How to Choose Your Wedding Dress?

You've done it, you said "yes"! With sparkles in your eyes, you can already picture yourself in your princess dress, walking down the aisle among your guests. This dream will soon become a reality. In the meantime, planning a wedding won't just happen spontaneously, and there’s a lot to do. Among the crucial points not to overlook, choosing your wedding dress is particularly important. All eyes will be on you and your gown, so don’t leave any detail to chance. Here are some tips to guide you in this challenging choice; follow our guide on how to select your wedding dress.

A wedding dress within your budget.

You might be tempted to set off on a tour of bridal boutiques, wanting to ensure you don’t miss the dress of your dreams, which might be hidden away in the back of a designer's workshop.

Forget that idea: you’ll wear yourself out running around. Instead, set your sights right from the start; take stock of what you want, as well as your budget. Once you've determined your budget, resist the temptation to look at dresses that are out of your price range — you might end up regretting that you can't afford a dress you fall in love with. Set limits and stick to them; otherwise, you risk unnecessary disappointments. Furthermore, even with a tight budget, boutiques are getting creative to offer on-trend dresses that fit your price range. If you're leaning towards a bohemian wedding dress, there's no doubt you'll find something you love, as that trend is very prominent. In fact, we have a dedicated collection of bohemian wedding dresses here.

Select a handful of shops and designers that feature the styles you love within your budget and take an afternoon to make an initial selection. Identify a few dresses, take pictures if possible, and note their references. Let a few days pass and come back to your chosen models: there may be details you missed, lingering doubts, or confirmations of preferences. It’s always good to put some distance between the first impression and the second; a second sorting will naturally take place, narrowing down your selection and bringing you closer to realizing your dream.

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

Bohemian wedding dress shop

Picture it: you and your group of friends taking over the bridal shop, snapping photos of every dress you try on. I have to stop you there: that’s not a good idea. Each person will have their own advice, with the best intentions. Some will absolutely love the rustic bohemian dress you just slipped into, while others will prefer the lace from the one you tried on before. You won’t be able to make a choice, and it will complicate your decision significantly. It’s impossible to please everyone. On the day of your fittings, bring along your bridesmaids and perhaps a fashion-savvy friend whose opinion will be valuable. Don’t bring more than that, or you risk getting lost in a flood of suggestions. Plus, bringing your entire squad might not be well-received by the attendants, who may be less inclined to provide you with helpful recommendations. Don’t ruin the moment; you won’t get this chance twice.

Also, make sure to listen to the salespeople: they’re far more experienced than you and trained to help find the dresses that will suit you best. Even if you adore that sculptural-sleeve dress with refined beading, be sensible and pay attention to their advice: if they say it doesn’t flatter you, no amount of posing in front of the mirror will make it work. You’ll be the star of the day, and it’s important not to appear in a stunning gown that makes you look wider or flattens your figure. Trust their expertise; it’s their job.

A dress made for you

Different bohemian wedding dresses

Somewhere in a boutique, there’s a hanger with the dress of your dreams waiting for you, ready to turn heads on the big day. Several criteria need to come together to reach this ideal. First of all, not every dress will work for you: your body type has specific shapes that suit or don’t suit. We’ve written an article on different body types and suitable wedding dresses here. Whether you're very slim or pleasantly curvy, tall or petite, no body type can pull off just any dress. Depending on the width of your shoulders and your waist, some cuts should be avoided while others are recommended. Which part of your body do you love the most? That’s the aspect you should highlight, without falling into vulgarity: a bride is expected to remain chic and refined.

Also, don’t count on a crash diet: it’s easier to alter a dress that’s slightly too big than to resize one because you couldn’t shed those few extra pounds you hoped to lose. Wear the dress in your current size on the day of the fitting. A seamstress can always make adjustments later if it’s a bit big.

If you’ve already shortlisted a few designs, and the fitting was convincing, but something feels off, don’t press on. No matter how well the dress might fit, remember that you will be wearing it for hours. You absolutely must feel comfortable in it; otherwise, you’ll spend the day trying to hide the part that bothers you. Focus on enjoying the moment; that’s what it’s all about.

Be careful with accessories as well: a dress that’s already well adorned with beads or lace can’t accommodate too many extra embellishments. Additionally, the current trend leans towards minimalism and avoids overload. Your guests' eyes, especially that of your future spouse, should be drawn to one predominant ornament or key feature.

A designer wedding dress, a dream within reach

Most brides-to-be head to a specialized store dedicated to wedding dresses and accessories. Often, they have a specific design in mind, or alternatively, they’re unsure which style to pursue.

While these boutiques have an abundance of styles that will likely need adjustments, the selection can be challenging, and there’s always a detail that doesn’t fit perfectly. Whatever your vision, there’s another option for wearing the ideal wedding dress on your big day: a custom designer wedding dress.

Many people believe this to be an unattainable dream. That’s a misconception. For your wedding dress in Nantes, for example, a designer offers custom wedding dresses tailored specifically for you. The dress you decide on with the designer will be crafted from your meetings and will be completely unique. It will showcase both your body type and personal style.

Whether you dream of a minimalist, bohemian, romantic, or vintage gown, this designer will make all your desires come true. Moreover, she uses natural materials like cotton, silk, or tulle for a responsibly sourced wedding dress creation.

The perfect match

You’ve chosen to have a rustic or boho-chic wedding theme. Clearly, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for décor and venue on social media. You already envision the atmosphere for the reception, and your imagination has conjured the details adorning the guests' tables during the meal. That’s fantastic, but be sure to include your dress in the overall design: it must be perfectly aligned with the ambiance you’re aiming to create. If you show up in a dress decked with rhinestones and sequins in a rustic setting, it will create a disconnect that will be hard to overcome.

Chances are, you have chosen not to reveal your dress choice to your future spouse before the big day. While this tradition is lovely, you'll need to be clever to ensure both of your outfits coordinate for the wedding. It would be wise to agree in advance on what you like or dislike, or what you absolutely want or wish to avoid. This way, each of you will have guidelines for the final decision. You might also decide to choose your dress and his suit at the same shop and take advantage of the guidance from an advisor who can see both outfits. This way, you’re sure to achieve the perfect match.

Need inspiration? Explore tips for selecting your ideal wedding dress. Discover Wedding Dress Tips