Wish Upon a Wedding Dress – Choose the Right Boutique for a Seamless Experience

by Kerri Cooke

While many women have a general idea of what they want to look for in a wedding dress and gain inspiration after seeing pictures of celebrity dresses, there are others who have absolutely no idea where to start when shopping. Regardless of which category a future bride fits into, there are certain steps that will decrease the stress so you can focus on what really matters—your love story and how to feel confident on your wedding day! 

Research Bridal Salons 

Laurie Baynard, owner of L Bridal Couture, advises women to do their research on bridal shops before making an appointment. Every bridal shop is going to have a different personality and character which will dictate what type of dresses they carry and how expensive the dresses are. Read reviews to get an idea of customer service and view pictures to get an feel of the type of styles a shop carries. It’s also a good idea not to venture into a store where you know the dresses are over your budget. 

Trust the Bridal Stylist 

If a woman walks in with no concept of what she wants to wear on this big day, Baynard says, “Our job as bridal stylists is to figure this out.” If you don’t know how to do something, you ask the experts, right? This is no different with the shopping experience. Stylists are trained to help you find something that feels authentic to you while also encouraging you to try new things. “It’s so important to have an open mind because sometimes you put on a dress and it’s the one and you can’t explain it,” Baynard says. “There will be something different about one particular wedding gown. She’ll light up a little more. 

She won’t be able to stop smiling. Sometimes there will be tears.” 

At L Bridal Couture, if a client wants to start from a blank slate, the stylist will pull six to eight gowns of various styles to see what type of dress a woman is gravitating to. Then there will be questions such as: “Do you like the drop waist?” or “How do you feel about this fabric?” Details like beadings, lace or an entire silhouette can make or break how a woman feels about a dress. 

Once a stylist has determined what type of style a woman likes best, they will begin pulling wedding dresses with those details for her to try on. And, hopefully, the dream dress will be found during this process. 

Determine Small Details 

Sometimes a dress can be almost perfect but feel like it is missing something. This is when accessories come into play. For example, popular dress modifications include removable sleeves, overskirts and detachable trains. These options can give you two different looks in one.  

Also, full coverage gloves have surged in popularity for their ladylike appeal. Now, lace, fingerless gloves have come on the scene for ease of access to the ring finger. 

Whatever shop or dress you choose, don’t forget that it’s just one detail in the big picture, so enjoy the process and don’t stress over it.