Choosing Your Perfect Bridal Gown

The anticipation and excitement as you first step into a bridal shop is amazing! There are so many beautiful wedding dresses, sparkles, lace, ball gowns, wonderful shoes and sparkling jewellery on display. Any girly girls dream day and it's your day! After the initial thrill of seeing all the dresses, you'll either feel an eagerness to try on every single dress or a feeling of 'how am I ever going to choose and where do I start?!'

Selecting your perfect wedding dress

Society has built up a lot of expectation about having the 'perfect' dress for your wedding. This expectation puts a lot of pressure on bride to be and can affect what should be an enjoyable experience choosing your wedding dress. Just remember, your wedding dress is for you and your husband! You encounter lots of advice and opinions along the way, but choose the dress that you love the most, feel comfortable in, represents your personality and that is within your budget!

Here are my 10 top tips to consider when choosing your dress.

1. CHOOSE AN EARLY WEDDING DRESS APPOINTMENT

Wedding dress shop assistants have to be enthusiastic all day about other people dresses. The earlier the appointment the fresher the shop assistant will be and more helpful she/he is likely to be! Plus, you will feel fresh too which will make it easier for you to make decisions.

2. CHOOSE A TIMELESS WEDDING DRESS

It is all well and good to choose a this season, trendy wedding dress now however you will look back at your photos for many years to come and what is in fashion now might not be in fashion in 10 years’ time. A timeless wedding dress will help you love your dress for many years to come.

3. RESEARCH WHAT STYLE DRESS WOULD SUIT YOUR BODY SHAPE

Figure out what your body shape is and research what wedding dress styles are likely to flatter you.

I found this drawing particularly useful when I started looking for my wedding dress. I am an inverted triangle meaning I have smaller hips than my shoulders so I ended up with an A line dress to try to even me out as I wanted to look more like an hourglass figure. This didn't mean I didn't try on different dress styles it just helped me understand more about what was likely to suit me.

4. DON'T TAKE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO YOUR BRIDAL APPOINTMENT

The more people you take with you, the more opinions you will get! It is lovely to receive advice from your closest family or friends but everyone will have a different opinion on what suits you and ultimately the decision needs to come from you! I only took my mum and my sister along which meant it was very intimate.

5. WEAR THE RIGHT FITTED UNDERWEAR

A good bra is so important in showing how the end look will be. I would recommend going to an underwear shop to be properly fitted in to a nude or white strapless bra before you start trying on dresses.

6. SHOP WITHIN YOUR WEDDING BUDGET

It is just cruel on yourself if you start looking in bridal shops that start from $4000 if your budget is $1000. Make sure you ask what ranges of prices they offer before you go and ask for the prices of each dress before you try it on. You don't want to fall in love with a dress that is over budget and then none of the others live up to it. You will end up disappointed or persuaded to spend a fortune!

7. TAKE PHOTOS

After trying on several dresses, it is difficult to remember what each one looked like and felt like on. If the shop allows, take photos in each dress from different angles to recap on after the day. A photo is always different to looking in a mirror too, it will help to see it from every angle.

8. CONCENTRATE ON THE TOP OF THE DRESS

It may be the first time you try on a long dress and it can be easy to focus on the beautiful trains and backs of dresses, however, most of your photos will be of the top of the dress as you will be sitting down at the wedding breakfast table and close up shots will be of the top of you. Make sure you are comfortable with the fitting of the top.

9. ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS

1. Can I afford it?

2. Am I comfortable wearing this wedding dress?

3. Will I be hot/cold?

4. Can I sit down in a wedding dress?

5. Do I feel a million dollars?

6. Can I dance in a bridal gown?

7. Do I feel self conscious?

8. Does the fabric itch?

9. Will my husband to be like it?

10. Is it the one?!

10. HAIR AND MAKE UP

If you are planning on having your hair up on the wedding day wear it up when trying on dresses or vice versa with it down. If you are planning on wearing a full face of make up on your wedding day, do your make up nicely when trying on dresses as it will help you to visualize what you will look like on the day. Try on veils and jewellery at the shops too to help you see what the finished look will be like.