Wedding Dress Shopping: How to Find a Fabulous Wedding Dress

By Leslie Granston

There's no doubt about it—things get personal when shopping for a wedding dress. Unlike any other frock you'll purchase, your wedding dress is part and parcel of a major commitment, and you'll want to remember it fondly for the rest of your life. As you enter the wonderful world of wedding dress shopping, don't worry if you're clueless about crinolines or corsets. Our 10 insider tips will help make your wedding dress search a celebration in itself.

1. Do your homework

Before hitting the wedding dress stores, be an educated consumer. Studying wedding dresses in bridal magazines is the best way to get started. Many designers and salons also have web sites where you can view wedding dresses (as does Brides.com with its Dressfinder) and check out fashion-show schedules.

The point of this research is not to induce hyperventilation, but to help you get a general idea of what wedding dress you want. Make notes about silhouettes, fabrics, and prices, then bring them, as well as magazines with pages you've flagged, to your salon appointments.

One caveat: Try not to get too attached to a wedding dress that looks great on paper. There's always the chance that it won't wow you in person. If that's the case, your consultant can direct you to similar, but more flattering, wedding dresses. Just make sure you try on the major wedding dress silhouettes: A-line, ball gown, basque waist, and Empire waist.

2. Start searching early

Any consultant worth her salt will ask you for the date, time, and location of your wedding. These logistics will dictate the type of wedding dress that's most appropriate. Experts agree that you should start looking for your wedding dress at least nine months before the big day. "Everything from the flowers to the headpiece revolves around the bride's wedding dress," says Lori Allen, owner of Bridals by Lori, in Atlanta. It will take at least three months for your wedding dress to arrive from the manufacturer and from one to three fittings to get it right.

3. Enter at your own risk

Just as you wouldn't show up at your doctor's office unannounced, don't go to your bridal salon without an appointment. "This allows us to spend more time with you and help you efficiently," points out Dorcas Prince, owner of Low's Bridal and Formal, in Brinkley, Arkansas. Some salons do take walk-ins, but you could be sitting around for hours before seeing a consultant, whose job is to listen to your ideas, then offer a few of her own. She will also educate you on wedding dress silhouettes, fabrics, and fit.

If possible, avoid scheduling a Saturday visit, when stores are busiest. Any other day will mean additional time and assistance in a relaxed setting.

4. Be real about money

Honesty is the best policy when it's time to talk money. "If you're on a strict budget, tell your consultant up front," advises Allen. "Then we can help you find a great wedding dress in that price range." You're only setting yourself up for heartache if you try on wedding dresses that you can't afford. "Everything after that will be like comparing a Rolls-Royce to a Kia," says Allen. "It will drive you crazy."

Sometimes it's okay to spend a little more than you planned if you're willing to cut costs in another area. "Spending two or three hundred dollars more for your wedding dress may not make that much of a difference to your overall budget," says Elsa Carlesimo, designer for Paloma Blanca, in Toronto, Canada. "Ideally, you're only going to do this once. So you probably won't regret spending a little extra."

5. Look the part

Even the prettiest wedding dress loses some of its appeal if the wearer has dirty hair. Shopping for a wedding dress can be an event in itself, so why not primp a little? Put on some makeup and style your hair, and you'll get a sneak preview of how you'll look on the day.

Unless you intend to wed barefoot, bring a pair of shoes with a heel that's similar to what you plan to wear for your ceremony (some salons have samples you can use).

6. Go under cover

It's almost a certainty that in between try-ons you'll be standing around in your underwear. To avoid embarrassing yourself—or your salesperson—make sure you're wearing lingerie that looks good. Avoid anything with holes, bleach stains, or loose elastic.

If nothing in your dresser drawer fits the bill, purchase a simple strapless bra for your appointments. "It's your best bet since many wedding dress silhouettes require that you wear either a strapless or backless foundation," maintains Carlesimo. If you forget to bring one along, most salons will provide you with a suitable style as well as a slip or crinoline.

Once you've chosen a wedding dress, make sure to bring the bra that you are going to wear on your wedding day (or one that's a similar style) to each fitting. "The type of foundation you wear affects how your wedding dress is altered," explains Prince. "You want consistency."

7. Don't be a crowd pleaser

Here's a sanity saver: Bring along only the people at the very top of your A-list. That means Mom (or another close relative) and a supportive friend with great taste. Most salon consultants agree that two people is plenty. Three or more is definitely a crowd, especially when they start offering conflicting opinions. That's the kind of drama you don't need while trying to make a decision.

With entourage in tow, be sure to visit at least three salons. Is it possible to fall in love with the first wedding dress you try on? Sure. But that doesn't mean you can't confirm it's "the one" by looking in more than one place.

8. Know what to look for

Note the way wedding dresses curve over the bust and waist, and whether the neckline and hem lie correctly. "You can get an idea of how it will fit even if you try a sample that's not your size," says Allen. (Don't freak out if you find your size-10 body needs a size-14 wedding dress. "Most wedding dresses run small because they follow the smaller sizing that was set up in the 1940s," explains Prince.)

If you start adding sleeves to a strapless wedding dress or narrowing a ball gown's skirt, then you haven't found what you're looking for. "It pays to think twice before you commit to a wedding dress whose design you want to change dramatically," says Laura Kaye, of Bridals by Roma, in Clifton, New Jersey. Even simple alterations like turning an on-the-shoulder neckline into an off-the-shoulder one can start at well over a hundred dollars. Add that to the cost of the basic alterations that most brides need (adjusting side seams, shoulders, length, and bustle loops), and you could end up spending an extra $350.

9. Read the small print

Once you're ready to buy your wedding dress, make sure you know the specific terms of sale. They're usually spelled out on your receipt and include the amount of your nonrefundable deposit (50 percent of the full price), when the balance is due (usually when the wedding dress arrives—don't pay before inspecting your merchandise), and the salon's policies regarding alterations, exchanges, and special orders.

Each store operates differently, but most consider the receipt a binding contract. "When you sign, that's it," says Prince. So read all paperwork thoroughly.

10. Know when to call it a day

If every wedding dress is starting to look the same, you're suffering from bridal burnout. The way to avoid it is by shopping in moderation—no more than two stores a day.

How will you know when you've hit the jackpot? Experts agree: You'll shed at least one tear of joy—or break into your biggest grin since he popped the question.

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