Exactly one week ago, I found the wedding dress of my dreams! The wedding dress is now checked off of the list!

I went to Brides of Florida in Miami, FL. I heard about the boutique wedding dress shop from my future sister in law, who got her dress form the same location (+ as it turns out, we even had the same staff member help us too!). I have been following this boutique on Instagram so I have seen the style and types of dress they offer. Before I tried on dresses, I was asked to fill out a questionnaire with general information about me, my price range for a dress, + attach pictures of dresses I liked. Attaching those pictures helped to narrow down my search from the start. My appointment lasted a little over an hour and a half, which I have researched is about the normal amount of time for one appointment. There are some tips I learned before, during, + after shopping for wedding dresses that I think are helpful for anyone looking for their wedding dress! So let’s get to them…

Do Your Research

This includes the bridal shop and the designers they carry. If they have a social media presence, follow them + their posts. The posts will give you an idea of the vibe of the shop + allow you to see what they value. Most often, they mention specific details about the dresses that will help you to decide if you like the overall aesthetic of the boutique as well as the styles they carry. Look on their website to find designers. Look up information about the designers including specific features unique to them + prices of the types of dresses they make.

Ask About Pricing

I know this one can feel a bit weird but this is one of the most important parts of wedding dress shopping. Make sure you call the bridal shop to ask about the price range for their dresses. If you have a budget set at, say $1,500, you want to make sure they have dresses around that price range. You don’t want to show up to a shop you believe has dresses in your price range to find out they sell dresses starting $3,000. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the price of each dress BEFORE trying it on.

Set a Budget + Stick to It

Most brides have a set budget from the beginning of wedding planning. To help with this, I recommend asking other recent brides how much their dresses were. Call around to different shops to ask about styles you like that you see online. DO YOUR RESEARCH to find the price of the dress you are trying to find. Then set it + stick to it.

Don’t Forget About Alterations

Alterations can significantly increase the price of the overall dress. Keep in mind that simple alterations can be a few hundred dollars but the adding of sleeves, beading, or increasing size or length can sometimes cost more than the dress itself. The boutique I went to offers basic alterations at a flat fee. This includes: sizing, adding cups, hemming + bustling. Any additional of material comes at an extra charge. But the flat fee allows a bride to take that into consideration.

Take Nude Undergarments With You

I recommend taking nude underwear similar to the style you typical wear or know you will wear on your wedding day. You will feel comfortable. The style of dress you want can also influence what type you should take. If you are looking for a more fitted dress, then a seamless or thong style would probably be the best. If you wear a looser fit or ballgown style, the type of undergarments will not matter as much. Also, take a strapless bra or sticky boobs so that you have something to wear underneath the dress. Keep in mind, you could always adds cups later into the dress if you prefer to not wear a bra on the day of the wedding.

Think About Who You Want to Take

You can choose to invite whomever you would like, but keep in mind that a lot of opinions can deter you from your own. Try to limit it to those closest to you. In my case, my mother specifically requested that it just be her + I for the wedding dress shopping experience. While I originally wanted more people there for the process, I wanted to respect her wishes. I was able to set up an appointment for the two of us + we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Try On a Variety of Dresses

I can’t go into specifics, but there was a detail of the dress I chose that I thought I would not like on my body. I saw the dress on the hanger and really liked it with but was nervous about the detail of it. However, when I put it on, I fell in love with it! There was nothing I didn’t like about the dress. I am interested in adding a little more detail, but that will all be shared after the wedding, once I share the dress with you all! I tried on about 8 dresses, with the 5th being the one I chose!

If You Can’t Choose Between Dresses, Try Them on Back to Back

This happened to me + the bridal shop owner explained that if you are caught between two dresses, try one on + try the second one on immediately after to compare the two. Typically, your heart will tell you which one is yours. I was overwhelmed at how much I liked but I ultimately knew which dress was for me. I was excited to put it back on, take a video + pictures in it, + say yes to the dress!

Consider the Time of Your Appointment

Consider when you go for an appointment. If you go earlier in the afternoon, you may have more time for an appointment. After looking into it, most appointments last for an hour, but mine was an hour and a half. Mine could have lasted up to two hours but it was the last day of business before Christmas break so the employees were picking up as I was finishing my appointment. I did feel the slightest bit rushed in making a decision because the overall process of the purchase was rather fast. You do not have to commit to a dress on the first try (in fact I know many people who try multiple stores before choosing their dress). I did my research on the company, trusted their value in their dresses + designers, + knew they would have the dress I would be looking for. The dress is perfect + I cannot wait to update you all on my first fitting appointment!

I hope these tips were helpful for you! Comment below with some additional tips you may have!