Top 10 Wedding Dress Shopping Mistakes

There are many common mistakes brides make when they come wedding dress shopping – often because they are underprepared or unwilling to think beyond the ideal vision that they have in their head. But wedding dress shopping needn’t be stressful, or fruitless, or time-consuming. Here are our top 10 mistakes that brides make when shopping for a wedding dress – try to avoid these and you should be fine!

1. Not knowing their budget

Unless you really do have an unlimited amount to spend, you should have an idea of what you can afford. Obviously your budget will go a lot further if you choose to shop for discount wedding dresses, from a factory outlet or discount designer store, but you still need to know what your limit is.

2. Not considering extra costs

When you budget for your outfit, you need to remember that you will be wearing more than just a dress! You need to consider your shoes, underwear, a veil if you will be wearing one, any jewellery you don’t already own (I’m guessing most of us didn’t have a tiara before we got married!), and even your hair and make up should be included.

3. Bringing too many people

You should definitely bring someone. Many people bring their mum and a sister or a close friend. Whoever you choose, they should be people you trust to give an honest opinion but also not try to influence you to choose a dress they like rather than the one you like! Any more than two people and you’re going to end up with too many different viewpoints, which can get confusing for you. Besides, you want your wedding dress to be a surprise for as many people as possible on the big day!

4. Getting all made up to come wedding dress shopping

Okay, so wedding dress shopping feels more special than normal shopping, but there really is no need to get all dressed up for us! You should make sure that you are wearing a well-fitting bra if you are likely to need extra support under your wedding dress, but apart from that, casual is fine. In fact, we would prefer you didn’t wear any make up that could get smudged off on to the dresses.

5. Shopping too early (or too late!)

Shopping too late is less of a concern for shopping at wedding dress factory outlets, for example, as these dresses don’t need to be made from scratch for you, but you should still aim to leave enough time for any alterations. As for shopping too early, you really need to at least have the wedding date booked, and preferably the venue, as both of these decisions will influence what style of dress you choose. Also, if you aren’t ready to make the purchase, you could fall in love with a dress that isn’t available when you have the money ready.

6. Not having done a bit of research before

It’s all very well having an open mind as to what style of dress you want, but you should have some idea about what you like. Knowing your venue will help (beach weddings have a very different dress code to church weddings!), but take the time to look at some pictures and see what appeals to you. Perhaps you prefer plainer dresses to the more detailed ones, or a detachable train to a built in one. If you have no idea where to start, it can be a bit bewildering to look at all the wedding dresses on the rails!

7. Only trying one style on

Conversely, being adamant you will only try on white strapless ballgowns, may mean you miss out on a dress that would suit you more, as well as restricting your choice somewhat.

8. Trying to buy a smaller size saying “I’ll lose weight before the wedding”

It’s so easy to say, but not as easy to achieve, and while we’re not saying that you won’t lose weight before your big day, it is worth remembering that most dresses can be taken in by as many as four sizes without affecting the style. Letting a dress out is much more difficult, and if it is possible, you will only be able to let it out by one size. So choose a dress that fits now, and have it taken in when you lose that weight!

9. Forgetting they have to spend a whole day in the dress

This sounds obvious, but many people will try a dress on and decide to buy it without even trying to sit down in it. The wedding dress is for more than just the ceremony, so think about how comfortable it will be to wear while sitting down, eating and even dancing in. This is particularly important with corset style bodices that can be restricting, and fishtail dresses, which if too closely fitted can stop you being able to sit down at all!

10. Buying a dress you don’t love

This is YOUR dress. It should be the dress that you keep comparing all other dresses to (I still do this 4 years after my wedding, and so far, I still love my wedding dress more than any other!). Choosing a dress because it made your mother well up, or just because it has a coloured trim that will match the bridesmaid’s dresses is really not advisable. You aren’t planning to do this more than once, so make sure to buy the wedding dress of your dreams.

Wedding Dress Rental: How to Get Your Dream Dress Without Spending a Fortune

As more and more brides are becoming budget conscious, wedding dress rental companies are sprouting up everywhere. Even though a lot of brides still feel uncomfortable with the idea of renting a dress for her wedding, it is slowly becoming more acceptable. Think about it, you can probably wear the dress of your dreams without breaking the bank. Since you only wear it once, you should forget about any attachments you might have for the dress.

With wedding dress rental businesses booming, you are likely to see much more variety than you are used to. Most people have the misconception that only cheap dresses that are conventional and nothing special are available for rent. A lot of these larger rental facilities carry wedding dresses at all price points and in any style you can imagine. Don’t be surprised to find designer gowns among their collection. Where else can you go to get a designer wedding dress to wear for your wedding that never in a million years would you be able to afford?

