Part 1: Before you buy – We will go over tips for setting your budget, researching what looks best on your body type, looking through styles and listing your “dress wants”, and what to expect when dipping your toe in the water.

Part 2: Trying on dresses – We will review who should join you, where to go try them on, how to handle it, and tips to ensure the dress works for you. We will also cover how to accessorize, and other fun stuff!

Part 3: You said Yes to the Dress, Now What? – We will review the final fitting, packing and transporting, and how to keep your weight steady to make sure it fits on the big day! Also, we’ll cover what to do with your dress after the wedding.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.

Photo by Christina Dianne Photography

Part 1: Before you Buy

Buying a wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning. Your dress is a true expression of yourself on one of the most memorable days of your life. However, in the search for perfection, it can become overwhelming and stressful. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way!  With a little prep work BEFORE you set foot inside of a bridal shop, you can minimize the stress and really enjoy your wedding dress shopping experience.

Tip #1: Set a budget 

This is a crucial first step! Setting a budget is important in staying true to what you can afford, and is a priority for reducing wedding stress. Even if your budget is less than you imagined, don’t worry – you can still find a beautiful dress within your means that is you down to the core! This budget needs to include your shoes (2 pairs), vail/hair piece, belt, jewelry, undergarments/Spanx AND Alterations – All of it! The best way to tackle this is to set a number, then work backwards. If you have $3000 budgeted, then you probably realistically have $2500 for the actual dress and $500 for the accessories and alterations. If you buy from a website like Nearly Newlywed or eBay, remember that alterations will be a separate cost. Make sure you have the dress budget separate from your accessories and alterations budget so you don’t accidentally spend it all on the dress and have nothing left over for the rest. Put a real number in your head (and stick to it!) before doing any shopping.

Tip #2: Research Dresses

3 things to consider for Dress Styles:

1. What’s your body type? – Even though you love that sweetheart bust with the empire waist wedding dress that you saved on your Pinterest board, it doesn’t mean it will complement your body. Check out these tips about what to wear for your body type, such as if a v-neckline works best or if you should add a belt to accentuate your waist.
2. What’s your Style? – Are you more Sexy Glam or Vintage Boho? Check out this helpful blog to figure it out.
3. Where/When are you getting married? – Is it a tropical island or snow capped mountains? Your dress should match both the location and the weather. For Isla Mujeres brides, I would recommend chiffon, silk tulle, organza, illusion, jersey, crepe and lace – all are wrinkle resistant and/or easy to steam out, if needed.

Photo by Kape Photography

Tip #3: Think about your “Bridal Body”

Although you’re beautiful just the way you are, you may feel an itch to lose a few pounds before your wedding. If this is the case, I would highly recommend to lose what you can BEFORE going to your first fitting. This means getting into your “Bridal Body” 4 months or more before your wedding. Your alterations will be based on your body on that day, not where you want to be in 2 months. Don’t plan to lose a bunch of weight just before your wedding – it adds way too much pressure, and you run the risk of your dress not fitting. On the flip side, stress eating and neglecting your health can cause weight gain, and thus, the same issue.

Tip #4: Plan to Shop Early

Plan on buying your dress at least 6 months before your wedding, based on a few reasons:

1. You might not find the right dress the first week of shopping and get discouraged – that’s ok! Take a break and then get back to it.
2. The shop or site might need to special order your dress once you find it, which could take months to ship, and it still might need alterations.
3. Alterations can take up to 4 months (No, I’m not kidding!).
4. You want your dress to be in your closet a month before your wedding. This will alleviate major last minute stress. I can’t tell you how many of my clients were crying because they still hadn’t received their dress back from ordering or alterations a week before departing for their wedding. Who needs that added anxiety?!

Photo by Button Up Photography

Tip #5: Pre-shop Online

Look around on Ebay, Nearly Newlywed, David’s Bridal, BHLDN, Still White, etc to get an idea of prices, designs you like, costs of accessories, and fabrics available. Start saving dresses you like on your Pinterest board or screen shot them into an album on your phone. Pinterest is great for comparisons because it allows you to see them side by side. But don’t go too crazy – you’ll end up with “analysis paralysis” from staring at 100 dresses and are no better off than when you started, or only fall in love with one style and put blinders on yourself before you try them on.

Tip #6: Decide on your “Dress Tribe”

You should allow no more than 2 people to be on your dress tribe. While the support is great, too many opinions can cloud your judgement of what you may really want. Take your friends (or one friend) that you usually shop with who makes you try on things you wouldn’t normally try, but you end up loving those outfits anyway. This person will be there to test your limits on styles, be honest with love and support – but most importantly – help you have a great time.

