The Handy Marriage Dress Buying Guide For All Brides To Be

Marriage.com Editorial Team

Expertise: Relationship & Marriage Advice

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Updated: 15 Jan, 2023

Table of Contents

Plan weekday appointments to receive more attentive help, keeping the moment calm and giving you both space to connect and feel seen.
Keep the group small to hear each other clearly and share honest, practical input, helping you grow closer as you navigate choices together.
Budget with intention to avoid stress and preserve playful, intimate moments as you co-create your wedding story.

So, it’s getting close to the marriage dress shopping excursion. Excitement might be in the air, but there are also likely to be many questions, and concerns too. Such as ‘do I take my own underwear?’, ‘what’s the process of buying a marriage dress?’, ‘what do I need to consider?’, and ‘how can I make the whole experience something wonderful by avoiding stress?’

It’s not like you pop out to buy a marriage dress every day, it’s natural to have some questions, or even miss some useful tips that would have made the process smooth. So we have put together this quick guide to help you every step of the way.

Starting with what you might need to consider before you head to the bridal shops, how to go about maintaining momentum, and how to snag the best amount of time and attention from the sales staff at the shop.

Scheduling your shopping trip

Shop on a weekday

Shopping on a weekday will ensure that you have a higher chance of getting more attention from the sales staff since they won’t be so busy. You’ll probably get around the shops quicker, and have much more space to sashay, twirl, and gloat over your dress too.

Always book an appointment

It’s much better to book an appointment. If you are heading out for dress trials, you may as well make sure that you can get the undivided attention that you’ll need, and that your salesperson is in the zone if you shop on a quiet day. You may not be so lucky if you just walk in.

Always book an appointment

Skip day one of any sample sale

If you are attending a sample sale, avoid the first day. It’s just going to be busy, stressful and frustrating. Find out how long the sale runs for and attend later. The last day may have even more markdowns too.

Keep it exclusive

Seriously, don’t bring your ten bridesmaids, your four sisters, your Mum, Nan, Great Aunt Edna and her friends’ dog along to find your wedding dress. It’s going to be a nightmare that way. You’ll be distracted by them, and nobody will have the same opinion. Instead, take one or two of your closest friends or family members (ideally those gems of friends who are honest and practical with their advice).

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Make sure to factor everything in for the bridal shop budget

Pay attention to your budget. Did you budget for your marriage dress on its own and then plan a separate budget for the accessories? If you didn’t then you need to remember to save some of your budget for such things. Items you are going to need are the veil, jewelry, shoes, hair accessories, underwear, and alterations. Allocate these costs first, this way you won’t realize later that you’ve blown the budget and then have to either give up it up or find more money!

Make sure to factor everything in for the bridal shop budget

Keep on scouting

Remember you are going to need bags of momentum. Mainly because you might not find the perfect gown on your first trip out. Which might be disappointing. The thought of going through all of the trying on again might seem gruelling. Try to take it in your stride. Keep on scouting, there is a beautiful gown out there waiting for you.

Additional tips

The underwear dilemma

Many bridal shops have a variety of bras in the fitting room. But if you’ve already picked your underwear, or have a favorite style, or shaper – or just prefer to bring your own underwear then bring it along. You won’t need your chosen undergarments until your first fitting.

Sample gowns

Bridal shops cannot possibly carry every marriage dress available, even if they do stock the bridal gown designer that you prefer. Most will try to obtain a sample of the dress you desire if you call ahead and ask them. So if you have a specific dress you’d like to try, ask the bridal shop to see if there is a chance they could obtain a sample for you.

So if you have a specific dress you’d like to try, ask the bridal shop to see if there is a chance they could obtain a sample for you

Undergarments

Try to find undergarments that match your skin tone as closely as possible, and also consider anybody shaping garments that will enhance the look of your dress (just make sure that you can breathe in them!).

Glam up the shoes

You don’t have to stick to a classic white stiletto. Instead, if you are into high fashion then stick on your favorite pair of blue Louboutins. Other ideas are flip flops for a summer wedding, if you are into Doctor Martens wear them – anything goes Trainers, cowboy boots, snow boots, slippers.

Jewelry

If your dress is very detailed, and intricate, play down the jewelry, even wearing nothing but the engagement ring – don’t forget the engagement ring!

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Marriage.com Editorial Team Relationship & Marriage Advice

The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts... Read more to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice. Read less