How many wedding dresses should I try on?
How many wedding dresses should you try before choosing yours? Five? Ten? Twenty?
The answer is that there really isn't a magic number. I've worked with brides who have felt completely comfortable with their choice after trying just a handful of dresses, while others need more time to work out what they like.
What matters isn't how many dresses you try. It's whether the process is helping you understand what makes you feel comfortable, confident and like yourself.
Start with an open mind
You might arrive at your appointment with a very clear picture of the wedding dress you want. That's absolutely fine — photographs and inspiration can be a really useful starting point. But don't be surprised if something completely different catches your attention once you start trying dresses on.
A wedding dress can look very different on a hanger, in a photograph and on your own body. Necklines, fabrics, proportions and details can all feel different once you're actually wearing them.
So bring your ideas, but give yourself permission to experiment too.
You don't need to try every style
Keeping an open mind doesn't mean trying on every wedding dress in the boutique. As we work through your appointment, we'll start noticing what you respond to.
Perhaps you love a particular neckline but aren't keen on the skirt. Maybe you discover you feel fantastic in a more structured fabric, or that you prefer something softer and more relaxed. Each dress gives us information. That's much more useful than simply trying on another dress for the sake of increasing the number.
Can you try on too many wedding dresses?
Sometimes, yes. Trying lots and lots of dresses can reach the point where everything begins to blur together.
You may start comparing tiny details between gowns rather than thinking about the much more important question: how do I actually feel in this dress?
If you're beginning to feel tired, overwhelmed or more confused than when you started, trying another ten dresses probably isn't going to make the decision easier. It's absolutely fine to stop.
Take some time away from wedding dresses and come back to the process with a clearer head if you need to.
Do I need to visit several bridal boutiques?
No. There's no rule saying you have to visit a certain number of bridal shops before you're allowed to choose your dress.
You might find a dress you love at your first appointment. You might want to explore another collection before making your decision. Both are completely normal.
I wouldn't recommend continuing to shop simply because you feel you should visit more boutiques. If you've found a dress that makes you feel comfortable and confident, you're allowed to trust that feeling. Equally, if you're unsure, give yourself the time you need.
What if I like more than one dress?
This happens! Rather than asking which dress is objectively “best”, think about how each one makes you feel. Which feels most natural to wear? Which can you imagine spending your whole wedding day in? Can you sit, walk and move comfortably? Does one feel more like your personal style? And are you comparing the dresses themselves, or are you getting distracted by how you think a bride is supposed to look?
Sometimes talking those questions through is much more helpful than trying another rail of dresses.
How will I know when I've found my wedding dress?
Not everybody has a dramatic moment. You don't have to cry. Your guests don't have to cry. There doesn't need to be a huge reveal or an instant feeling that you've found “The One”. For some brides there absolutely is an emotional moment. For others, it's much quieter.
You may simply notice that you feel comfortable. You like what you see in the mirror. You don't want to change lots of things about the dress. You can imagine yourself wearing it on your wedding day.
That's more than enough.
So, how many wedding dresses should you try?
As many as you need — but not more simply for the sake of it. Wedding dress shopping isn't a competition and there's no prize for trying the most gowns.
A good appointment should help you gradually understand what you like, what feels comfortable and what makes you feel confident. At Bridal Gossip in Wadebridge, my role is to guide you through that process rather than rush you towards a decision.
We'll try different ideas, talk honestly about what is and isn't working, and give you the space to work out what feels right for you.
If you'd like to see some of the styles available before your appointment, explore our wedding dresses.
And when you're ready to start trying them on, you can book your bridal appointment.
Caroline Griffiths, Bridal Gossip
Images by Laura Buffery Photography