Tip #7: Research your local bridal shops

Photo by Button Up Photography

Shopping local has a lot of benefits, but especially so when it comes to such a big purchase. You don’t want to wander too far away because if you find a dress you love, you still have to go there for all of your fittings. Look at reviews from a variety of sources (not just their own site!) and get recommendations to make sure you are going to reputable shops that are professional, reliable, and easy to work with.

Tip #8: Book an appointment

Book an appointment to guarantee someone will be there to work with you one-on-one. Also, try to go mid-week so there is less noise and commotion. Double check that the day/time works for your “Dress Tribe”, as well. You can make as many appointments as you want, but just don’t over pack the schedule – leave time for travel and snacks between appointments.

If you are planning a beach wedding,

Photo by Christina Dianne Photography

check out our Wedding Dress Pinterest Board from actual brides that got married with us at SunHorse Weddings, Isla Mujeres Mexico.

Now that you know what you are looking for, have a budget in mind, and have your best shopping friend to help (with an appointment booked, of course) ~~~ Next Post: Let’s go Dress Shopping!!!

The post How to Buy A Wedding Dress: Part 1 – Pre-shopping appeared first on Sunhorse Weddings.

You said “Yes to the Dress”. Now What?

If you haven’t already read Part 1 and Part 2, please do so.

Part 1: Before you buy – We will go over tips for setting your budget, researching what looks best on your body type, looking through styles and listing your “dress wants”, and what to expect when dipping your toe in the water.

Part 2: Trying on dresses – We will review who should join you, where to go try them on, how to handle it, and tips to ensure the dress works for you. We will also cover how to accessorize, and other fun stuff!

This post contains some affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.

Tip #1: Consider buying a second dress

Photo by Christina Dianne Photography

Before you fall over, know that this is not another wedding dress! We are talking about a cute, $99 party dress that you can change into after your First Dances…and we have a few reasons why. First off, if you’re getting married in the summertime or the tropics, your dress is a little heavy or you plan on dancing for three hours straight (read: just too hot!), you will want to consider something lighter. Also, if you love your dress but it’s restricting or difficult to dance in, something knee length or with less layers would be more comfortable. Bringing a fun party dress that you can let loose in will give you the option “just in case”. Lastly, you will want to change into something else for the after-party without having to go back to the hotel to change. This way you can go with the rest of your guests without skipping a beat, or keeping them waiting. Even if you don’t end up using it for the night of, it can still make a beautiful option for your honeymoon brunch.

Tip #2: Take care of your feet

Foot Jewelry

Make sure your feet are covered (literally) for everything you’ll be doing that day. Consider where you are having your ceremony and reception. If you are getting married on Isla Mujeres then you will most likely be in the soft white sand beach for your ceremony and cocktail hour but on the tile floor for your reception. If you dream of getting married barefoot in the sand, don’t go too bare –  buy some cute foot jewelry like these. Also, don’t forget to buy shoes you’ll wear to travel to the venue, dance in, and weat for the after-party. If you choose very high heels or other dress shoes for your ceremony, just know they might get uncomfortable by the end of the night and you’ll want to bring a cute but comfortable back-up. You do not want to end up bar-hopping barefoot because your shoes are killing you! Also, whatever you buy, break them in well before your wedding day by wearing them for a few hours at a time, or walking around with thick athletic socks to help stretch them out a bit. Blisters are no fun at any time much less your wedding day.

Check out Amazon’s offerings of “Beautiful Foot Jewelry” & These

Tip #3: Buy your wedding day accessories

Wedding Dress Belt

If you are shopping in a store for jewelry and other accessories, bring the photo of your dress (front and back) with you to make sure you are matching the style & complementing the color of your dress.  When shopping for undergarments, be mindful of what may show in the back, or if there is a texture that would be visible in the front. In general, we recommend you buy Jewelry (such as a necklace, earrings, foot jewelry, or hair jewelry), and other dress accessories, such as your veil, belt, and undergarments. Don’t forget an “emergency kit” with adhesive bra/sports tape and/or fashion tape, along with safety pins, and bandages in case something rubs!

