George Boyle
When trying on wedding dresses, it's important to bring a variety of items that will help you make the most of your appointment. Firstly, consider your underwear; opt for neutral-coloured, full-coverage undergarments that you're comfortable with your stylist seeing. If you usually wear shapewear like Spanx, bring a pair, but avoid anything bulky or embellished. You may also want to bring a strapless bra or nipple covers, especially if you're trying on dresses with plunging necklines. Additionally, bring a pair of shoes, preferably heels if you plan to wear them on your wedding day, to help you visualise the overall look. Some brides also find it helpful to bring hair ties or clips to sweep their hair up, particularly when trying on gowns with intricate backs. Finally, consider bringing a few trusted friends or family members whose opinions you value, as well as some inspiration pictures to guide your stylist.
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What You'll Learn
- Bridal appointment checklist: Undergarments, hair clips, socks, and a comfortable outfit
- Shoes: Bring heels of a similar height to your wedding shoes
- Makeup: Wear as much or as little as you like, but consider the store lighting
- Research: Browse wedding dress trends and establish a budget before your appointment
- Company: Bring supportive friends and family, but avoid large groups
Bridal appointment checklist: Undergarments, hair clips, socks, and a comfortable outfit
When preparing for a bridal appointment, there are a few key items that you should consider bringing along to make the most of your appointment. While the only required item during your bridal appointment is underwear due to sanitation purposes and state law, there are several other items that can be helpful to bring along. Here is a bridal appointment checklist focused on undergarments, hair clips, socks, and a comfortable outfit:
Undergarments
It is important to bring neutral-coloured underwear, such as nude or ivory shades, to your bridal appointment. This is a requirement for sanitary reasons and is enforced by bridal shops. Seamless and neutral-coloured underwear is ideal as it will not create any distractions or bulkiness when trying on the gowns. While most gowns have built-in support, you may also want to bring nipple covers or a comfortable bra, especially if you plan to wear one on your wedding day. Adhesive bras or strapless bras can be a good option if you prefer to have the extra support.
Hair Clips
Bringing hair clips or ties to your appointment is optional but can be helpful. Sweeping your hair up can help you visualise the gown's neckline and keep you cool. It can also be beneficial to emulate your planned wedding hairstyle during your appointment to create a complete vision.
Socks
Wearing a pair of cute, neutral-coloured socks can keep you comfortable while trying on gowns. Most bridal appointments involve trying on multiple dresses, and going barefoot or wearing socks can make this process easier than wearing shoes.
Comfortable Outfit
It is important to wear a comfortable outfit to your bridal appointment. You may be standing, sitting, or bending multiple times during the appointment, so you'll want to be dressed appropriately. Choose an outfit that makes you feel good and is suitable for the occasion. Something cute and photo-ready is ideal, as many pictures are often taken during this exciting time!
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Shoes: Bring heels of a similar height to your wedding shoes
When trying on wedding dresses, it is recommended that you bring heels of a similar height to your wedding shoes. This is so you can get a sense of how the gown will fit on your wedding day. While you don't need to bring the exact pair of wedding shoes, bringing a pair of heels with a similar heel height will help you see how the dress will look when you're a few inches taller. This is especially important if you're planning on wearing super high heels, as you'll want to make sure you're comfortable and that the dress is the right length.
However, it's worth noting that some bridal shops may not allow you to wear shoes during your appointment to prevent damage to the sample gowns. In this case, you can bring your heels and put them on briefly to get a sense of the full look, or simply wear socks to your appointment.
While trying on wedding dresses, comfort is key. If you're not used to wearing heels, you may want to opt for a lower heel or a pair of bridal flats. Ultimately, the decision of what shoes to wear on your wedding day is a personal one, and you should choose what makes you feel beautiful and happy.
Additionally, while trying on wedding dresses, you may want to consider your hairstyle and makeup. Emulating the hairstyle you plan to wear on your wedding day can help you create a complete vision. Similarly, scheduling a hair or makeup trial on the same day as your dress appointment can enhance the dress shopping experience.
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Makeup: Wear as much or as little as you like, but consider the store lighting
When trying on wedding dresses, you can wear as much or as little makeup as you like. However, consider the store lighting, which can be harsh and wash you out in photos. To combat this, consider wearing makeup that enhances your complexion and makes you feel good. You could even opt for a full hair and makeup trial before your dress appointment to get the full bridal effect.
