The question’s been popped, the bling has been bought, and now the real fun begins, finding THE wedding dress.
Our Manor By The Lake wedding planners have rounded up their top tips to help you in your quest to find the perfect one.
Identify the silhouette that suits you
It’s easy to get blinded by the many choices of wedding dress with magazines, websites, and even TV shows dedicated to this single piece of clothing. It’s really important to see beyond the skinny models, and think honestly about the style of dress that will suit you best.
A clingy, fishtail number with intricate beading is bound to look amazing on a model, but if you’re a voluptuous, curvy girl, it won’t be the most flattering choice for your shape.
Think about the styles of dress that you own that receive the best compliments when you wear them, and also think about the least favourite areas of your body that you don’t want to draw attention to, as this will help narrow down your search.
Remember the top of the wedding dress gets more airtime
A romantic lace train sweeping behind you is all well and good, but unless you’re getting married in a cathedral, the chances are, the bottom of your dress won’t get noticed anywhere near as much as the top of it.
When you’re signing the register, or sitting at the top table, the top of the wedding dress is all that is seen, and many photographs, particularly those that your guests take, will reflect this. Think about the bodice and detailing such as sleeves, belts and beading that will create a wow factor.
Don’t feel pressured to bring a crowd
Reality TV shows would have us believe that you need a cast of thousands to choose a dress and that turning up to the boutique with all your bridesmaids, friends, family and neighbours is essential. Don’t believe the hype! Too many opinions will just confuse you and create unnecessary stress.
Take your best friend or anyone you feel will be a true help to you and give honest feedback. N.B. your mum often isn’t the best person to ask! We know dozens of brides who felt pressured to pick a dress that mum preferred. Even if you’re fortunate enough for your parents to be paying for your dress, this doesn’t mean they get to choose it.
You have to pick something that you love, and feel comfortable with. It’s a lot of money to spend for a single wearing, so you need to feel you’ve picked the best possible option that suits you.
Set a budget, and stick to it!
It can be tempting in the heat of the moment to get completely carried away and commit to a wedding dress that you honestly can’t afford. Boutique managers will ply you with champagne and gush about a dress being perfect for you, but it’s not perfect if you can’t afford it. A good boutique will ask you what your budget is, and show you dresses that are within that price range.
Celebrity weddings and gossip magazines boast of £100,000 dresses being custom made by top designers. This isn’t the norm! Set a budget that’s realistic, and spend what you can afford. It is a special day, and you want to feel amazing, but do you really want to be paying off your wedding dress debt for months or even years after the big day? Probably not.
Don’t get carried away, keep your practical head on
Whatever wedding dress you choose, you’re going to be wearing it for a whole day, and it has to be comfortable, and also ever so slightly practical! We’re not being killjoys, but if you can’t breathe in the boned corset, then sitting through a 5 course banquet followed by a long night of dancing, it isn’t going to be a realistic proposition.
The right dress will make you feel confident, comfortable and stunning. If the sash is a bit fiddly and annoying at the try on, imagine how you’ll feel after wearing it for 8 hours! Don’t think ‘I’ll get used to it’ – it’s essential that you feel fabulous from the outset, and if you don’t, it’s the wrong dress!
If you need further help call our team and ask about our next planning showcase when we often have top wedding dress designers present to discuss your choices, and whilst you’re there you can have a guided tour of our magnificent Manor!
To arrange a private viewing just call us on 01242 245 071 or email [email protected] and we’ll look forward to showing you around our beautiful Manor.
