Wedding dress shopping should be one of the loveliest parts of planning your wedding. But if you've never stepped inside a bridal boutique before, it's perfectly understandable that you might not know what to expect.
After more than 20 years working in the wedding industry, including eight years specialising in bridal, I've met plenty of brides who arrive feeling a little nervous, overwhelmed or worried about getting something wrong. And do you know what? You really don't need to worry.
There isn't a rulebook for finding your wedding dress, and you certainly don't need to be an expert before your first appointment. But there are a few common pitfalls that can make the experience more complicated than it needs to be.
So here are ten wedding dress shopping mistakes I'd gently encourage you to avoid, along with my advice for making the whole experience a little more relaxed and enjoyable.
1. Waiting until the last minute to start shopping
One of the biggest surprises for brides is how long wedding dresses can take to arrive. If you're ordering a new dress, it will typically take around six to eight months, depending on the designer. You'll also need to allow time for alterations once it arrives.
That's why I usually recommend starting your search around 12 months before your wedding. It gives you time to explore your options without feeling rushed.
My advice: Don't leave shopping until the last minute if you can help it. But if your wedding is coming up quickly, please don't panic. Off-the-peg and sale dresses can be wonderful options when there isn't time to order a new gown.
2. Bringing too many people to your appointment
I know how exciting it is to share wedding dress shopping with your favourite people. But I've also seen how quickly an appointment can become overwhelming when everyone has a different opinion. Your mum loves lace. Your sister wants you in something simple. Your best friend thinks you should try a dramatic ballgown. Before long, it's difficult to remember what you actually like.
My advice: Bring people who understand your style, respect your choices and genuinely want you to feel wonderful. A small, supportive group can make the experience much more enjoyable. And if you'd prefer to shop on your own, that's absolutely fine too.
3. Having a completely fixed idea of your dream dress
There's nothing wrong with arriving at your appointment knowing what you love. Perhaps you've saved dozens of pictures of fitted gowns or you've always imagined yourself in a romantic, flowing dress. But sometimes the styles we admire in photographs aren't the ones we fall in love with when we try them on. I've seen plenty of brides surprise themselves by choosing something they hadn't originally considered.
My advice: Bring your ideas, but leave a little room for discovery. You never know which dress might make you smile when you look in the mirror.
4. Trying on dresses outside your budget
It's tempting to think there's no harm in trying on a dress that's considerably more expensive than you planned. But what happens if you absolutely love it?
Suddenly, every other dress might feel like a compromise. At Bridal Gossip, new-to-order wedding dresses generally cost between £1,200 and £1,700, with off-the-peg dresses starting at around £600 and sale dresses from £350.
Remember that alterations are an additional expense, often starting from around £250, depending on what's needed.
My advice: Be open about your budget from the beginning, and remember to include alterations in your overall plans. There's no judgement about what you want to spend. My job is to help you find something beautiful that works for you.
5. Getting too caught up in wedding dress sizes
Wedding dress sizing can be quite different from everyday clothing, and sizes vary between designers. So please don't be disheartened if a sample dress has a different number on the label from the clothes you usually wear. It's also completely normal for a sample dress not to fit perfectly during an appointment. At Bridal Gossip, I have sample dresses in sizes 10–32, with new-to-order dresses available in sizes 6–32, depending on the designer.
My advice: Focus on how a dress looks and feels, rather than the size on the label. Your wedding dress should be chosen to suit you, not the other way around.
6. Trying on so many dresses that they all blur together
You might think that trying on as many dresses as possible will make your decision easier. But sometimes it does exactly the opposite.
After a while, you can start forgetting which dress had which neckline, which one felt comfortable or why you liked a particular style in the first place. And if you visit lots of boutiques, it can become even harder to remember what made each dress special.
My advice: Give yourself time to enjoy each dress properly. Think about what you love, what you're unsure about and how you feel wearing it. You don't need to try on every wedding dress in Cornwall to find one you love.
7. Letting photographs influence your decision too much
It's natural to want photographs of the dresses you try on, especially if you're hoping to look back at them later. But photographs don't always do a wedding dress justice. The lighting, the angle or even the way you're standing can make a dress look quite different from how it appears in the mirror. And a photograph can't capture how comfortable or confident you feel wearing it.
I don't forbid photographs during appointments at Bridal Gossip, but I do encourage brides not to make them the focus of the experience.
My advice: Look in the mirror first. Walk around, notice how the dress moves and pay attention to how you feel. Don't let one unflattering photograph talk you out of a dress you loved in person.
8. Forgetting about the practical side of wearing your dress
A wedding dress can look absolutely beautiful while you're standing still in front of a mirror. But on your wedding day, you'll be doing rather more than standing still! You'll be walking, sitting, hugging your guests, enjoying your meal and perhaps dancing for hours. A dress needs to feel right for the sort of celebration you're planning.
My advice: Think about comfort as well as appearance. Move around in the dress and consider whether you can imagine wearing it throughout your wedding day. You shouldn't have to spend the whole celebration worrying about your outfit.
9. Expecting a dramatic 'this is the one' moment
Television programmes have a lot to answer for when it comes to wedding dress shopping! We've all seen the bride put on a gown, burst into tears and announce that she's found the one. And sometimes that really does happen.
But sometimes a bride simply looks in the mirror, smiles and says, “I really love this.” Both reactions are equally lovely.
My advice: Don't worry if you don't cry, get goosebumps or have a dramatic revelation. You might know a dress is right because you feel comfortable, confident, happy and completely yourself. That's more than enough.
10. Letting other people's opinions matter more than your own
This is probably the most important one of all.
Wedding dress shopping can bring out strong opinions, particularly from people who love you and want you to look wonderful. But your wedding dress isn't about fulfilling someone else's expectations. It's about finding something that feels right for you.
You might love a simple, understated gown while everyone else is encouraging you towards something more elaborate. Or perhaps you've always dreamed of a full skirt and lots of beautiful detail.
Either way, your preferences deserve to be heard.
My advice: Listen to the people you trust, but don't lose sight of your own feelings. You're the one wearing the dress, making the memories and looking back at the photographs for years to come. Choose something that makes you happy.
The biggest mistake? Thinking wedding dress shopping has to be stressful
If there's one thing I'd love every bride to know, it's that wedding dress shopping doesn't have to be complicated or intimidating.
You don't need to know all the terminology, have a perfect plan or arrive knowing exactly what you want.
At Bridal Gossip in Wadebridge, Cornwall, I offer relaxed, private appointments where we can explore different styles together and find out what makes you feel wonderful. You'll have around 90 minutes to enjoy trying on dresses, ask questions and discover what feels right for you.
There's no pressure to make a decision on the day. And if you're feeling a little nervous before your first appointment, please don't be. That's exactly why I'm here. You can take a look at my wedding dress collection before you visit.
I'd love to help you enjoy the experience of finding your wedding dress.
Caroline x
Photography by Amy Sampson Photography
