You said yes to the proposal, you found a bridal boutique, and you’ve scheduled your first try-on appointment… Great! Now what? At Ava Clara, we want your first bridal appointment and every step of the process to be as easy and comfortable as possible. This is an exciting time for our brides-to-be, and it can be overwhelming not knowing what to expect when you have never tried on wedding gowns. There are so many things that our wedding dress shoppers may not think of before coming in to try on dresses, and that’s okay! Hopefully, this blog post will answer some of those preparation for the first bridal appointment questions.
First off, what should you bring to the appointment?
One, skin-color/nude underwear that are, preferably, seamless. A lot of brides don’t even think of this because it’s so random, but it does makes a difference when trying on dresses. The dresses at Ava Clara are not see-through, but some dresses have a fit or cut that may show underwear color or lines. Strapless bras are the preference if you want to wear a bra, but a lot of dresses have built-in and supportive bust cups or inserts. These aren’t mandatory items, but it’s helpful to know in preparation for the first bridal appointment.
It’s also good to bring the shoes, veil, etc. you plan to wear on your wedding day if you want the dress to match. A lot of brides don’t know what they plan to wear for shoes yet or if they want a veil, but the brides who do should definitely bring those in with them to better visualize what they’ll look like on their dream wedding day. Wedding veils or jewelry that are passed down in the family should not pick the wedding dress, but it’s something you want to think about when finding your perfect dress.
Additionally, it’s helpful to bring a good group of family and friends.
The majority of the time, a bride feels less overwhelmed when her supporting group is small. Less opinions are thrown at the bride, and the appointment is more intimate and warm. Of course, it’s great to bring a big group too but make sure all the people in the group are a good fit for your fitting!
As cheesy as it may sound, it also helps to bring an open mind to your first appointment. It’s great when brides come in knowing exactly what they want but don’t let that mindset confine your appointment. First appointments are great for trying on all the different styles and silhouettes. It’s surprising how many brides come into the bridal shop saying they don’t want anything strapless, big and poofy, or non-white and leave with a blush-colored, strapless ballgown. We’re open to fitting you in all sorts of styles, and it helps when you are too!
First appointments are often a lot of fun, and it’s great if you want to celebrate!
Celebratory drinks, fun shirts, and party favors are a great way to get the guests to bond and positively support the bride. It’s also important to remember that those same results can happen without any of that! As much as we love food, it’s best to save the snack platters or treats until after the appointment. We don’t want food or special drinks to spill on our sample dresses, and we don’t want our guests to worry about food spills or cleaning up. The bride needs a lot of positive support, and the focus is on her finding her dress. Good energy makes for great appointments.
Schedule an appointment to have the Ava Clara team show you how fun first appointments can be! We look forward to making your first appointment special and helping you find your dream dress!