You’ve got that ring on your finger and a date in mind, so now comes the fun part of shopping for your wedding dress. It’s a super exciting time and the temptation is to go to every single bridal shop and try on every wedding dress every made. Before you get booking your consultations, take a look at what to expect from your first wedding dress appointment.

1.     Do your research

Take to the internet to work out what style of dresses you like and whether there are any designers you are particularly fond of. This will give you a good feel for the boutiques you may want to visit. Draw up your short list and make your appointment. Saturdays draw the crowds so booking in advance is always advisable.

2. Get visiting

Initial appointments tend to be about an hour long, during which you can expect to try on a selection of different gowns. Keep an open mind and try different styles, even if you think you might not like them; you’ll be surprised at what suits you and what doesn’t. Boutique stylists will listen to your desires but are also well versed in finding dresses that compliment your body shape, wedding theme and, most importantly, your personality.

3. Sample sizes
The wedding dresses in bridal boutiques are all sample sizes, because we can’t carry every dress in every size (without having to move into an airport hangar!). This means that the dress you try on might not fit you perfectly, but don’t worry, we’ll do our best to show you how the same dress would look in your size.

4. Who to bring with you
Generally, you should stick to the mantra that too many cooks can spoil the broth, so don’t bring your entire entourage with you! Your maid of honour and your mum ought to be sufficient. With too many conflicting opinions, you can get a little overwhelmed, when what you actually need are a couple of trustworthy people who know you really well and can help you make an informed decision.

5. What to wear
First of all we suggest you wear appropriate underwear that you don’t mind being seen in since you’re going to be in and out of dresses. Try to wear flesh-coloured, seamless underwear and a good, uplifting strapless bra. Bad underwear will affect the way a dress sits. Try to leave the pink dotty socks at home – they will not be needed. Also keep fake tan and make up to a minimum, not only is it sometimes ‘hot’ business getting  in and out of dresses, but kindly consider the boutique samples – they are very precious and smears of fake bake and MAC lipstick from the previous bride is never a great look!

Beware of going shopping too soon – not least because you might miss out on some of the lovely options available closer to your wedding in subsequent new seasons collections. It’s not unheard of for brides-to-be to order a wedding dress as soon as they get engaged and spend the intervening 18 months or two years questioning their decision.

That being said, once you know you’ve found The One, the sooner you can place your order the better and more stress-free the process will be.  If you think that 6-9 months will cover the whole process from ordering to alterations, you’ll have a good idea of a timeframe to work to.