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Five Effective Tips for Shopping for a Wedding Dress
Words Jade Johnson
Shutterstock When searching for which career, I wanted to enter; I always knew fashion would be my avenue and, in an attempt to enter the industry, at 17 years old, I landed my first job in fashion in a bridal store. I instantly fell in love with the bridal industry as unlike other fashion sectors, bridal has a strong emotional element and as a consultant, I was given the opportunity to be a part of so many women’s journeys during such a special time in their lives. Throughout my years as a consultant, I’ve helped many women find their dream dress whilst encouraging women to embrace their body, discover and reinforce confidence and turn dreams into a reality. During my time as a consultant, I have worked in three different bridal boutiques from an off the peg retailer by which you can walk into the store and leave with your dress in hand on the same exact day, a designer store by which only their designs are stocked and sold and eventually a stockist boutique i.e. they stock a variety of different designers and are usually independently owned. All of these different types of bridal stores opened up my mind to the various ways in which shopping for a bridal gown can be experienced and as for most brides, shopping for a wedding dress will be an entirely new adventure that can easily become overwhelming. I’ve put together my top tips to help you on your journey to finding your dream dress. These tips are designed to help you feel more prepared for your bridal appointments, ease any anxieties you may have surrounding shopping and ultimately lead you to success.
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Budget
Before you set out on your journey to find the gown, dress or jumpsuit! Familiarise yourself with the prices. On average, a wedding dress costs between £1,500 - £2,000 in the UK with alterations being a separate charge starting from £200 – 500. Many bridal stores also charge for their appointments with an increased fee for a Saturday booking, so try your best to visit during the week as appointments are usually either a reduced fee or free.
Research
Prior to going to an appointment, prepare by doing your research. Start a vision board using Pinterest for example and begin to collate images of your dream dress. Manifestation is key. Pinterest is a free, quick and easy tool to use and can speed up the process during your consultation as you’ll have a point of reference when looking for your dress.
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Call ahead
Ahead of your appointment, always call the store which you are going to visit. Ask the store for their policy on taking photographs, number of guests and in light of COVID-19, what their health and safety regulations are. Calling ahead of your appointment also gives you the opportunity to ask ahead of time, if your favourite dress is in the store ready to be tried on or alternatively, if the dress can be ordered into store in time for your appointment. Note; this service occasionally may have a small fee however is usually redeemable against the price of the dress, should you choose to purchase your gown in that boutique.
Entourage
Those you take shopping with you is incredibly important. The key is to not take too many guests with you as this can cause confusion and a conflict in opinion. To make your appointment go as smoothly as possible, choose a small selection of your closet family of friends, three to four at the most! This not only makes the appointment more enjoyable for yourself but also ensures that stores can accommodate for your bridal party as best as possible. Please always follow the guidelines given by the boutique as to how many guests maximum you are allowed to take in light of social distancing and COVID-19.
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Body confidence
My final tip is to embrace your inner sexy! When discussing with my brides about being sexy, I recognise how taboo this may sound as the usual thoughts that surround a wedding dress include being modest, traditional, and other demur terms, however, when you look good, you feel good! And when you feel sexy, confidence naturally pours out in abundance which is exactly what you want to experience on your wedding day with all the photographs and eyes on you.
I wish you the happiest of weddings and a life-long marriage full of love.