We love these accessories you can get on Amazon:  Wedding Dress Belt, Hair Jewelry, Body Tape

Spanx

HoneyLove

Tip #4: First & Final Fittings: What to Expect

Photo by Lacey Seymour Photography

Your first fitting with the seamstress should be at least 3 months before your wedding and your Final Fitting at least 3 weeks before your wedding. Most experts say 6 weeks and 2 weeks, respectively, but if you are having a destination wedding, then you will need more time due to flights and possible international requirements that you stay in the country for a few days before the wedding. For each fitting, bring all of your undergarments, jewelry, veil/hair piece and shoes to ensure everything fits together nicely. You will have time to exchange that strapless bra if the back is too low or switch out your Spanx, but you need to know ASAP if that is an extra “to-do” on your list. Make sure to take photos at your fittings. Your hair stylist and wedding coordinator want those photos, as well, to make sure everything is in its place as planned! And again, don’t come to the appointment hungry. Bring your ‘Dress Tribe’ and try to keep it stress-free.

Tip #5: Storing your dress

Make sure you have that dress in your closet at least 2 weeks before your flight leaves. Knowing it’s in your possession is one less thing you have to worry about. Don’t store it in the attic or basement – it needs to be in a well ventilated area (and preferably away from the kitchen!). A bedroom closet is fine or even your parent’s/friends’ closet if you don’t want your partner to peek.

This is a great Travel Garment Bag

Tip #6: How to Pack it

The two main options are to pack it in your carry-on or to leave it in a garment bag and carry it through the airport. NEVER check it as baggage – seriously, this is not even an option! The last thing you need is a lost wedding dress from misplaced luggage by the airline. I will add that by carrying your dress through the airport in a garment bag, you might get added perks from the airline or restaurants. And, a nice cherry on top is the well wishes from strangers congratulating you on such a big life event. On the flip side, if attention makes you uncomfortable, you might want to pack it in a carry-on so onlookers don’t see it.

During your fitting, you can ask the bridal salon if they offer packing service if you provide the carry-on case, as well. Check out these tips on packing your dress.

Check out this Wedding Dress Packing Cube

Tip #7: Steam it (if possible)

Make sure to ask about dress care from the bridal salon. Some fabrics cannot be steamed or would better handle a flat iron. If steaming is ok, a bathroom full of hot steam might work just fine. There is a hand-held steamer here on Isla Mujeres available to rent if needed. But if you are not sure if your “Ready Room” will have a steamer than bring one with you. Always put a tee-shirt or thin sock over the head of the steamer to protect delicate fabric from water spots. Also, steam from the inside/undersides of the layers, back to front. Make sure to steam or iron out your dress a couple days before your wedding so it has time to dry out and relax. Also, don’t forget to steam your veil, if needed.

We like this travel steamer

Tip #8: Hanging it at your destination

When you check into your room, go straight to the closet and hang it up right away. Make sure to use the loops from inside the dress, instead of the sleeves or straps themselves, so you don’t stretch the fabric or sleeve seams. Try to keep it in an air conditioned room with low humidity and check to make sure it didn’t wrinkle or bunch up. If it needs to be steamed out, do that a few days before the wedding (see Tip #7). You don’t want to be spending time steaming your dress on the wedding day. Again, you can store it in a parent’s or friend’s hotel room if you want to keep it away from prying eyes.

Tip #9: Taking it home

Photo by Del Sol Photography

Delegating a friend or family member to bring your dress home for you would be best if you are planning to travel a bit more after the wedding. You can get it dry-cleaned when you get home, but always ensure you take it to a cleaner that specializes in wedding dress care.

Bonus Tip: Reselling your Dress

There are lots of websites that help you sell your dress after your wedding dress if you didn’t want to keep it as an heirloom. Here are a few we heard great things about:

Ebay

Nearly Newlywed

Still White

Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses.com

Comments Welcomed – Are you a newly wed with advice for newly engaged brides? Do you have any tips and tricks about buying and caring for a wedding dress? We would love to hear how past brides have saved money, things they would recommend, and advice about What Not To Do! Any lessons learned are great for sharing.

Quick Links:

• David’s Bridal
• Nearly Wed
• BHLDN
• Dessy Group
• Dessy Canada
• Spanx
• HoneyLove
• Our pinterest board of Real Wedding Dresses our brides picked

The post How to Buy A Wedding Dress: Part 3 – After Saying YES to the Dress appeared first on Sunhorse Weddings.

Part 2: Trying on Wedding Dresses

If you haven’t already read Part 1, please do so.

Part 1: Before you buy – We will go over tips for setting your budget, researching what looks best on your body type, looking through styles and listing your “dress wants”, and what to expect when dipping your toe in the water.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.

Buying a wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning.

