Choosing Your Dream Wedding Gown: Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
Everything you should know before you say yes to the dress!
Choosing your wedding gown is one of the most special moments of your wedding journey. It's also a decision you don't want to look back on with regret. After more than 15 years of helping brides say yes to the dress, we've put together our best advice for avoiding the most common gown mistakes — so your dress journey is as close to perfect as possible.
1. Bring the right people to help you say yes or no
Choosing the right dress becomes much easier with the right people by your side. Bring friends or family who know you well and who always have your best interests at heart. A large entourage can sometimes make the decision harder, not easier — you may find yourself trying to please everyone on the couch, rather than focusing on how you feel in the dress. A smaller, trusted group usually makes for a calmer, clearer decision.
Bring the right people with you - Featuring Brooks by MWL
2. Get the fit right, not just the look
Most bridal studios carry dresses in sample sizes. This means the dress you try on in-store may not be the right fit for the wedding day.
If you're renting, your dress will usually be taken in to fit your measurements. If you're purchasing, you'll order the dress in your own size. Either way, take the time to picture how the gown will feel once it's properly fitted to you — not just how the sample feels in the mirror. Ask your consultant to explain how the alteration or sizing process works for your specific gown, so there are no surprises later.
3. Understand what alterations can (and can't) do
Every gown is built differently. Some are designed to be fitted and structured, others are made to fall slinky and fluid against the body. If the silhouette you're picturing isn't quite the silhouette of the dress in front of you, it's worth asking your consultant early whether alterations can bridge that gap.
This is important to clarify before you say yes to the dress. Not every gown can be altered to change its silhouette dramatically — some structural changes simply aren't possible without compromising the design. For example, you’re in love with a dress but not its boning structure. It’s unlikely that the boning structure could be altered or removed. Generally, if you find yourself needing many alterations just to get the dress closer to what you had in mind, take that as a sign. It may be worth exploring a gown that's closer to your ideal silhouette from the start.
Understand what alterations can and cannot do - Featuring Maren LWD by Jenny Yoo
4. Think beyond the fitting room
Bridal studios are air-conditioned, which can make almost any fabric feel comfortable for a short fitting. But your wedding day is different. Think about how the material will feel as you move, sit, dance, and spend hours in the gown — often in a warmer venue, and without the studio's climate control.
Consider too the weight of the dress, especially if you'll be travelling between locations or wearing it for an extended period. A gown that feels lovely for twenty minutes in the fitting room should also feel lovely for the whole day and night.
5. Give yourself enough time before the wedding
Whether you're renting or purchasing, gowns need time for alterations, and sometimes for ordering in the first place. Starting your dress search too close to the wedding date can limit your options and add pressure to decisions that deserve a bit more thought. Ask early about the recommended timeline for your gown, so alterations and any final adjustments can be done without rushing.
If you’re looking for a purchase, we recommend 9-12 months at least because the entire making process could be 6 months, you’ll need that extra time for fittings. For rental, we recommend ASAP really, because bridal stores are going to carry just 1 size per style, per dress. The longer you wait, the less likely you get that dress - so snatch her the moment you find her!
6. Think about ease of movement, not just how it looks standing still
It's easy to focus on how a gown looks in the mirror while standing still and on a pedestal in the bridal studio. But your wedding day involves walking down the aisle, sitting through a ceremony, taking photos, and possibly dancing. Ask your consultation if you can move or even sit in your dress, try raising your arms, if the ceremony requires kneeling down, try that as well to get a real sense of how it moves with you.
7. Dealing with the train of the dress after your march-in.
If your gown has a train, ask whether it comes with a bustle option, so it can be lifted for the reception and dancing later in the evening.
Our bride in the Magnolia with Judith Veil by Jenny Yoo
Choosing your gown should be joyful, not stressful. Giving yourself some understanding on fit, alterations, comfort, and the small details like shapewear and accessories will help ensure your dress feels just as perfect on the day as it did the moment you said yes.
Feeling excited and ready? Book an appointment with us below!