When Should You Start Wedding Dress Shopping

For many brides, wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting elements about planning their big day. While it can be overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be! To help make it as easy and fun as possible, we’ve mapped out the ideal wedding dress shopping timeline.

Now, before you even get started looking at wedding dresses, set a wedding date and book your wedding venue. These two things have a HUGE impact on the whole process; if you’re having an outdoor garden wedding, you'll probably want a comfortable, more effortless gown. Getting married at an upscale restaurant? A more formal gown could be your dress.

When you Should Start Wedding Dress Shopping

12+ Months Before Your Wedding

If you haven’t started already, start saving pictures of wedding dresses you love! By saving inspiration, you’ll start to see clear trends emerge and it’ll be easier to narrow down the dress styles you like when it comes time to start shopping for your dream wedding dress.

Now is also a good time to set your wedding dress budget. Don’t forget to also allow for accessories, like your shoes, veil and jewellery!

10 Months Before Your Wedding

Start researching the bridal designers that keep coming up in your saved inspo and the boutiques that stock them near you. Wedding dress shopping isn’t like shopping for a regular dress and you’ll need an appointment for when you go in to try on gowns. Now is also the time to decide who you’ll be taking with you when you try on the dress. Keep the group as small as possible filled with only your nearest and dearest.

So, once you’ve got a shortlist, book in your appointments! 

9 Months Before Your Wedding

Now for the fun part, trying on dresses! Bring your favourite inspiration images to give your bridal stylist an idea on your style. Once you’ve tried on dresses and know what works for your body, you can always look at buying a wedding dress online. 

Most boutiques require you to order nine months out from the wedding to give the designer enough time make and ship your dress. Don’t have this much time before your wedding? Since we make our modern wedding dresses right here in Melbourne our turn around time is much smaller and we can accommodate nearly any timeline! Just get in touch to chat to us.

5 Months Before Your Wedding

This is when you probably want to start looking for your accessories to finish your wedding day look. Think about whether or not you want a veil, and make sure you’ve decided on your shoes and have them ready to bring to your first fitting!

3 Months Before Your Wedding

It’s time to pick up your wedding dress and book in to have it altered to fit you perfectly! For your final fitting with us, bring along the shoes, underwear, and accessories you’re planning to wear to give you an idea of how everything will look together on the big day. Tailors are especially busy this season due to all the postponed weddings, so we’re having our dresses made earlier to allow more time for alterations.

Now you’re ready, so relax and get excited for the big day!

To try on our range of relaxed modern wedding dresses, book your free appointment now.