I am not ashamed to admit that Say Yes to the Dress (yes, all of them) is one of my favorite shows on television. One of the main reasons I miss having cable. I love seeing all the brides trying on gorgeous gowns, but I LOVE the drama even more. I cannot even tell you how many times I’ve been watching and thought, “There’s no way this is actually happening. It HAS to be scripted!” People can be a little crazy and ridiculous. Probably the understatement of the year. Since it’s premeire in 2007, I have learned A LOT from the good, the bad, and the ugly on this show, and these things definitely helped me when I was picking out my wedding dress! Here are my top 10 tips:
1. Dress for your body type. If you’re 5 feet tall and weigh 100lbs, wearing a giant ball gown may not be the best choice for you. You want to look like you’re wearing your dress… Not that your dress is wearing you!
2. Don’t show TOO much skin. Obviously, you want to look fabulous on your wedding day, but there is a fine line between elegant/classy and “WOAH. That’s a lot of skin.” Not only can this make your guests feel uncomfortable, but you’ll probably end up feeling restricted in your movements all day. Besides, you don’t wanna steal the thunder from your honeymoon bikini. :)
3. Don’t bring an entourage. If people pleasing is an issue you face, bringing 12 people shopping with you is probably not the way to go.
4. Stick to your guns. This goes hand-in-hand with #3. At the end of the day, YOU’RE the one that’s going to be wearing the wedding dress, so make sure you absolutely love it! If you’re aiming to please everyone, you will end up frustrated and defeated.
5. Keep an open mind. If you go into a bridal salon with only one dress in your mind, what happens when it doesn’t have that WOW factor that you were hoping for when you put it on? This doesn’t mean that THE dress isn’t out there… It just means that you’ll probably need to try on a few different styles and silhouettes to find that perfect gown!
6. Take a break! You’ve been trying on gowns all morning, and you’re at a total of 20 “no”s. Instead of trying on more an more gowns, take a step back, and give yourself a break. Sometimes, a fresh perspective is just what you need, instead of exhausting and confusing yourself with more and more gowns.
7. Make a decision. Yes, sometimes taking a break is a great idea, but you also have to make a decision at some point! If you let yourself fall in love with every single dress, or don’t let yourself fall in love with one at all, you’re just adding more and more unnecessary stress to your life!
8. Less is more. A lot of brides want a dress that has lace, tulle, beading, chiffon, satin, with a one-shouldered, sweetheart neckline, and sheer overlay. I’m sure that dress exists somewhere out there, but it would be really hard to find (and probably weighs 45lbs.)! Instead of wanting every possible bridal element included in your dress, pick out a few that you love the most, and go with those!
9. Have fun! Wedding dress shopping can be the most stressful experience of your life, OR it can be a great memory you create with those who love you the most! Having a relaxed and positive attitude will go a long way, especially when you put on that dress that doesn’t flatter you as much as you would have liked. :)
10. Know and stick to your budget! After watching Say Yes to the Dress for over 6 years, this is what I’ve learned more than anything else! You’re not doing yourself ANY favors by trying on an $8000 Lazaro gown when your budget is $1500. Not only will you be tempted to go WAY over the budget you have set, but every other gown that is in your price range won’t satisfy you. Stay away from those dresses you can’t afford!
Happy Wednesday! :)
Erin Fetterhoff - I LOVE SYTTD! I may or may not have watched every episode on Netflix ;) Great tips! I will HAVE to remember these for my wedding!