So I recently had a coworker ask about wedding dress shopping. She asked if I had any suggestions. Man oh man, I have tons of suggestions, mostly not about wedding dress shopping, but I thought I would provide her with my three cents. (Everyone says two, why can't I have more than two cents?) After getting some information from her (more like prying, but it was done painlessly and over Thai food - who can complain?), I gave her some tips off the top of my head. Later in the day, I thought of more. And just like when you are in a fight, you can never think of something witty to say, and then BAM as soon as the fights over, you think of the most clever comeback that would have left them whimpering in their shoes. This happened to me. Luckily, she sits right down the hall, and I was able to send her a little message with my new glorious words of wisdom.
And here they were (in no particular order):
1. If you need to go with family, do it to please them, not to find the dream dress. Remember they are family, which means they are the meanest group of people you know and have no problem telling you your butt looks huge. But they are also the ones who will fawn all over you and tell you look gorgeous when you do. Take everything they say with a grain of salt, or if they are like my family, a shot of something. Plan a trip with the necessary female parties from your family but then also plan a trip with your best friend. The one who will also tell you if your butt looks big, but will not make you try on antique looking dresses because she wants you to have the kind of wedding she had.
2. Have an open mind. If you are set on the fact that you do not want a princess dress (ya know, big, pouffy, think Cinderella), you won't try anyone and you will never know if one of those dresses was THE dress. I went in thinking I wanted a very slim, straight line, gentle hug type of dress (think sheath). And the first trip (though I don't really count it as a trip), I refused to try one anything but those. Not only was I disappointed but I was also hateful of all things white. Once I had a saleslady pick out a dress for me (fitted on top, flair out/pouf at the bottom) I knew it was the one. And so did everyone else. So just go in there the same way you would a new restaurant. Try a little of everything and ignore all the nasty comments.
3. If when you do go into the salon, store, whatever, and you aren't getting the service you want...LEAVE. That may sound a little snarky but they are there to help you. This is the one time (well maybe not the only time) in your life you get to feel absolutely special. Live it up. Don't be a total b about it, but also don't accept being treated like doggy doo.
4. Everyone's favorite word -- Budget. Have a budget. Whether it is set by your or your parents, or whoever. Have one. And have it be realistic. Don't think oh well, I could be ok with $X amount and then try and change it later. Have a set budget. Make sure you tell your saleslady/bridal consultant, whoever, what your budget is. You do not want to try on a dress $3,000 over your budget and fall in love. It will make for a very unhappy special day thinking that you either a. spent $3,000 over budget or b. settled for a dress that didn't make you feel stunning. Trust me, everyone will be happier in the end.
5. Be honest with yourself. You will be wearing this dress for 6, 7 hours of your LIFE tops. Yes you want to look amazing. But it's one dress. That you will never wear again. Hopefully. Have a little sense with you.
Those are the goods ones for now. I may add more later. Hopefully they are helpful and will keep someone from screaming at their mother that they "aren't wearing lace from head to toe, even if it kills them".
