Wedding Dress Countdown
So, when should you start shopping for your wedding dress?
You should start your dress search 8-12 months before your big day. Don’t shop too far in advance or you risk your body shape and opinion on the latest trends in bridal fashion changing by the time your wedding day comes around.
By six months before your wedding, you should have chosen and ordered your dress, giving you plenty of time to attend fittings. Remember that a couture gown or even an altered off-the-rack gown will take at least 6-12 months to be made to fit you properly.
Once you’ve ordered your dress, you can start to shop for shoes and accessories. Take a swatch of fabric from your dress to make choosing the perfect accessories easier. If possible, take a Polaroid or digital camera with you to take photos of yourself with your accessories and gown on, so you can envisage what you will look like on the day.
When shopping for bridal accessories, you’ll need to consider:
- Bra/panties
- Hosiery
- Headpiece
- Veil
- Petticoat/slip
- Gloves (if required)
- Jewellery
- Wrap or shawl (if required)
- Handbag
- Garter
2-3 months before your wedding you should attend your first fitting. Don’t forget to bring your shoes, lingerie and accessories with you. Finally, pick up your wedding dress 1-2 weeks before your wedding day. Try it on one last time before you leave the bridal salon to ensure that it is perfect.
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