To recap from Part 1, make sure you have your “Dress Tribe” of 1-2 ladies ready to go for your big shopping day! They will be just as excited as you are to share in such a wonderful experience! Also, have a gut check with yourself. We discussed having your “Bridal Body” ready for the try on – this is not the time to lament over your size. You are beautiful and you are getting married, my dear! This is about more than a dress size (which, we’ll get to in a little bit) – you should walk into that dress shop with your head up, ready to rock an awesome dress like the badass chick you are! Get ready to have a great day with great friends…oh, and the tips below might help!

Tip #1: Eat before you shop

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this is not the day to skip out. Grab a good breakfast on the way to your appointment. No one wants a “hangry” bride-to-be. Blood sugar lows are known to add to stress and anxiety and this is supposed to be really fun! Skipping because you think you may be able to fit into a smaller dress is just setting yourself up for a meltdown. Obviously, you don’t want to stuff yourself so much that you’re bloated, but don’t go hungry. The appointment will probably last an hour or two, and you should plan ahead to be satiated if you’re going to more than one location. This is also a good excuse for a mimosa with that breakfast to loosen up a bit with the gals. Go for it!

Tip #2: Go dressed for the occasion

Wait, there’s a dress code for trying on dresses? Well, kinda. You will want to emulate your wedding day as much as (comfortably) possible. Wear undergarments that would be similar to the kind you will wear on your wedding day in nude colors, so you can have a true reflection of what may show through the dress. Also, your friends and the sales associate WILL be seeing you in your underwear, so make sure you’re comfortable with what you’re exposing. If you want to wear spanx, now is the time to go for it.  You can also fix your hair a bit (or just throw it back in a ponytail) and apply a little makeup – trying on an elegant dress when you haven’t put on make-up might not give you that “put together” look. And, don’t forget shoes! You’ll want to bring shoes that are similar to what you are planning to wear (or the actual shoes if you have them). They should reflect the environment of the day – if your groom is super tall, then consider heels, but if you’re on a sandy beach, go ahead and take your flats. Keep in mind that you can have two pairs of shoes, as well – wedding shoes and dancing shoes, and which shoes you wear will affect how long your dress will be hemmed. So, take a few pairs!

Tip #3: You are more than just a dress size

Photo by Kape Photography

I cannot beg enough – please, please, please do not get caught up in the number on the dress. Everyone in the fashion industry knows that formal dresses almost never translate to the same pant size you currently wear, and they even vary from designer to designer. Most wedding dresses run 2-3 sizes large, so don’t freak out if your usual size 4 is now size 8. No one will be coming up to you about the size, but they will be complimenting you on how the dress fits. Are you comfortable? Do you feel beautiful? These are the thoughts you should be considering in the dressing room. Don’t sweat it if it’s a few sizes larger, just go off how it feels on your body, and how confident you feel when you look into that mirror!

Tip #4: Consider the Weather

Remember to consider the weather on your wedding day (for the typical season and location) and if you will need to travel with your dress.  Let the sales associate know if the dress needs to be a wrinkle free fabric or lighter fabric. If you’re shopping in the fall for a beach wedding dress, just make sure you are not trying on heavy dresses made for cold weather. Remember: chiffon, SILK tulle, organza, illusion, jersey, crepe & lace are your best fabrics. You’ll also want to make sure the fabric around your legs is not too heavy or will stick to your legs once you start sweating (…it will happen!). Sweat, either from taking your vows in the summer sun, or Electric Sliding for a few hours, can create an uncomfortable situation. We have had to cut out many a dress lining mid-reception! Take it from us – light and breezy makes it easy.

Tip #5: Raise your hands like you just don’t care

Speaking of dancing, you need to move around in the dress to make sure it will work for you.  You’re not a statue – you’ll be moving, dancing, shaking and having a great time.

Photo by William Sanchez Photography

You don’t need to worry about whether or not your dress can keep up! You may feel silly in the store jumping up and down in your dress, but it’s much better than popping out of your dress (or the dress falling off) on the dance floor in front of your friends and (new) family. Check the sleeves/straps by raising your arms in the air to make sure you have good movement. Also, make sure the straps are not falling off your shoulder. Some dresses have a shelf top which doesn’t keep everything in if you are dancing and some just won’t stay up when you Twist and Shout. So turn up the volume in your head and jump around the dressing room to ensure it will all stay in place.

Tip #6: Be bold

Photo by Charlie Homo Photography

This is the time to get out of your comfort zone and try colors you may not have considered before (not just white and ivory). Open your mind to try different styles, too. You may be pleasantly surprised at the things you wrote off before and how different they look and feel on your body type. More importantly, be YOU!

