You’ve booked your bridal appointment and it’s finally time for your “yes” moment. So how does one go about choosing the most important dress of their life? The answer may be more simple than you think. Here’s our advice on saying YES to the dress and making the most of your shopping experience!
Trust Your Consultant
Don’t get us wrong, we love it when our brides come in with ideas of what they want in their dress. Pinterest is our friend. It helps us select gowns that we think you will love, but try to keep an open mind. Your consultant may see common elements in your favorite gowns that you don’t notice. Some brides come in set on a fitted style, but fall in love with the princess ballgown on the mannequin. It happens! A girl is entitled to change her mind.
Don’t Overthink It
Selecting a wedding dress is an emotional decision, so pay close attention to how each dress makes you feel. You may not be able to put into words what makes a dress “the one,” but there are definitely some things to look out for. Do you find yourself comparing all other dresses to one in particular? Is there one that you don’t want to take off or makes your smile (or cry) bigger than the rest? These are pretty good indicators that you’ve found your dress.
Beware of Over-shopping
While the idea of a full shopping day sounds like fun, when it comes to the number of appointments, less is more. Considering that you’re trying on dresses for an average of 1.5 hours at each store, multiple appointments in one day can be tiring for even the most energetic wedding parties. We recommend limiting appointments to a couple of your favorite salons. This way you won’t feel rushed and are less likely to feel overwhelmed by the number of dresses you are trying on. Pro Tip: Don’t forget to make time for lunch or pack refreshments to prevent anyone from getting hangry.
Limit Guests
If you’re bringing guests, we recommend limiting your guest list to your nearest and dearest for the most intimate and relaxing experience. Keep in mind that the more people the more personalities and opinions, so only invite those whose opinion you truly care about. Each Ava Clara bride works one-on-one with a bridal stylist in one of our spacious, private fitting rooms. We pull all of the gowns for you so that you and your guests can just focus on you.
Relax & Enjoy the Experience
Some brides can’t get enough of the dress shopping experience; others become overwhelmed at the thought of trying on wedding dresses. No matter your school of thought, we believe that wedding dress shopping should be fun and vibrant. We encourage our brides to slow down and enjoy the moment. Visualize how you will feel walking down the aisle in each dress. Are you ready to say YES? We can’t wait to help you find your one!