Wedding Dress Shopping Mistakes to Avoid: 8 Things Every Bride Should Know | Brides of Brisbane
Wedding dress shopping should be exciting, not stressful. But with so much advice online, it can be difficult to know where to start, what to expect and whether you're doing it "right". From bringing too many opinions to waiting too long to order your gown, there are a few common wedding dress shopping mistakes that can make the experience more complicated than it needs to be.
If you're preparing for your first bridal appointment, here are eight mistakes to avoid when wedding dress shopping.
1. Shopping Too Early... or Leaving It Too Late
Timing is one of the most important parts of wedding dress shopping.
Start too early and you may find yourself changing your mind as trends, venues and your overall wedding vision evolve. Leave it too late, however, and you may have fewer options when it comes to designers, styles and production time.
Most designer wedding gowns take approximately 6–8 months to be made, and you'll also need to allow time for alterations before your wedding day, which typically take 6-8 weeks in Brisbane.
For this reason, we generally recommend beginning your wedding dress search around 9–12 months before your wedding.
This gives you plenty of time to:
Explore different designers and styles
Find your dream gown without rushing
Place your order
Allow time for your gown to arrive
Complete your alterations
Enjoy the experience!
If you're getting married sooner than this, don't panic. There may still be options available, so speak with us as early as possible.
2. Bringing Too Many People to Your Bridal Appointment
It can be tempting to invite your mum, sisters, bridesmaids, aunties, cousins and best friends to your first appointment.
After all, it's a big moment and you want to share it with the people you love!
But more opinions don't necessarily make choosing your wedding dress easier.
Everyone has their own idea of what you should wear, and too many opinions can quickly become overwhelming. You may find yourself focusing more on what everyone else thinks than how you feel in the dress.
Instead, consider bringing a small group of people whose opinions you genuinely trust.
Your bridal appointment should ultimately be about finding your dress.
3. Only Trying the Style You Think You Want
"I've always wanted a mermaid dress."
"I could never wear a ballgown."
"I'm definitely not a lace bride."
Sound familiar?
One of the biggest wedding dress shopping mistakes is deciding what you'll love before you've actually tried it on.
The dress you end up choosing may be completely different from what you imagined.
Trying different silhouettes, necklines and fabrics allows you to discover what actually makes you feel amazing; not just what you thought would suit you.
This doesn't mean you need to try on every dress in the boutique. Instead, come with an open mind and allow your bridal stylist to introduce you to styles that you may not have considered.
You might just surprise yourself.
4. Ignoring Your Wedding Dress Budget
Before your bridal appointment, it's important to have a realistic idea of what you'd like to spend on your wedding dress.
Remember that your overall bridal budget may include more than just the gown itself.
You may also need to allow for:
Alterations
Your veil
Shoes
Jewellery
Undergarments
Other bridal accessories
Being upfront about your budget with your bridal stylist isn't awkward - it's helpful!
A good stylist will use your budget to guide your appointment and show you gowns that are appropriate for what you want to spend.
And most importantly, don't try on a dress that is well outside your budget just because you want to see what it looks like.
Finding a beautiful gown within your budget makes saying "yes" much more enjoyable.
5. Comparing Yourself to Other Brides
Every bride is different.
Different bodies. Different styles. Different budgets. Different venues. Different visions.
It's incredibly easy to scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and start wondering why a particular dress looks different on you than it does on someone else.
But your wedding dress isn't supposed to look like anyone else's.
A gown may look completely different depending on the person wearing it, the styling, the alterations and even the photography.
Instead of asking, "Does this look like the dress I saw online?", ask yourself:
"How do I feel in it?"
That's the opinion that matters most.
6. Not Trusting Your Bridal Stylist
You've probably spent hours scrolling Pinterest before your appointment. You may even have a folder full of screenshots of dresses you love.
That's a great place to start, but don't be afraid to let your stylist take the lead.
Experienced bridal stylists see hundreds of brides and thousands of gowns. They can often identify details, silhouettes and fabrics that you may have never considered.
If your stylist suggests a dress that isn't what you pictured, give it a try.
You don't have to say yes to it.
But you might discover something you never knew you were looking for.
7. Choosing a Dress Solely Because It's Trendy
Wedding dress trends are a wonderful source of inspiration, but they shouldn't be the only reason you choose a gown.
Trends come and go. Your wedding photographs will be with you for decades.
If you love a current trend, absolutely embrace it. But make sure you also love the gown itself.
Think about:
Does it feel like me?
Do I feel confident wearing it?
Does it suit my wedding?
Can I imagine looking back at it in 10, 20 or 30 years?
The most beautiful wedding dresses aren't necessarily the trendiest; they're the ones that make the bride feel completely herself.
8. Forgetting About Alterations
Finding your wedding dress isn't quite the end of the journey.
Most brides will need some level of alterations to ensure their gown fits beautifully.
Alterations can include:
Adjusting the length
Taking in or letting out the bodice
Adjusting straps or sleeves
Adding a bustle
Making minor fit adjustments
It's important to factor alterations into both your budget and timeline.
We recommend allowing approximately 8 weeks for alterations, although the exact timeframe will depend on the gown and the work required.
Remember to take your wedding shoes and any undergarments or accessories you'll be wearing on the day to your fittings wherever possible.
Bonus: Don't Expect Your Appointment to Look Like a Movie
We've all seen the bridal shopping scene in a movie.
The bride tries on a dress, steps out of the fitting room and everyone immediately bursts into tears.
Real life isn't always like that... and that's completely okay.
Some brides know immediately when they've found their dress. Others need to try a few different gowns before something clicks.
There isn't a single "right" way to find your wedding dress.
You don't have to cry.
Your mum doesn't have to cry.
Your friends don't have to cry.
You don't even have to have a dramatic moment.
Sometimes it's simply the dress you can't stop thinking about. Sometimes it's the one you don't want to take off. And sometimes it's the one that makes you stand a little taller when you look in the mirror.
Trust your own experience.
The Biggest Mistake? Forgetting to Enjoy It
Wedding dress shopping can sometimes feel like another item on a very long wedding planning checklist.
But this is one part of the process that should be enjoyed.
Give yourself time. Bring people who make you feel good. Be open to trying something unexpected. Ask questions. Laugh. Take photos. And most importantly, remember that there is no perfect formula for finding your wedding dress.
The right gown is the one that makes you feel like the best version of yourself.
Ready to Find Your Wedding Dress?
At Brides of Brisbane, we believe your bridal appointment should feel relaxed, personal and exciting. Not overwhelming!
Our experienced bridal stylists will guide you through the process, taking the time to understand your wedding, your personal style and what you're looking for in your dream gown.
Whether you arrive knowing exactly what you want or you have absolutely no idea where to start, we're here to help you discover the dress that feels right for you.
Ready to start your bridal journey? Book your appointment with Brides of Brisbane and let us help you find the one.
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