If you're happy with your makeup artist, you might want to book your bridal trial 2-3 months before your wedding. By this time, you'll have a clear vision of your bridal look, and your dress will be finalised. You could also schedule an earlier trial to ensure your chosen stylist is the right fit.
On the day of your dress appointment, consider emulating your wedding hairstyle, as this will help you create your entire bridal vision. If you plan to wear heels on your wedding day, bring a pair to your appointment so you can see how the gown will fit. If you don't already own a pair of wedding heels, any heeled shoes will do.
Undergarments are the only required item during your bridal appointment, due to state law and sanitation purposes. If you feel more comfortable, you can bring a strapless or adhesive bra, and nude-coloured shapewear.
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Research: Browse wedding dress trends and establish a budget before your appointment
Wedding dress shopping is an exciting part of wedding planning. To make the most of your appointment, it's a good idea to do some research and establish a budget beforehand. This will help you go into your appointment as a pro and make the process a breeze.
Research Wedding Dress Trends
Before your appointment, browse wedding dress trends on platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok to get a sense of the styles you love and start seeing trends emerge. You can also browse bridal magazines to gather inspiration. Save or screenshot your favourite looks to show your stylist during the appointment. This will help you establish a baseline of likes and dislikes, such as preferred silhouettes, necklines, sleeve types, and fabrics. You can also use this research to identify designers and boutiques that align with your vision and budget.
Establish a Budget
It's important to have a budget in mind before your appointment to save effort and avoid disappointment. Your budget should include not only the gown but also any accessories, such as veils, sashes, jewellery, shoes, and undergarments. Don't forget to factor in the cost of alterations, which can vary depending on the service. Use online tools to explore dress pricing in your area. If you're flexible with your budget, let your stylist know the price range you're comfortable with, and ask them to inform you if they want to recommend something slightly outside that range.
Timing and Venue
The time and location of your wedding will influence your dress choice. For example, you may not want to wear a slinky sheath dress to a grand ballroom or a heavy dress to a beach wedding. It's ideal to start shopping for your dress 12-18 months before your wedding day, shortly after finalizing the date and venue. This will give you enough time to explore different styles and silhouettes before committing and ensure your dress is ready for alterations.
Additional Tips
- Eat something and hydrate before your appointment to keep your energy up, especially if you plan to attend multiple appointments in a day.
- Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to change in and out of.
- Bring a comfortable nude bra to wear with different dresses. If you plan to try on dresses with plunging necklines, consider nipple covers instead.
- Bring a pair of heeled shoes similar to the heel height you plan to wear on your wedding day.
- Bring a hair tie or clip to put your hair up while changing and to visualize how the dress looks with an updo.
- Wear makeup that enhances your complexion and makes you feel confident.
- Be open-minded and trust your consultant's recommendations.
- Be honest with your consultant about your budget, preferences, and how many gowns you've tried on.
- Remember, it's normal to take your time and multiple appointments to find your dream dress.
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Company: Bring supportive friends and family, but avoid large groups
Wedding dress shopping is an exciting part of the wedding planning process. It can also be an overwhelming experience, so it's important to bring supportive friends and family members who can offer helpful advice and opinions.
It's best to avoid bringing a large group, as too many conflicting opinions can make it difficult for the bride to make decisions. A bridal stylist recommends keeping the group to a small number of guests, usually between two and four people. This allows the bride to get a range of opinions without being overwhelmed.
The people you bring should be those who know you well and can offer honest feedback. They should be excited to be there and supportive of the bride's choices. It's also important to be mindful of the bride's preferences and not try to overshadow her. It's a good idea to check in with the bride and other family members beforehand to understand the details of the day and what the bride is looking for.
The number of guests the bride chooses to bring can vary depending on her preferences. Some brides may prefer to bring a larger group of their closest friends, while others may opt to bring just their mother or even shop alone. Ultimately, the most important thing is that the bride feels comfortable and confident with whoever she chooses to bring.
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Frequently asked questions
Wear something comfortable and easy to take off. You can wear nude-coloured underwear and a strapless bra if you plan on trying on dresses with plunging necklines. You can also skip the bra and opt for nipple covers instead.
Bring a variety of undergarments in neutral colours, nude heels, and hair ties. If you plan on wearing flats on your wedding day, bring those instead of heels.
It's recommended to bring people you trust and whose opinions you value. It's important to bring people who know your style well and will make the experience better.
Have photos of dresses you're interested in trying on ready for your consultant to see. This will help them understand your preferences and rule out gowns you won't like.
