By: Amy Maier, WPICC
Finding “The One”
I managed a bridal salon for almost 6 years, so I consider myself somewhat of an expert in the area of wedding gowns. During this time, I had the privilege of helping hundreds of brides find “the one”. I LOVE to go wedding gown shopping with my brides because there is nothing better than seeing a bride light up when she puts on the gown she is going to walk down the aisle in.
Wedding gown shopping can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially for those brides that do not enjoy shopping (GASP! Yes…there are people who do not love shopping; I am as shocked as you.) Thanks to the plethora of reality shows out there on weddings and wedding gown shopping (which I PVR weekly and watch while eating various fried and sugary foods in my sweatpants) brides seem to think they need to cry, faint or have a religious epiphany before they commit to a dress.
“HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS THE ONE? WHAT IF I MAKE THE WRONG DECISION? WHAT IF I SEE ONE IN A MONTH I LIKE BETTER? WHAT IF I LOSE WEIGHT?” ARGAHHHHHHHHHHH!
All great questions. Allow me….
- How do I know this is “the one”?
I often tell brides that shopping for a wedding gown is like shopping for a sweater. Just a much heavier, prettier, more expensive sweater…. It has been my experience that most brides tend to over think and over complicate wedding gown shopping. Looking online at 300,000 dresses before you even set foot in a store is not how you find a wedding gown. I don’t know about you but I am not a 6ft, size 2 model (if you are then I’m sorry we cannot be friends) and looking at a gown on the aforementioned supermodel, do you really think you will be able to tell what it will look like on you? Wedding gowns are unlike any other piece of clothing you have had on, so get your fabulous butt into a bridal salon, get yourself a good consultant (or your wedding coordinator to go with you!) and just start trying things on!
– Do you feel beautiful?
– Is it in budget?
– Do you love everything about it?
If the answer to all three of these questions is yes…ask yourself, “Why am I hesitating?”
- What if I make the wrong decision?
If you trust your own opinion you will not make the wrong decision. That is all.
- What if I see one in a month I like better?
Wedding gowns are like everything out there, there are new, different ones coming out all the time. As my very wise, fellow bridal consultant Janice says “Buying a gown is like buying a car, once you put the money down you stop looking, be happy with what you choose and drive the one you bought.” . If you keep looking after you purchase a gown you will drive yourself (and more than likely everyone around you) crazy.
- What if I lose weight?
More than likely you don’t even need to lose weight, this is some weird pressure all brides put on themselves. If I had a quarter for every bride who told me they wanted to lose 20lbs I could buy that Prada bag I have had my eye on. PLEASE buy your gown for the size you are now, if you lose weight then you take the dress in. Do you really want to stress out for 6 months about your weight while waiting for your gown to arrive? I would much rather have that giant piece of cheesecake at dinner thank you very much.
Shopping for a wedding gown should be a stress free experience full of laughs (sometimes tears) fun, and excitement. No matter your size, shape, budget or style there is a gown out there for you, I promise!
Amy Maier owns Head Over Heels in Edmonton, Alberta. She is a certified wedding coordinator through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada and has been in the bridal industry for more than six years as the manager of one of Edmonton’s largest bridal salons. Amy’s professional background outside the wedding industry is in purchasing and cost control which makes her a very well rounded event planner. She is also trained in conflict resolution management…which can come in very handy!
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