11 Wedding Dress Shopping Tips

1. Begin shopping early. A special order could take three to six months. Custom dresses can take up to six months. And allow time for a final fitting before the big day.
2. Get it all in writing – the cost and everything the store and seamstress will provide, including all alterations.
3. Ask the store to keep the wedding dress for you until you need it. That way the gown won’t get wrinkled, and your honey won’t see it ahead of time.
4. Don’t buy a dress that’s more than one size too big. It’s too difficult to effectively alter anything bigger than that.
5. Silk is the most popular type of wedding dress fabric. But read the clothing label carefully. Yes, soie means “silk” in French, but peau de soie is actually a synthetic, and its quality varies considerably.
6. To save money, consider buying used. (They’ve been worn only once!) Buying a designer pattern and fabric and going to a seamstress can also save you about 50 per cent of the price of the designer-made gown.
7. Don’t shy away from trying on many different styles. We can’t tell you how many women we know who chose styles they weren’t initially considering.
8. If you’re full figured, try ball-gown styles.
9. A-line dresses are great for hiding heavy thighs and legs. We also like strapless dresses on pear-shaped women. This style draws the eye upward.
10. Sheaths are best for the slim. If you’re very petite, avoid anything that has too much material. You could get lost in all that fabric!
11. To enhance the bust, look for an empire-waisted or A-line dress. Also, if the style permits, you can get the seamstress to sew in breast pads.