When should you buy your wedding dress?

Other than looking forward to exchanging vows, one of the bride’s biggest decisions has to be her wedding gown.

Brides need to shop for their gowns early to avoid last minute rush. If done within the required time frame, she will have an easy time picking out the best gown within her budget and most importantly, fittings. This will include adjustments especially if one has gained or lost weight.

Usually, the dress shopping should be done at least a month prior to cater for last minute adjustments a week or two before the D-day.

Once you identify the perfect gown you need to stop looking at wedding gowns because planning a wedding is all about decisions and having second thoughts will lead to set-backs. To avoid common mistakes while shopping for the gown, some things need to be put into consideration.

Here are some tips on when to buy your wedding dress.       

This is the best time to shop for a dress by having ideas of what kind of a gown you would like. You start by identifying what you would like, the cost of it and the design. This will also give you ample time to search for the perfect gown without rushing or last minute shopping. You shouldn’t shop too early or too late.

Your wedding venue can at times determine the type of gown you settle on. Whether it’s outdoor or indoor, a destination wedding or simply an AG wedding, this needs to be factored in to complement the theme and venue. Hence, the importance of picking a venue first.

The best time to shop for a wedding dress is after you have both decided on the total wedding budget with allocations for each expense. Once you know how much you need to spend on your dress, you will shop cautiously. Do this backwards and you will suffer from disappointment when you discover the gown is above your budget. Always work with your budget. Armed with this, you can now be able to decide whether you want to have a custom made gown or shop for one online.

This means you buy a dress based on how you think you will look in that dress. You should never be talked into shopping a size down based on your hope to lose weight. You should lose weight when approaching the wedding so that you don’t get disappointment while altering the dress. You choosing a size down might end up being a big risk and room for change may not be there.

This is when you should buy your dress and settle on it. At this point you need to make a deposit for the dress especially if it’s being custom made so that the tailor can begin working on it. This being Kenya with the horrendous stories of tailors doing this or the other, you need plenty of time ahead if you really want that custom made dress. In case anything happens to the fundi you can still get a replacement in good time.

At this point you need to shop for undergarments like if you’ll do a strapless bra, body shapers or even going braless. This will help you fit your dress easily. You can also choose hair accessories and select the shoes you will wear at this point as well.

This is a crucial stage where you need to go for your first fitting. Avail yourself and make proper arrangements to ensure you don’t miss any appointments. Take this opportunity to carry your undergarments and shoes. This will allow you to get the full picture and should any alterations need to be done, this will be the best time to do it.

This is the final stage to go for the last fitting and you can tag along a friend or family member to see the outcome of it.  Once the gown is ready, find a good place to keep it and ensure everything else is also in order.