The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Dress Shopping: Where Every Bride Should Start
Your wedding dress is more than a special occasion gown. It's your wedding day, held in one look. It's the thing you'll remember wearing for the rest of your life.
So how do you find it?
Every bride's love story with her gown is different. Yours might be a ball gown, a lace A-line, a fit-and-flare, or something you never expected to fall for. Whatever the silhouette, the goal is the same: a dress that makes you feel confident, beautiful, and completely yourself.
If you're not sure where to start, here's everything you need to know before your first appointment.
Start With Inspiration
Before you head into a boutique, spend some time thinking about your personal style. Romantic. Bohemian. Retro. Edgy. You want to feel like the most beautiful version of yourself on your wedding day, and that starts with feeling like yourself in the dress.
Browse styles and pay attention to what keeps catching your eye. Beading or clean lines. A dramatic train or a modern, minimalist silhouette.
Bridal Tip: Create a mood board for your dress not just your day. This will help you see the details you're consistently drawn to and gives your bridal stylist a clear starting point when you get to your appointment.
You can save your favorite Justin Alexander gowns online and bring those selections with you when you visit one of our retailers. Find one of our retailers near you here!
Don’t focus on what you are “supposed” to look like on your wedding day. Focus on how you want to feel on your wedding day. There are no rules when it comes to bridal style. The dress should reflect your vision, not the other way around.
Consider Your Venue and Theme
Personal style matters, and so does the venue. An outdoor wedding or an indoor one. Black tie or casual. Your dress doesn't have to be the expected choice for your venue, but it helps if it suits the space.
A beach wedding might call for something light and fluid that won't weigh you down in the sand. A traditional church ceremony might lean more classic, while a garden wedding might call for something soft and romantic.
Bridal Tip: Having said the above, none of those are rules. A ball gown on the beach or a mini dress in a rustic barn works if that's what you love. It's your day, and whatever you choose will be beautiful because it's yours.
Set a Budget
Wedding dresses vary in price, make sure that you set your price before you begin shopping. This can help you narrow your search. As well as save you the heartache of falling in love with a dress outside of your price range. Wedding dresses range widely in price, so set your budget before you start shopping. It narrows your search, and it saves you from falling for a dress that's out of range.
Be open upfront with your bridal stylist about your budget from the start. That's how they can guide you toward options that actuall fit your budget.
To get a better understanding of how much wedding dresses cost and what should go into your budget, take a look at our Wedding Dress Pricing Guide.
Get to Know Gown Silhouettes
Understanding gown silhouettes can help make dress shopping feel much less overwhelming. You don’t need to lock yourself into one style before your appointment, but a little familiarity goes a long way.
A-lijn jurk met geborduurd kant en waterval-taille
STIJL: 66448A-Line: A-line gowns feature a fitted bodice that gradually widens from the waist, creating the classic “A” shape. It's timeless because it works, flattering nearly every bride in nearly any venue, from a rustic barn to a ballroom.
Brocade baljurk met strapless sweetheart halslijn, dramatische Basque-taille en pofmouwen
STIJL: PalazzoBall Gown: Full skirt, fitted bodice, unmistakable entrance. This is the silhouette for the bride who wants her fairytale moment.
Strapless crêpe jurk met matte kanten ‘peek-a-boo’-details bij de halslijn en een dramatische kapelsleep
STIJL: 66475Fit-and-Flare: Fitted through the body, then opens toward the hem. It's a balance of structure and movement, and it ranges from clean and modern to romantic and detailed.
Mikado-zeemeerminjurk met strapless cat eye halslijn en tule rok
STIJL: 44550Mermaid: Follows the body closely before flaring at or below the knee, accentuating the bride's natural shape. Built for the bride who wants to make a statement.
Sprankelende kant trompet jurk met vierkante halslijn en dramatische sleep
STIJL: JazminTrumpet: follow the body’s contours through the bodice, waist, and hips before beginning to flare around the mid-thigh and opens towards the hem.
Strapless baljurk in theelengte met een lijfje van geribbeld Alençon-kant en een rok met ruches
STIJL: Magdalena Tea LengthMini & Tea Length: For the bride who doesn't want a traditional floor-length gown. Tea length cuts off just above the ankle for a playful, vintage feel. Mini styles range from sleek and simple to sparkly and dramatic.
Prepare for Your Appointment
Now it's time to bring all of that inspiration into the room.
Wear something on appointment day that makes you feel confident and comfortable. You will be trying on gowns, so bring that same energy with you. Come with an open mind. Some of the best matches happen with a dress no one was expecting to love.
Bring your moodboard and your budget. The more your stylist knows going in, the faster they can get you to the right dress.
Bring Supportive Friends and Family
It's tempting to bring everyone you love to your appointment, but a bigger group usually means more opinions, and more opinions can crowd out your own. The best people to bring are the ones who will celebrate what you love and gently point you back toward it.
Many boutiques also limit how many guests you can bring, so check before you book.
Find an Authorized Justin Alexander retailer near you.
Finding your dress is a process, and there's no single right way through it. Enjoy it, and trust what makes you feel like you.
Use our store locator to find an authorized retailer near you and explore your favorite gowns in person.
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