What to Expect When You Go Bridal Dress Shopping!

From Say Yes to the Dress to I Found the Gown, TLC has us brides spending countless hours watching these favorites. So when it is time for you to stop daydreaming of when you will get the chance to dress shop and make it a reality, how do you prepare?

While we love these shows, it is not always the experience brides have when they dress shop. These shows can either set us up for unrealistic expectations or prepare us for a bridal gown appointment. We prefer the latter, and we are guessing you do too!

Kleinfields (Say Yes to the Dress) and Brides By Lori (Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta) are large bridal shops (much larger than the average) with a large inventory of wedding gowns. If you are going dress shopping in your local neighborhood, you shouldn't be comparing the two! Although, it is what we have in mind as brides, so it sets us up for unrealistic expectations. This post is to help prepare you for your dress shopping experience, see our tips below!

1. Do your Research & Make an Appointment

Always make an appointment! We can't stress this enough! If you want proper care and time dedicated to you, an appointment is a must. At some shops, this is even a requirement! Research the store and what designers they carry. Look at the designer's websites, do you even like the dresses? Remember, just because you like a designer, does not mean the bridal shop will carry every dress by that designer! Typically shops order between 10-20 dresses from a Spring or Fall collection. If you are wanting to try a specific gown on, call and see if it is available to try on or see if they can get it for you to try on!