I had a post planned featuring the new collection for 2017 by Ronald Joyce and Victoria Jane. So I went to Belle Mariée Bridal, in Athboy to see the full collection and try on some dresses. I wasn’t counting on falling in love with one of the dresses so much that it took up almost the entire appointment! It might be “the one.” I won’t share any images of it though, you know – just in case. I may not have a fiancé or even a boyfriend, but I have found the gown and that’s half the battle! I’ve put together my 6 top tips & advice when attending your bridal appointment to give you a head start in the quest to find your dress.
Before I go any further, I want to say such a huge thank you for all the messages of support and encouragement that I’ve received since my last post Burnt Out & Broken Down. It was totally unexpected, a little overwhelming and comforting to know I’m not alone in the mental health struggle of life. Huge love to you all! Right, bridal appointments…
Annalise Bridal
Treat it Like a Date
You’ll probably get on a lot better with your bridal appointment if you treat it more like a date: open minded, non-judgmental, go-with-the-flow, calm and relaxed. Go into your appointment with an open mind, if you’ve obsessed about a certain dress or style too much, you will be less open to other options that might look amazing on you! Don’t judge a dress by how it looks on the hanger. Be willing to try it on, that’s why you’re there, it’s what you came for. Don’t “settle” for something you don’t love – you didn’t do that with your fiancé, don’t do it with your dress. You might have kissed a few frogs before finding your prince, and you might put on a few dresses before you find the one. But most of all, enjoy it!
Stay Classy
Remember, less is more. To avoid looking like a bride from My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, don’t over-do it on the style front. Just because you can get wedding dresses with sequins, lace, embroidery, beading, pearls, tulle, hoops, underskirts, detailed necklines, statement backs etc., it doesn’t mean you should. Don’t choose a dress that exposes too much either. You don’t want your guests {or your photographer!} to feel uncomfortable, you want them to talk about your dress for all the right reasons. Lord knows you don’t want a nip-slip or side-boob action at the alter!
Naked Princess Flagship Boutique
Shop Smart
The two most important pieces of information an assistant wants to know when you arrive for your appointment is: When are you getting married? and What is your budget? Both are hugely important! If it’s less than 8 months until your wedding, you will be restricted to what dresses can be got in such a short time. You will most likely only be able to purchase sample dresses. You’ll have to be decisive, and quick. The best time to purchase your dress is 8-10 months before the wedding, this allows enough time to order in your dress and get any alterations done in time.
Stay on Budget
Decide on a budget, what you can realistically afford and stick to it. It’s only one day {you can read a popular post I wrote about that here}. Whatever you do, don’t try on a dress outside of your budget! Because {of course} you will fall in love and nothing else – in your price range – will compare. If budget is an issue, do your research and find out when sample sales and trunk shows are being held in boutiques in your area. This can save you a significant amount of money, sometimes up to 20% or even 50% of the full price!
Elle Bridal Boutique
You Do You
Be yourself and stay true to who you are as a person and the style that suits your personality. As tempting as it may be to turn a day of bridal appointments into a girly day out, don’t bring loads of people with you. Too many opinions can often be confusing and overwhelming! Be confident, trust your instinct, go with your gut. Don’t second guess or doubt yourself, what you really love, what you want or what you feel comfortable and happy with. Trust your assistant {aka bridal stylist}. Their experience and knowledge will be invaluable! After you’ve picked out your dresses, ask them what dress they would choose for you, your style and body shape. They want you {their customer} to look your best and feel comfortable and confident. So take their advice or recommendations on board – you might be pleasantly surprised!
Be Practical
I feel like these are the things no one tells you about when it comes to bridal appointments, and it’s only from personal experience that I’m sharing them with you. If you are at all body conscious or prudish, don’t wear a thong. You’re already going to be completely topless, you don’t want your backside hanging out too! Don’t wear lace undies either, they will show through the dresses with more delicate fabric. A pair of seamless pants are great as they don’t have a VPL. If you feel like you need some help with your body shape, you can wear a pair of waist cinching, tummy support shapewear pants , like these ones at M&S. Don’t eat a big meal before your appointment, or anything that will cause bloating. Make sure you bring a hair band or bobbin to tie your hair up quickly as some dresses will look better with your hair up rather than down and you’ll want to get an idea of the overall look for the big day.
So there you have it, my top tips and advice for visiting bridal boutiques in search of your dream dress. Many of these boutiques regularly run competitions on their social media accounts where you can win vouchers, discounts or free stuff like veils and shoes. Make sure you’ve done your research and “liked” or followed them on their social media platforms.
Gabriella x
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