Tip #7: Don’t forget to sit

Just as important as dancing and moving, make sure you can sit down in a chair comfortably. You will need to sit down for dinner as well as when chatting with your guests on your wedding night. Also, when you sit down, pretend you are putting your shoes on. Bending over that far is sometimes hard, if not impossible. You will want to know if that might be an issue before buying. Don’t be too quick to dismiss this – we had to

Photo by Lacey Seymour Photography, Austin TX

put a couple at a high top bar table last minute, instead of their sweetheart table, because she couldn’t sit down at dinner.  Yikes! Sit and Bend!

Tip #8: Go to the bathroom

Yes, I said that! Make sure you can use the…ladies room…in your dress. That’s right – there’s no taking the dress off once it’s on for your big day. You will be in your dress for possibly a few hours before you walk down the aisle, due to pictures and any other thing you have scheduled beforehand with your bridesmaids. Since you probably can’t take the dress into the bathroom at the dress shop, straddle a chair and literally pull the dress up as if you need to pee. Now is not the time to be shy! In some dresses, you might actually have to straddle the toilet (and go sans panties on your big night in this case!) or some dresses will need to be totally taken off in order to use the restroom. Plus, there’s no guarantee the bathroom will be large enough for you and your crew to make this all happen successfully, especially if you’re pressed for time. This is very important to know before you buy it.

Check out the “Bridal Buddy-Bathroom Assistant” on Amazon.

Tip #9: Let’s talk about trains and how to bustle them

If at all possible, get a dress without a train or one with a detachable train. It is much easier to take one off than to put one up. If your dress has more than 3 buttons to bustle then make sure your ‘Dress Tribe’ has actually bustled your dress before taking it home. You want to make sure it

Photo by Susan Pacek Photography

doesn’t need any extra ribbon, buttons or markers to make their lives easier on the wedding night. It usually takes 15 minutes and a small army to bustle a wedding dress if someone doesn’t know how to do it. When looking at a dress you really like, make sure to have them bustle it so you can see how it looks while you are wearing the dress (before you buy). When bustled, make sure you are still not dragging fabric or that the back of your dress isn’t so heavy that you can’t dance. Does it make your butt look 1800’s Victorian weird? You will be in your bustled dress longer than you won’t, so make sure it is comfortable and pretty. Also, imagine if it gets wet, will it drag on the floor (rain happens!)? Will you be kicking it out of your way during your Father-Daughter Dance? Will it end up looking like a little dinosaur tail? Again, you will have it up after your wedding so you want to make sure it looks great for the rest of the night.

Tip #10: Have your Dress Tribe take photos

Every dress that you try on should have a few pictures to show for it. Make sure you get the front, side, back, and the label. Take a photo of the storefront before going in, as well, so you know where those photos were taken. If you go to more than one place, it becomes easy to forget which dresses you tried on and where. Also, carry a notebook (or a notepad app on your phone) with you to write down the name of the dresses you liked best and prices so you can go back to that later. You will need those photos later when deciding on a final style or even after you decide on a dress.

Photo by M&J Photography

Tip #11: DON’T buy a dress the same day

So many brides have buyer’s remorse when they pull the trigger too soon. Put it on hold for 72 hours so you can think it through. You might be able to buy that same dress on Ebay or Nearly Newlywed for half the price or you might decide you like a different dress better after chatting with your friends afterwards. Don’t wait too long, but give yourself some time to really think if that is the right dress for you. And don’t let the store pressure you. Of course they want the sale, but you need to make sure it is right for you.

Tip #12: Ask lots of questions

Most sales are final (yes, even without alterations) so make sure you know all of the costs up front. Does it include ALL alterations needed? What if it needs a last minute hem? Do they guarantee delivery time tables? What is the cancellation policy? What if it arrives damaged? Verify the maker, style number/name, size and color before signing any contract.  Remember, you are buying this, not the sales rep. Take your time and make

Photo by Christina Dianne Photography

sure you are comfortable before following through with the transaction.

Whew! Ok great, you’ve decided on THE DRESS – now what? Take a look at our Part 3 of the series where we go over what happens after you’ve said ‘yes’!

Quick Links:

• David’s Bridal
• Nearly Wed
• BHLDN
• Dessy Group
• Dessy Canada
• Spanx
• HoneyLove
• Our pinterest board of Real Wedding Dresses

The post How to Buy A Wedding Dress: Part 2 – Wedding Dress Shopping appeared first on Sunhorse Weddings.