Finding the perfect dress is at the top of any bride’s list but taking the wrong approach can often lead to disaster. Skip the stress and follow these tips to ensure that you don’t end up turning into bridezilla!
Only fit on dresses within your price range
It might sound like a cool idea to try on a dress way out of your price range. What’s the worst that could happen right? What could happen is you fall in love with that dress and either commit financial suicide or end up ‘settling’ for a dress more within your price range.
Make an appointment at the right time
Most places do not allow walk ins as having a staff member to assist you is crucial but taking day off during the week to visit a bridal shop can make all the difference. Saturdays are their busiest days and you may not have the same personal experience and attention to detail if they have to juggle too many brides at once.
Take one or two trusted people with you
Do not find yourself on either end of the extreme; bringing no one or bringing half the family. Choose two trusted people who are going to give you their honest opinion while not making the dress about their personal preference but rather what suits you best. Having too many people with you a fitting can just confuse you and make you indecisive. Plus bridal shops hate crowds!
Read the fine print before you sign
Very often brides don’t realize that purchasing a bridal gown comes with terms and conditions over and above normal attire. If there are any issues or extra costs involved with the dress down the line you need to make sure you are informed as this can pose quite a struggle later on. Many brides do not have extra money to purchase a new dress should there be any fault defects with the dress, so make sure you read the contract and understand the terms and conditions before you sign.
Consider your venue when choosing a dress
Your venue will partly decide the overall theme and it is very important to choose your bridal gown based on this. A ballgown might suit ballroom or formal venue but will definitely pose a challenge and look out of place at a beach wedding. Many brides prefer a wine estate wedding as this leaves room to experiment with different themes such as romantic and whimsical or even gothic.
Keep an open mind
It is a good call to try on several styles of dresses. You might have looked at a few wedding magazines or taken a look online but don’t limit yourself to one particular style. You might be pleasantly surprised at how different fits compliment your body type and might discover your dream dress looking a lot different from the way you pictured it.
Above all of this, have fun preparing for one of the biggest days of your life!
Weddings in South Africa 