How to Choose Your Wedding Dress?

You’ve done it, you said “yes”! With sparkling eyes, you can already picture yourself in your princess dress, walking down the aisle among your guests. It’s a dream that will soon become a reality. In the meantime, planning a wedding requires organization, and you have a lot on your plate. One of the most critical aspects you must focus on is the selection of your wedding dress. All eyes will be on you and your gown, so don’t leave any detail to chance. Here are some tips to guide you through this important choice; follow our guide on how to choose your wedding dress.

A wedding dress within your budget.

You may be tempted to embark on a tour of bridal shops to ensure you don’t miss out on the dress of your dreams, which might be hidden away in the back of any designer’s studio.

Forget that idea: you’ll tire yourself out running around everywhere. Instead, focus from the start, clarify your desires as well as your budget. Once you have your budget set, avoid looking at dresses that are beyond your price range; you might regret falling for something you can’t afford. Establish parameters and stick to them; otherwise, you could end up experiencing unnecessary disappointments. Plus, even if your budget is tight, shops are finding clever ways to offer on-trend dresses within your price range. If you’re interested in a bohemian wedding dress, there’s no doubt you’ll find one you love, as this trend is quite popular. In fact, we offer a dedicated collection of bohemian wedding dresses here.

Bohemian wedding dress

Select a few boutiques and designers that offer styles you like within your budget, and take an afternoon to make an initial selection. Identify some dresses, take photos if you can, and note the styles. Give it a few days and review the chosen models again: there might be details you missed, lingering doubts, or alternatively, attractions that become clearer. It’s always good to take a break between the first impression and the second; a second round of selection will naturally occur, narrowing down your choices and bringing you a step closer to making your dream come true.

Surround yourself with the right people to help you choose your wedding dress

Picture this: you and your group of friends gathering at a wedding dress shop, snapping photos every time a dress comes out of the fitting room. Hold on: that’s not a good idea. Everyone will have their opinion, all well-meaning. Half of them will adore the rustic bohemian dress you just tried on, while the other half will prefer the lace from the previous one. You’ll never get through it; the choices will become significantly more complicated. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone’s taste. On the day of fittings, surround yourself with your bridesmaids and possibly a friend who knows fashion and whose opinion you value. Don’t bring too many people; the more suggestions you have, the easier it is to get lost in the opinions. Additionally, arriving with a large group may not be appreciated by the salespeople, who will be less likely to provide you with valuable recommendations. Don’t ruin the moment; you won’t get to experience it twice.

Make sure to listen to the salespeople: they have much more experience than you and are trained to suggest the dresses that will suit you best. Even if you absolutely love that sculpted sleeve dress with refined beading, be reasonable and pay attention to their advice: if they say it doesn’t flatter you, no amount of posing in front of the mirror will change that—it’s time to move on. You will be the star of the day, so it’s not about wearing a dress, no matter how beautiful, that broadens your waist or flattens your bust. Trust them; it’s their job.

A dress made for you

Somewhere in a store, there’s a hanger with the dress of your dreams that will turn heads on your big day. Several criteria need to align for you to achieve this ideal. First, not every dress will suit you; your body has a specific shape which works with certain cuts and not others. We’ve even written an article on different body types and suitable wedding dresses here. Whether you’re very slender or have curves, tall or short, no body type can pull off every style. Depending on the width of your shoulders and your waist, some cuts should be avoided while others are recommended. What part of your body do you love the most? That’s what you should highlight, without crossing into vulgarity; a bride is expected to remain chic and elegant.

Also, don’t rely on a diet: it’s easier to adjust a dress that’s slightly too large than to enlarge one because you couldn’t shed those extra pounds. Choose the dress in your size on the fitting day. A seamstress can always take it in if it ends up being a bit loose later on.

You may have already settled on a few styles, the fitting seems promising, but something feels off. Even if you can’t articulate what’s bothering you about the dress, don’t push it. No matter how well the dress fits, remember you’ll be wearing it for hours. You must feel comfortable in it; otherwise, you might spend your day trying to hide something that bothers you. Focus only on enjoying the moment; that’s where the joy lies.

Be mindful of accessories as well: a dress already adorned with beads or lace limits additional fanciness. Additionally, the current trend leans toward minimalism, avoiding overload. The eyes of your guests, especially your future husband, should be drawn to one defining ornament or primary element.

A designer wedding dress, a dream made possible

Most future brides visit specialty shops dedicated to wedding dresses and accessories. They often have a pretty specific model in mind, or on the contrary, they don’t really know what style to lean toward.

Although these shops offer a multitude of styles that will likely need adjustments, the decision can still be challenging, and there’s always a detail that doesn’t feel right. Whatever your project, there’s another option for attaining the ideal wedding dress on your big day: the custom designer wedding dress.

Many believe this is an unattainable dream. That’s not true. For your wedding dress in Nantes, for example, a designer will create custom wedding dresses specifically for you. The one you choose with the designer will be the result of your consultations and will be totally unique. It will enhance both your body shape and your personal style.

Whether you dream of a minimalist, bohemian, romantic, or vintage dress, this designer can bring all your wishes to life. Moreover, she uses natural materials such as cotton, silk, or tulle for an eco-friendly wedding dress creation.

The perfect match

You’ve decided on a rustic or chic bohemian theme for your wedding. You’ll undoubtedly find plenty of decoration and venue inspiration on specialized social media. You’re already envisioning the ambiance of the reception; your imagination has mapped out the details on the guests’ tables during the meal. That’s great, but be sure to include your dress in the decor: it must be perfectly in sync with the setting you’re planning to create. If you arrive in a dress adorned with rhinestones and sequins in a rustic scene, the disconnect will be hard to fix.

There’s a good chance you’ve chosen not to reveal your dress choice to your future husband until the big day. This tradition is quite charming, but you’ll need to be clever to ensure your outfits are coordinated for the wedding. It’s wise to agree in advance on what you both like or don’t like, what you absolutely want or, conversely, want to avoid. This way, you’ll both have guidelines for the final decision. You can also choose your dress and his suit in the same store and benefit from the advice of a consultant who will see both outfits. This ensures you achieve the perfect match.