Most likely, for the majority of your life, you’ve dreamt about your wedding day. What it will look like, where it will be, and most importantly, the kind of wedding dress you’ll be wearing. Since being that little kid full of wonder, there’s a chance your style preferences have changed, especially when it comes to wedding dresses. Wedding dress shopping is typically known as a stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be for you. It can be simple, fun, and easy! We are here to tell you exactly how to approach wedding dress shopping for a stress-free and fun experience that will be well worth the wait.

How to Make Wedding Dress Shopping Easy and Stress-Free

Photo by Lynn Shapiro Photography – full shoot here 

Where To Begin

Congratulations, you’re engaged! Take a moment and soak it all in before jumping in too deep and too fast. However, you also don’t want to take too long. The year 2022 is expected to be one of the busiest years for weddings due to covid cancelations and new engagements. So take some time to gather yourself, but not too much. Once you’ve let the engagement excitement settle in, you’re ready to begin thinking about your wedding dress and planning. Let’s look at some tips and steps on where to start officially.

Photo by Gabriel Conover Photography – full wedding here

Decide on Your Wedding Style

One of the first steps you need to take is deciding your overall wedding theme. Are you going for traditional, boho, beachy, etc.? The style is crucial because you don’t want to jump into wedding dress shopping and choose the wrong kind. For example, you go wedding dress shopping first and fall in love with a ball gown dress but end up having it at a beach where it will be 90 degrees that day. Now, you’re stuck with a dress you may not be able to return, out of money, and stressed about finding a new one. So always decide what your overall wedding theme will be and go from there.

Photo by Moon Weddings – full shoot here

Save Photos and Decide on Favorite Styles

The next step is getting comfortable knowing the different kinds of wedding dress styles and what you envision yourself wearing. There are more styles than you may realize. If you find that process overwhelming, it is easy to figure it out by looking at photos. You can gather inspiration from dress websites, wedding blogs, or Pinterest. Some necessary details to keep in mind when researching are your body shape and how a particular silhouette will appear, the neckline you like, color, etc. When you show the consultant photos you saved at your appointment, they’ll be like your fairy godmother at getting you exactly what you want.

photo by VLADIMIR SIMONOV – full post here

Set a Budget

And of course, one of the essential steps in the beginning stages of wedding dress shopping is putting a price limit on your dress. A budget already set in stone before you go will allow you not to get your dreams crushed if a consultant gives you a dress out of your price range. You must know what you are willing to spend. Also, keep in mind other costs that go into the dress, such as alterations, accessories, shoes, and other items.

Photo by  Megan Donati Photography – full shoot here

Time to Book an Appointment!

Now that your beginning stages are taken care of, you’re ready to move onto the next step; booking an appointment with a bridal shop. But, before you pick up that phone to get an appointment, you need to do your research! Use wedding websites like The Knot, Wedding Wire, Google, This Blog and even Facebook Groups to find reviews, helpful information, and price ranges of dresses. This will give you a great idea of what you can expect at your boutique and if it’s the right fit for you.

Photo by Babb Photos – full wedding here 

Before the Appointment

At this point, you should have a lot figured out style-wise, budget, and an appointment set up. We want to share a few pointers before you go in that you should be aware of.

• Set realistic expectations – when we say this, we mean for the boutique and yourself. Don’t let one dress you hate ruin every other dress you try on.
• Bring proper undergarments – we recommend comfy and nude-colored undergarments, sturdy heels or flats depending on what shoes you will wear on your wedding day, and no extra accessories. The boutique will put headpieces and veils in for you for the overall look.
• Choose who you’re bringing – do you have a very opinionated future mother-in-law or group of friends? If so, think about leaving them behind. Remember, the day is about YOU and you only. We recommend inviting the people closest to you and whose opinions you value. This could be your maid of honor, bridesmaids, siblings, and mother. Too many people can cause too many opinions and make the process more overwhelming for the bride.

Photo by  Pixie Abbott Photography – full shoot here

You’re Ready for a Stress-Free Dress Shopping Experience!

After all the steps above, it’s now time to choose your dream dress! And doing it with the tips and advice we shared above, and we guarantee you will have a stress-free wedding dress shopping day. Just know, stress is all a mind game. All you have to do is remember that your family and friends will be in awe no matter what. You look beautiful, and your fiancé will love you and the dress. Good luck and happy shopping!

photo by Sarah Vivienne Photography – full shoot here

Author Bio: Jonah Levine is the Creative Director of NewYorkDress.com. NewYorkDress.com, established in 2008, is the #1 online source for Evening and Prom dresses worldwide. As Creative Director, Jonah works to create the ultimate online and in store luxury shopping experience with a focus on service and personalization.

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