Your step-by-step plan for buying your wedding dress

Are you newly engaged? Congratulations! Then you probably want to run to the bridal shop as soon as possible. We love your enthusiasm and would like to give you some tips on what to consider when buying your wedding dress. Thanks to this step-by-step plan, you will soon be able to say ‘YES’ to your wedding dress!

Photo (above, from left to right) : Wedding dress: Mari Fin Bridal - Photographer: Daniel Elster / Wedding dress: Karolien Verstraeten - Photographer: LUX Visual Storytellers / Wedding dress: Atelier Poublon - Photographer: Momentum Fotografie

1. Determine your budget

Wedding dresses also come in different price categories, depending on the fabrics, beads, jewels, etc. used. So decide for yourself how much you want to spend on your wedding dress. Even if someone in your entourage, such as your mother, will finance the dress, it is best to discuss in advance which price category you can look forward to. In your budget, take into account any accessories, shoes and lingerie you still want to buy.

2. Define your style

Classic, modern, bohemian... The style you go through life with is very important for your wedding dress. You will usually be inclined to go in the same direction for your wedding dress , so check beforehand what suits your personality. For a crash course in terms such as strapless, A-line, sweetheart neckline, fit and flare, beading,... take a look at this article!

3. Think: wedding styling

You and your fiancé have probably already made many important decisions that could influence your wedding dress. Think for example about the theme or colour palette of your wedding. Are you getting married on the beach, for example? Then a more breezy dress will be more appropriate. Then again, for a romantic wedding in Provence, the colour blush will be very interesting!

4. Choose your shopping squad

Fortunately, you do not have to go through your search for the ideal wedding dress alone. Get your mother, mother-in-law, sister or best friend together for a fun day of shopping. Make sure not to invite too many people from around you, because the more people present, the more opinions, and it is this abundance that could make you hesitate as a bride. So think carefully about who you really want to invite to your fitting appointment so you can choose and buy the perfect wedding dress in peace and quiet.

5. Make your first fitting appointment

Decide for yourself whether you want to buy a wedding dress from the collections of the major brands in a bridal boutique or have your dress custom-made by a specialist designer. Make an appointment soon, so you can try on your favourite dresses for the first time about 12 to 8 months before your wedding. Also think about the accessories and hairstyle that will give your look that finishing touch: a veil, hairpin, tiara, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, ... You should also have a clear idea of your shoes, especially the height of your heels.

6. Listen to the professionals

Professionals in a bridal boutique see different types of brides pass by every day. Thanks to their years of experience and know-how, they know perfectly which fabrics, colours or shapes will make you shine. So don't get too hung up on an idea in your head and open yourself up to the suggestions the stylists dare to make on the spot. They may pleasantly surprise you with models that you might not even have looked at first!

7. Test the dress for functionality

You will be looking for a wedding dress that is first and foremost beautiful, sexy, romantic - or a combination of all three. Remember that you should (also) be able to move in your wedding dress. So when you have found the dress of your dreams, it is best to check it for its functionality as well. Is the fabric not too heavy? Do you feel comfortable? Can you step or sit down easily? Keep in mind that in the coming months the specialists will finish your dress to size, so that your dress will fit you -literally- like a glove.

8. Look for accessories

Some bridal shops offer matching accessories for your wedding dress, such as veils, straps or wedding shoes. For some parts of your outfit, however, you will have to look in specialised shops. Think about lingerie or jewellery, for example. For your wedding dress, the height of your heel is especially important, because they will need to know exactly how low the dress can go. So be sure to take this into account at the final retouching appointment later on.

9. Complete your look with hair and make-up

You have the wedding dress of your dreams, your accessories are 'check! Time to finalise your looks together with your hair & make-up artist. Beach waves, curls, a chignon or a braid? Which hairstyle goes best with your dress? Also think about things like the colour of your lipstick, blush, lashes and eye shadow. And don't forget your nails in this step!

10. Go for a second fitting

About three months before your wedding party, go and try on your wedding dress a second time. It will be a happy reunion because the specialists will have adjusted your dress to your measurements. During this appointment, the seamstresses will check that everything is in place and that everything is correct. That way, they can make any minor adjustments if necessary.

11. Go for one last fitting

Your wedding day is really approaching now. Time to collect your wedding dress, but not without trying it on one last time. Any final retouches are behind you and the original dress on the hanger (or in the drawing) has now completely become your wedding dress. Bet there will be tears shed?

Read more on this topic via these links....

• The ABC of wedding dress styles
• Accessories to complete your wedding dress
• The perfect wedding dress for every figure