When to start dress shopping?

[hkhexom]

I was just wondering how long before your wedding did you start dress shopping? My wedding isn't until June 14, 2008 but I just can't wait to get started planning. Thanks.

 

[orangetiggs]

I cant book my disney wedding till next year as we are in the uk and I want sept.oct 08 and I'm already dress shopping!! the best advice I have been given is if you shop early dont look once you have purcahsed it!

I'm looking for a pink (pale) dress to get married in and alot of them at the moment come in pink so I'm worried if i wait till next year I wont get what i want!

Good luck in finding the one you want

 

[JJClemson]

I guess it's whenever you are ready. We were talking about this on another thread, and some girls are 8-9 months out and still have not begun dress shopping. I did not want to wait, I wanted to find a dress asap. I bought my dress 14 months out. However, I personally think it would have been better for me to wait. Many brides are trying to lose weight, so it may be better to wait to see if you really do lose those last 10 lbs The reason I say I wish I waited is b/c I am a runner, and I hurt my knee the week after I bought my dress and was not able to run or walk for months, and have since put on some weight So, now I don't know if my dress will fit!

Good luck to you I guess when you find "the dress" you'll know it!

 

[MiaBella05]

Some wedding experts say that you should buy your wedding dress at least one year in advance that way there is time if there are any problems with ordering the dress. Its also gives plenty time when it comes down to the fittings. Good Luck

 

[AnnieBelle]

I would not buy a dress until you know for sure what time of the year you will have it. Since we became engaged we have looked at July, October, November and December. We considered the Mountains, Europe, a Southern plantation, the beach and finally settled on Disney all in a relatively short time. We have gone back and forth between informal beach receptions, nicer indoor receptions or dinner at a restaurant. All the different options made me consider a different dress. Since you will want your venue decided upon preferably a year in advance that is when I would want to look for a dress. You will know if it will be outdoor casual, formal or indoor casual or formal; if it is a midmorning casual affair, or a formal evening event. There are so many different combinations! What I did years ago before I was engaged, was my friends and I had wedding portfolios. We looked at dresses and decided which style we liked best on us, then we moved to other items. The Knot is great for that stuff! It is a good idea to have ideas narrowed down for sure, but I would wait to buy the dress, but by all means go try some on!

 

[JandJ]

At a bridal boutique you try on a sample and then the actual gown is made to your measurements. Most gowns take about 5 months to come in. I ordered mine about 7 months before the wedding and it got to the store 4 months after I ordered it. Fortunately it only needed one minor "tweak" to make it perfect and I'm not prone to gaining or losing weight, so I didn't have to worry about alterations. If you are might lose (or gain) weight between now and 2008, you ought to hold off and look closer to your wedding date.

 

[Surfingstitch]

We settled on a May 2007 wedding.

DF bought a dress in June and now is looking for a second dress for the ceremony.

First dress has a shorter train and the ceremony at home is going to be at a church with a long, long aisle way.

 

[wendy46001]

It also has a lot to do with the dress you want....
I know my dress had a minimum of a 10month wait to be made....
the designer would not take a bride under a year because of alterations and unforeseeable delays....but then again i had already decided the style of dress long ago...so location didn’t matter to me…I can see someone not knowing what they want waiting until other plans where finalized…

 

[twojo21]

no harm in looking & getting an idea of what looks & feels good.

i started shopping for my wedding dress in august 2005, had looked online & at a dozen magazines too. ordered my dream dress at the end of august & the shop received it in december 2005. i had my final fitting in february 2006 & felt like a princess on my wedding day march 21st 2006

 

[DIsNeYSweEtHrTs]

I also felt verrry eager to start looking for dresses. Our wedding was originally planned for Dec. of 2007, so I was hesitant to buy my dress. I decided to start looking anyway this past September and found my dream dress. I guess it was a blessing in disguise because we have since decided to move the wedding up to March 5, 2007!! Good thing I found the dress when I did, because I was told it will be in at the end of January, which leaves just enough time for alterations.
My opinion, go ahead and start looking. At least go and try to find a style that you like. (That was my intention, but ended up ordering the gown!). You may just find your dream dress, and luckily, you'll have plenty of time for it to come in, and to make alterations. Good luck!!

 

[jmmastra]

Just something to think about...I purchased my dress 13 months ahead...way back in March. I did not plan to do this but I found a dress I loved. I was going to wait and the owner of the bridal shop told me to order it because dresses are discontinued everyday. My dress came in 6 months later in September. I was a little worried because the dress would be sitting around for 7 months. Well, about 2 weeks after the dress came in the owner of the bridal shop took it out to steam it for me and found a STAIN!!!! She did get the stain out and was going to have it dry cleaned but she changed her mind and called me to let me know that she was returning the dress and ordering me a new one. She was afraid the stain would reset its self. I am so happy I am using this bridal shop they have be wonderful. But now, with six months to go, I am waiting for my dress. I do not think a year in advance is too soon to start looking and to order your dress. Hope this helps!

 

[rescuerangers]

We are getting married at Epcot in January 2007. We got engaged in January 2006. I went to David's Bridal about six months prior to the wedding and tried on a bunch of things. Nothing really looked terrible on me, but I just wasn't crazy about some of the styles (or spending $600+ on a dress I'll wear once).

Fast forward several months and I hadn't put any more thought into dress shopping. I finally realized maybe I should start thinking about it and went to a store that was recommended by a coworker. They said that there was basically no way they could get me a dress by January but I tried on some stuff anyway. Same reaction as DB... nothing worth jumping up and down about for the money. Plus, I didn't have anyone to go shopping with me (I took DF once - bad luck, I know - and went alone the second time), so it was kind of a sad experience.

I was clicking around online for pics of what I was looking for (something with straps, which is only about 1 out of every 10 dresses) and found a gorgeous one through a warehouse-style site for only $300! After thinking it over and knowing I could only lose the 10% restocking fee, I took my measurements 3 times to make sure I ordered the correct size.

That was 4 days ago. My dress arrived in the mail today! It is so, so beautiful and fits me perfectly - no alterations needed and for 1/2 the price of anything else I tried! I am so glad I took a chance on this!

The lesson is that you should follow your heart and if you want to look for a dress a year before your wedding, then you should!

 

[lurkyloo]

Rescuranger, post a picture of your dress if you have one - I'm dying to see it!

 

[rescuerangers]

Here is my dress!

http://www.bridalonlinestore.com/store/8011.asp

 

[dznystar]

I was just wondering how long before your wedding did you start dress shopping? My wedding isn't until June 14, 2008 but I just can't wait to get started planning. Thanks.

June 14 is a great day. DF and I are getting married June 14, 2007!!!!!!!!!! I worked at David's Bridal for quite a while. I told my brides that if they found a gown they were in love with, buy it, order it, or put it on layaway. There's no guarantee from one day to the next if you will be able to get the gown. In the bridal industry, gowns are pulled from inventory and discontinued all the time. I had many upset brides because they decided to wait and they were no longer able to find that gown.

Another point is that it may take multiple trips to many stores before you find something that you love. Don't settle on a gown. this is one of the most important days of your life and you want it to be great. Good luck and happy shopping!

 

[dznystar]

Here is my dress!

http://www.bridalonlinestore.com/store/8011.asp

It's beautiful! I also looked on their website, but was somewhat weary of ordering online. I actually purchased on of the Oleg Cassini's from David's only because they were having a sample sale so I got a fantastic deal.