Photo taken at Brahman Hills Bridal Suite

OUR FIVE THINGS TO CONSIDER

Getting married is such a special time in a bride’s life and your wedding dress journey should be one of your favourite memories.

It is important to remember that this is your journey, so relax and have fun. Leave any pre-conceived ideas (and negative self-talk) at the door and experience this in your own unique way.

Here are 5 wedding dress shopping tips to consider at the beginning of your journey:

1. PROCESS

Decide beforehand how much your wedding dress journey means to you and determine how much time you would like to invest in the process. This will not only help you determine where to start looking, but it will also influence your wedding dress budget.

• Would you like to purchase a ready-made dress (online, pre-loved or off-the-rail)?
• Would you like to try on samples of different styles and purchase a dress based off that (made-to-order)?
• Would you like to purchase a wedding dress from a designer or brand that allows you to personalize your wedding dress and have it made to your own measurements (called made-to-measure / demi-couture)?
• Or would you like to embark on the journey of a bespoke (custom) wedding dress designed for you by a seasoned bridal designer?

Purchasing a ready-made, pre-loved or off-the-rail wedding gown will entail the least amount of fittings, however there may very likely be alterations that would need to be made, which means you would have to find a trust-worth, experienced seamstress for this.

A made-to-measure option would entail some fittings with the sample design offering the base from which your dress is designed and made (expect some alterations) whereas a bespoke wedding gown develop over numerous fittings and you see your dress unfold from sketch to reality.

2. STYLE

If you are like most brides, you will have at least one favourite picture of a wedding dress you love (or an entire Pinterest board and secret folder). These serve as important guidelines when visiting your designer or bridal boutique, so be sure to communicate these at your bridal appointment. Also enquire beforehand if the styles you would like to try on is in store and available for your appointment.

Approach wedding dress shopping with an open mind, as you may fall in love with a dress completely different from what you initially thought you might like.

Once you are at the boutique or designer’s showroom, pay attention to what you’re immediately drawn to and be sure try it on:

• Smooth or textured fabrics
• Soft or structured fabrics and designs
• Lace or no lace
• Sparkle or no sparkle
• Beaded or un-beaded
• 3D flower detail or flat embroidered detail

Something very important to know is that bridal sizes are not the same as general clothing sizes, so do not pay attention to size tags but rather pay attention to the design and how the dress makes you feel.

It is also worth noting that you will be trying on samples, made in standard bridal sizes, so do not expect a perfect fit and don’t be thrown off course by minor fit concerns. These are often easily rectified by alterations and having the dress ordered / made in the correct size.

Remain true to yourself and avoid being swayed by opinions and comparison.

3. BUDGET

There are many factors that can influence the price of a wedding dress, such as time, the quality and amount of fabric, lace and detail used in a design. The more time, fabric, lace and detail, the higher the cost.

If you would like to know what wedding dresses currently retail for, inquire from a bridal boutique or designer for the average cost to assist you with setting a realistic budget.

Know your budget up-front and if it isn’t flexible, don’t try on dresses outside of your budget. It is also advisable to communicate your budget when setting up your bridal appointment.

4. GUESTS

Keep your accompanying guests to a minimum and make sure you choose someone who will be kind and supportive to you as you try on wedding dresses.

If you experienced overwhelm or anxiety at any point during your bridal appointment, for any reason whatsoever, consider scheduling a follow-up appointment to re-visit your favourite designs. Sometimes even re-visiting your favourites by yourself can prove helpful and provide more clarity on your desired dress choice.

5. WHAT TO TAKE ALONG TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

Here are a few things that might be helpful to take along:

• If you already have your wedding shoes be sure to take them along. Alternatively, take your favourite pair of heels, or some in a similar height to what you are planning to wear.
• Seamless underwear in a neutral shade.
• Any special underwear similar to what you are planning on wearing on your wedding day for example shapewear, a strapless / special bra etc. Some wedding dress designs might not work with these and vice versa.
• A butterfly hair clip or hair elastic band to tie your hair up. It helps envisioning the overall look if you are planning on wearing your hair up.

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST

Wedding dresses take time to create, so avoid leaving your wedding dress shopping too late. An ideal timeline is 8 – 12 months before your wedding date. There are generally additional fees that apply to dresses ordered under 3 – 4 months (which is called rush fees) and sometimes styles that may be ordered rush are limited.

Be punctual for appointments and remember that every bride is different and celebrates her ‘’one’’ in her own unique way.

Find out more about our designer run KZN Showroom / Studio to experience our beautiful wedding dresses in real life or schedule an online appointment. Also let us know if these wedding dress shopping tips were valuable to you.

Photos: Alexis Diack Photography 

Makeup: Pro Make-up Durban 

Hair: Glow Hair and Make-up

Accessories: HelloHaai 

Venue: Brahman Hills