Tips for Selecting Your Wedding Gown

Shopping for wedding gowns can be stressful, but exciting. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Start by buying a few bridal magazines and marking the formal gowns that appeal to you. There are so many styles and designs that it can be confusing but hopefully you will begin to see a pattern of preference for similar gowns. Are you attracted to the full skirt, the strapless neckline or the allover lace? What is it about each dress that you like? Research your favorite companies online. Most have websites that feature the full line for each season.

Call Kinsmans Bridal Ltd. to make an appointment to try gowns on. Remember that EVERY dress looks different on a person than on the hanger. Try on several cuts to see which flatters your body shape. The right dress will appear to transform your figure and make you feel like a queen. Don’t forget to try on proper foundations at that time also. The right foundations can change the way a dress drapes on your figure.

Proportion is very important in making your choice of a wedding gown. A dress may look great on a size 4 model but will look wrong on you if the lines are wrong for your proportions. Many styles are cut to conceal our less than perfect features. Large hips can be concealed with an A-line gown. A thick waist can be minimized with a “princess” style gown where the waistline drops below your thick part. If you have a full derriere or thighs a large skirt can balance your proportions. Remember to draw attention to your beautiful neckline as the eye will follow upward to gaze on your lovely face.

When trying on gowns, size isn’t everything. Most bridal gown samples are available in sizes 10-12. (However, wedding dress sizes are notoriously smaller that normal dress sizes.) If you wear a size 10, be prepared to try on sizes 12 or 14. You may have to work your imagination a little to picture the bridal gown in your correct size. Don’t let this deter you from trying on a gown when you like the design. Remember that the bridal gown you order will later be fitted to your body. So don’t order a dress that in smaller in hopes that you will loose weight– bridal gowns cannot be enlarged, but they can be taken in by one or two sizes.

Limit your company when you go shopping. Too many opinions will be confusing. Bring your maid of honor and/or your mother or someone else whose opinion and tastes you value. Listen to the suggestions of the bridal consultants, they may some very good ideas.

Be clean when you go to try on gowns. Some of the designer gowns are very expensive. (Don’t show up after eating a hamburger with grease on your hands.) Avoid wearing excessive makeup that can smudge the gowns. Consider putting your hair up in a pony tail so that you can try on veils with the gowns when you find the perfect dress!

Bridal consultants assist in the putting on and off of bridal gowns in most stores. This prevents you from struggling with yards of fabric to hold up a strapless gown and zip it at the same time. Be prepared for the bridal consultants to see you in your underwear.

Think about leaving jewelry at home that day. It can snag the wedding gowns. And what if you want to try on jewelry when you find the perfect dress? Many brides lose personal jewelry by forgetting to put it back on before they leave.

Plan your budget before you shop. Many designer wedding gowns can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousands. Remember to plan for a veil and accessories like slips, shoes and jewelry. And depending on the bridal shop, alterations can be quite expensive also. Know your price range before you begin to shop.

Timing is important. Give yourself up to six months to order. Some companies charge $50-100 extra for “rush charges”. “Rush” can mean from 4-8 weeks. Although, some have immediate stock on hand. You will also need time for your fittings. Your first fitting should be approx. 6 weeks before your wedding.