(Continued from Part 2)
-Look for deals
whenever you can. For instance, I got my dress for a drastically
reduced price because the shop was about to go out of business. Major
designers will often have specials or shows, so research when these
are. Also, you might be able to get a discount from a retailer if you
take advantage of sales or store policies such as having alterations
done on-site or getting your bridesmaid dresses from the same shop.
If you live in a smaller town, you or your family might know someone
who can get you a discount on either your dress or some other aspect
of the wedding. If you're only going for a basic veil, you can often
find them in “regular” stores as opposed to bridal boutiques.
Every little bit of savings helps.
Also, don't stop at
your dress. Since the dress I wore in my sister's wedding was very
“prom-like”, it really helped to shop when prom dresses went on
sale. Some people might look down on second-hand stores, but don't
immediately rule out a bridal consignment shop because you may be
able to find a great dress (for yourself or a maid) at a good price.
As expensive as some bridesmaid dresses are and as tough times have
been on some of our pocketbooks, the effort will be appreciated.
-Give yourself plenty
of time to pick out a dress, but don't start too early. A good idea
is to wait until the venue and reception are arranged because you
will be better able to “tailor” your dress accordingly. However,
you don't want to wait too much longer than that because you might
find yourself in a pinch for time.
Also, remember that specially-ordered dresses can take several
months to come in. Even if you buy one off the rack, alterations can
take a while to complete. The same goes for bridesmaid dresses,
especially if you have a large party or some of them live far away.
-Don't bring a whole
gaggle of friends with you to pick out your dress. As much fun as it
might be to hear a bunch of people oohing and ahhing over your dress,
you don't want too many opinions at once. Bring one or two people you
can trust to tell you the truth about how you look.
-Don't let yourself be
pressured into buying or wearing a dress you don't love. If
someone else is footing the bill they definitely have a say, but you
should make what you
want
known.
Hopefully
these tips will make picking out a wedding dress to be as fun and
stress-free as possible. Good luck and, again, congratulations!
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