10 Tips for Wedding Gown Shopping

1. You are already gorgeous inside and out, and no dress is going to change that! You are gorgeous with or without that dress, and it’s so important to remember that you are beautiful just as you are! Sorry to go all James Blunt on you, but you needed to hear that. Okay let’s get started!

2. Start Early! We always suggest girls start shopping a year before the wedding and while that might seem bat shit crazy, it really does help for a smoother process. Trust us! Gowns typically take 6-9 months to come in, crazy right? Since we are at the manufacturer's discretion, there are several reasons for delays such as a UPS plane crashing (that actually happened to us), box sent to Amazon (that also actually happened btw), wrong dress sent, manufacturer made the wrong size etc. We have zero control over all the what-if’s and so starting early is always best! We thankfully have never missed a wedding and never had a problem that couldn’t be properly fixed.

3. Your stylist is your friend, and professional. Here at Bombshell we are motivated by helping you find your PERFECT dress. We want to make you feel as if you are working with a close friend, and we make sure all our stylists have the tools to help you achieve just that! You want straps? We’ve got ‘em! Want a jacket with long sleeves attached to your dress? Done! We have an expert seamstress on staff and gurrrrl can she sew.

4. Take Pictures. WOW A BRIDAL SHOP THAT LETS YOU TAKE PICTURES. Yes, you heard that right. This is the one day you will be photographed more than any other time in your life so duh, of course you want to see what look like in pictures!

Pro tip: Keep in mind that the iPhone lighting will differ from your professional photographer’s lighting gear and be 100 times better.

5. Sizing differs. Ugh, unfortunately bridal sizes are 2 to 3 sizes different than what you are used to wearing. I know I know, it really stinks. I wear a street size 16/18 and in bridal I wear a 22/24 depending on manufacturer! Way to make us feel good bridal manufactures! Thanks! Every manufacturer has their own size chart so you could be an 18 in one but a 24 in another! But really, size is just a number, and here at Bombshell we will make sure you look amazing! Pay no attention to that silly little number, take it with a grain of salt and remember you will look amazing no matter what. <3

6. Trust your instincts. You most likely will find your dress the first time you shop, and yes, that is a good thing! 89% of our brides buy at their first appointment with us. Yes, you read that right, 89%. I know that all the “Say Yes to the Dress” type shows tell you “Oh no! You need MORE options, you need to shop around!” Trust me, this is overrated. Okay, yes, I am a little biased… but just a quick glance at our reviews will assure you that you’ve made the right choice ;) Also, did you feel that way about your fiance when they asked you to marry them? That you had to “shop” around? So why do that with your wedding gown? It only gets harder you the more you try on, and the more confused you will be. I have had brides who have been to umteen number of shops, and tried on 80+ bridal gowns and in the end couldn’t make up her mind. She would keep telling herself “What if there could be something better out there?” Yes, I won’t lie, there could be! There is always a possibility that there is something out there that you may like more. But you have to stop looking at some point, so stop looking once you find a gown you LOVE, not after you’ve loved several gowns and you drive yourself crazy trying to make a choice between all of them. Less is more. Your decision will be so much easier, and I know when you get your pictures back from your photographers you will be so happy with the dress you chose!

Pro Tip: This isn’t total BS because we’re trying to get you to buy with us, there’s actual science behind it. The more choices a person has, the more difficult it is to decide. Just think about how overwhelming the toothpaste aisle is… Because, science.

7. Don’t bring an entourage. Remember when I said less is more? That statement applies here too. You only want to bring the people who will HELP you make your decision. The more people, the more opinions you get, and in doing so you may miss out on your perfect dress. I have seen it first hand many times... the bride LOVES a dress and wants her mom/sister/friend/neighbor to love it too. I won’t tell you some of the awful things that have been said, because I don’t believe in that type of talk to any of my girls. The bride ends up devastated that her people didn’t like her choice, and doesn’t purchase it. We once had a bride call a couple months after the wedding and say she wishes she wouldn’t have listened to her sister, and got that dress that she loved. Learn from her mistakes!!! The best advice I can give you is this: On your wedding day, EVERYONE will think you look beautiful, no matter which gown you choose! Nobody will make a negative comment about your dress, so you should do you gurl.

8. Buy the dress that fits today. Yes, I know we are all losing weight and going to the gym. That’s fine! You still have to choose the dress that fits today. Because REAL TALK weddings are STRESSFUL and eating more is sometimes a result. Taking the dress in is a lot easier than letting the dress out. Sometimes you can only let a dress out an inch, and sometimes you can’t let a dress out at all! So even if you are planning to lose 60lbs you will for sure be able to tailor that dress to fit you like a glove!

Pro Tip: We can ALWAYS fix a dress that is too big, we can only sometimes fix a dress that is too small.

9. Make an appointment! I can’t tell you how many times I have had to turn girls away on busy Saturdays. Some girls even have driven 6 hours without an appointment, what?!? I am not sure why, because personally I would never go somewhere an hour away without an appointment. Save yourself the disappointment and book an appointment! That is the only way you are guaranteed a fitting room and a stylist to help you. You will get the star treatment and our full one on one attention! Our stylists help only one bride find her dress at a time, which is the way it should be! So help us give you the best experience ever, by allowing us to be prepared for your visit!

10. Have an open mind. Your stylist might pull something that looks atrocious on the hanger, but have an open mind and try it on! You might be pleasantly surprised! Styles that you may have thought would be unflattering, might just end up being your favorite! Your stylist knows what style will look great on your body shape as soon as she meets you. It’s like our superpower! :p

So lovely, remember you are beautiful, and you will find the dress of your dreams! Relax gurrl we gotchu!

Talk Soon!

-Amy