The first visit
by, Kristy Musteffe
There are few things young ladies look more forward to than shopping for their wedding gown. With a bit of planning it will be everything you have dreamed of!
When you begin shopping you should have the “look” you are trying to achieve in mind. If you have seen gowns you love in a magazine, feel free to bring the pictures with you. Let your bridal consultant know about the type of event you are planning; casual, formal, beach, etc. You may even want to bring a picture of your venue if you have already chosen one.
Bring one or two guests who know you well enough to assist you in choosing your fantasy gown, maybe Mom and your best friend or Maid of Honor. This is not the time to celebrate with your entire wedding party. You want them to have that beautiful moment of seeing you in your gown for the first time on the day of your wedding. Children should be left at home so you will be able to focus on the task at hand. Silence your cell phone and ask others to do the same. You will have decisions to make and the least amount of distractions the better. Let your assistants know today is all about you! Once you have chosen your gown then you will be ready to begin looking for theirs.
For your day of shopping you will want to wear comfortable clothing that does not have to constantly be pulled over your hair and make-up. Do bring shoes with the heel height you are planning to wear. Many dresses are able to be ordered in the length you need for a minimal or sometimes no charge. You may want to wear a strapless bra so you can see the look of the gowns correctly. Most quality gowns have everything built right in; crinoline, boning, etc and require no special undergarments.
Plan to try on between four and eight gowns. Any less and you may feel that you have not had the whole experience. Any more and you will become overwhelmed. Choose gowns you really love and not just for the sake of trying on dresses.
You need to be in control of the appointment.
Do ask the consultant for advice. That is her job! But ask your assistants to relax and enjoy your modeling. Their job is to give an opinion on the gowns you love, not to be shopping on their own so that you must seek them out at every new dress! Once you have narrowed your choices down try a veil, headpiece and even jewelry with your gown. Seeing the whole picture will help you make your final decision.
By doing a bit of homework and bringing a few valued assistants with you, you can make shopping for your perfect wedding gown a breeze!
Kristy Musteffe is the General Manager/Buyer for Sarasota Brides & Formalwear. She has over 20 years experience in women’s retail having worked for such brands as Estee Lauder, Macy’s and Luxottica Group.
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