses that match your preferences and stores that stock them. Going to every local dress shop and trying on hundreds of random styles is more likely to confuse and cause you to forget what you liked in the first place.
9. Be prepared that there might not be “the one”
Not every bride will experience the spine tingling moment that is so over-hyped in films. This is one of the most important days of your life and 101 things will bound to be contributing to your decision. There might be 3 you love and any one would do. Or you might not find anything, which whilst disheartening doesn’t mean you have to give up! Everyone is different and not everybody’s needs are going to be covered by bridal shops. There’s more out in the wedding-world than you might think, try thinking outside the box (what about genuine vintage?).
As a final note, remember that wedding dress shopping is just one of the many exciting things in the lead up to your big day, relax and enjoy the experience!
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