So, you recently got engaged - yay! You've found the perfect partner, the perfect venue, and now you may be wondering: how far in advance should I shop for and purchase my wedding dress?! It's probably your first time planning a wedding, so we're here to guide you through this totally new experience!
Read more below about our wedding dress shopping timeline and some of our best practices!
Wedding Dress Shopping Timeline
All of the beautiful gowns in our store are by special order! Which means, the gowns you see and try on during your appointment are just samples. When you say "yes!" to your dress, we'll special order a brand new gown in your desired color and size just for you!
On average, our special order gowns can take between 4-6 months to arrive from your purchase date! Yes - you read that correctly! They really do take 4-6 months to come in! This comes as a surprise to so many people when shopping for the perfect dress. The reality is, our gowns are not mass produced in advance. When we place the order for your dress, it is being made especially for you! Please keep in mind, if the designer is customizing your gown, the order timeline can be even longer!
Plan ahead for alterations!
Alterations on your beautiful wedding gown are essential to making sure you look and FEEL your best on your special day! When putting together your wedding dress shopping timeline, it's so important to plan ahead for alterations! Every seamstress is a little different, depending on their workload.. but in general, our alterations will begin about 6-8 weeks before your wedding day!
If you are doing special customizations to your gown, you may want to start your alterations a little earlier! Touch base with your stylist should you have any specific questions or concerns!
So when really is the best time to purchase my dress?
Taking all of the above into account, we strongly recommend purchasing your dress 10-12 months before your wedding! This is the average amount of time in advance that most brides purchase their dream gown. We also find this timeline to be the most efficient and least stressful for you! While you theoretically can order and alter a dress in less than 10 months, you really do not leave yourself any cushion time for unexpected situations; for example, hurricanes, global pandemics, etc!
2020 Brides
If you're planning a 2020 wedding, and you have not already purchased a dress - we HIGHLY suggest you come see us as soon as humanly possible! Given all of the uncertainty around the Coronavirus, we want to help you check this off your list sooner rather than later, to ensure you have the most seamless experience possible!
This ESPECIALLY goes for brides getting married before October! At this point, we are not able to special order your gown. But don't panic! We have plenty of sample gowns in pristine condition and in-stock options for your special day! We are confident that we can find your dream dress, even on a shorter timeline!
Ready to find your perfect dress?
Come see us! Click here to request an appointment today!
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