Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Weddings are some of the biggest and most important events in someone’s life. Unfortunately, this means they can also be super stressful, with checklists a mile long, from rehearsal dinners to engagement photoshoots.
Going to your bridal dress appointment is a very exciting and important part of the process, so it makes sense that you want to get it right. Being appropriately prepared for wedding dress shopping can help reduce some of that stress and make it easier to find the right dress for your big day.
For the best experience, you want to surround yourself with supportive people, do some research in advance, and dress for the event. Here are our top tips on what to wear for your bridal dress appointment.
Choosing Your Core Outfit
It can be hard to choose an outfit to wear wedding dress shopping, especially when you have so many other elements to consider. You might also feel like there’s no point in putting any effort into your outfit since you’ll be spending the day in other clothes. However, choosing a good outfit can help put you in a better headspace for your appointment.
Wear: A simple and comfortable outfit that’s easy to get in and out of will save you time and struggle. Picking something that expresses your personal style will also help clue in the staff and help them choose better options for you to try.
Pack: A sweater in case you get chilly between try-ons and some comfy shoes to wear to and from the appointment.
Leave at Home: Any garment that has zippers you can’t reach or other complicated closures is just going to frustrate you. Also, avoid anything that you feel self-conscious in. An outfit you’re constantly tugging at isn’t going to make you feel like a beautiful bride.
Think About Your Lingerie
Trying on wedding dresses is not a private event. Because many dresses are complicated or hard to close on your own, an employee will often accompany you into the dressing room to help you get in and out of the gowns. With that in mind, wear underwear that you’re comfortable being seen in; that might be something with more coverage.
Wear: Wear neutral, seamless underwear that feels comfortable. If you plan on wearing shapewear, wear it to your try-on session.
Pack: You can pack some shapewear options if you aren’t sure what you want to do on the day yet. You might also bring a strapless bra for trying on strapless and off-the-shoulder styles.
Leave at Home: Bras, corsets, and bridal lingerie aren’t going to be comfortable or practical for your dress appointment. Most brides end up choosing a bra that fits the neckline of the dress they end up selecting, but many dresses have supportive structures that may let you forgo a bra altogether, so keep it simple with a comfortable skin tone bra for your appointment.
Be Mindful of Your Shoes
Shoes can really make a big difference when it comes to your wedding look, but if you haven’t picked a dress yet, you probably haven’t picked shoes either. Don’t sweat it too much.
Wear: Choose a pair of shoes in a height you’re comfortable with in a neutral color so that you can see what length of wedding dress you want.
Pack: If you have a few shoe styles or heights you’re considering, you can bring them with you to try with your shortlist of favorite dresses.
Leave at Home: Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes. It’s going to be a long day with a lot of outfit changes, so any discomfort is going to sap your energy. You also don’t want to be uncomfortable on your big day, so keep that in mind.
Wear Simple Jewelry
You might want to go all out with the bling on your big day, but for your initial bridal appointments, you actually want to keep it simple. Jewelry can get in the way and distract from your dress search. Focus on the dress now and worry about the jewelry later.
Wear: Your engagement ring!
Pack: If you have any special pieces of jewelry that you really want to be a part of your wedding ensemble, pack them in your appointment bag. If you find a dress you really love, you can see how well the piece works with it.
Leave at Home: Leave off any jewelry for the actual fitting so you don’t risk snagging an expensive gown on your favorite bracelet, or risk a beloved necklace falling off somewhere on the fitting room floor.
Stick to Basic Makeup
Most brides opt for at least some makeup on their wedding day because flash photography can be unforgiving to the complexion. Some choose to go for a no-makeup natural look, and others like to go full glam for their day as the star of the show. Whatever your daily makeup routine, you might wonder what the protocol is for a bridal dress appointment.
Wear: Stick with light makeup that makes you feel good–think of a simple combo like BB creme, mascara, and lip tint. Even if you normally wear zero makeup day-to-day, a little bit can help you envision how you’ll look at your wedding and help you feel more beautiful and confident.
Pack: Bring a little lip balm and a powder compact with you so you can do a quick touch-up during the day if you start to feel too dry or too oily.
Leave at Home: If you’re a makeup lover who enjoys doing full contour and cat eyes every day, we respect your game, but you might want to tone it down a bit for your bridal appointment. You don’t want to risk getting makeup on the inside of an expensive white dress while changing. Wear enough so that you feel like yourself, but let your natural skin tone shine through so you can choose a dress that matches your natural beauty.
Choose a Practical Hairstyle
Bridal hairdos tend to be way more complicated than we wear day-to-day. For a bridal dress appointment, though, you don’t have to worry about having the perfect updo or any fancy clips and combs.
Wear: If you have short hair, style it with barrettes to keep it out of your face and help it stay neat through the try-on process. For longer hair, we recommend putting it in a ponytail or braid.
Pack: You can bring extra elastics or a big claw clip to help sweep your hair out of the way if needed. For dresses with back details or cut-outs, getting your hair up off your neck can be useful to better see the style.
Leave at Home: Any hair accessories will just be in the way. Headbands, tiaras, and veils can be added later. Sometimes the bridal shop will supply options for you to try with different dresses, so don’t worry about having to provide your own.
Have the Best Bridal Dress Appointment
There are lots of details to consider when shopping for your wedding dress, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming and complicated. Follow the tips in this guide, and you’re sure to be comfortable through your wedding dress appointment. Most importantly, this is all about your special day, so make sure to have fun!