One of the best parts of renting a wedding dress is that you will not have to worry about what to do with the dress after the ceremony is over. Most wedding dresses are huge and take up a lot of space. You have to figure out the best way to preserve and store the dress so it still holds up years from now. Sure, you won’t have anything to pass on to your daughter, but by that time your dress might be completely outdated anyway.

There should be wedding dress rental places in every major city as well as a few online ones. It’s important to be able to try on these dresses, because some places do not allow any alterations so the dress has to fit you perfectly. These rental stores are great, because most of them carry more than just wedding dresses. They also stock shoes, veils, jewelry and other wedding accessories. You can get everything to complete your wedding day look all from one place, and it will be extremely affordable. If you are having a destination wedding, it’s an even better idea to rent your dress at the destination of the wedding. There is no need to worry about transporting the dress and keeping it in pristine condition.

When you deal with a wedding dress rental business, it’s important to ask a lot of questions. For instance, you should find out whether or not they allow alterations on their dresses. Make sure you know exactly how many days before the wedding the dress will be delivered and when it needs to be returned. Verify the amount for deposit and ask about fees for damages before signing the contract. What happens if the dress is not delivered within the date promised? Iron out all the details with the company so you know exactly what to expect. The wedding dress is one of the most important things to have ready for the wedding, so make sure all your bases are covered.

Beach Wedding Dresses – For Hawaiian Or Beach Themed Wedding

So you’ve decided on a Hawaiian wedding theme and now you need to find beach wedding dresses that go with your Hawaiian beach theme. Or maybe you are planning a beach style wedding elsewhere (not actually on the beach in Hawaii), wherever that may be. It’s easy to bring Hawaii to any beach or even to your own back yard. And it all starts with the correct choice of Hawaiian wedding attire suitable to wear on the beach not only for yourself and your bridesmaids but the complete bridal party.

While a wedding on the beach may sound like a unique concept, it has been happening on various beaches of the world. A lot of brides are opting for exotic beach locations for their weddings instead of a traditional church wedding. In order to pick the right bridal attire for a particular wedding, you will need to consider many different elements. This can depend on the location, season and local practices or customs as well as the type of beach itself can be a important factor when selecting Hawaiian beach wedding dresses.

Hawaii is well-known for being laid-back and casual, so why not apply the same attitudes toward your wedding? It’s not uncommon for couples getting married on the beach to throw tradition to the wind and dress down.

While nothing could be more romantic than a traditional Hawaiian wedding dress known as a “Holoku”. The Hawaiian Holoku, a formal Hawaiian gown with a train, is also a gorgeous choice as a Hawaiian wedding gown for those who would like authentic Hawaiian wedding wear. The Holoku is an elegant, and conservative, formal tea dress, with its high neck, long sleeves, and lace. Maile, the character in Blue Hawaii who married Elvis at the end of the movie, wore a Holoku as her wedding gown as Elvis and Maile serenaded each other with the Hawaiian wedding song as they floated down a river on a canoe toward wedded bliss.

There are wedding gowns, that are specially designed for brides who wish to have a informal wedding especially for the beach. They are unusually free flowing, with simple lines, sometimes very colorful and definitely a far call from conventional. There are designers who specialize in beach wedding dresses with a Hawaiian theme. And even you do not want to get a designer wedding dress you could just get yourself a comfortable beach dress that you are comfortable wearing and get married.

A wedding on the beach does not permit you to wear those long flowing wedding gowns, with a 15ft trailing veil, they are best left for the more traditional church wedding. Hawaiian themed weddings can be more of a casual setting, allowing you set the mood for a fun relaxed day. While out in the sun with a small tent erected, you would want to wear something that matches this setting. After all a marriage ceremony is not sanctified on what beach wedding dress or gown you wear or where you get married. With a wedding on the beach you can be as formal or as casual as you like, they’re really are no golden rules, times are simply changing giving brides the chance to truly personalize her own special day.

It is all about marrying the right person in the setting that suits you most, and what an ideal setting, sand between your toes, the sun shinning upon you both, with the waves of the sea lashing against the shore. And, if you are wearing the right kind of beach wedding dress you could ask the priest to sanctify your marriage out on the shores edge, with gentle waves splashing around your ankles as you exchange rings and say ‘i do’. Doesn’t that sound picture perfect, so romantic…

Beach themed weddings s are popular at many romantic resorts in Hawaii some other popular wedding locations include (in no particular order) the Caribbean, Tahiti, Fiji, the Bahamas, Florida, California, Mexico, Costa Rica, Australia and South of France.

Top tips to consider when looking at Hawaiian beach wedding dresses.

The exact location of the beach chosen for the wedding may dictate, to some extent, what to wear to a wedding on the beach; for example, is the beach windy? If so, long, floaty dresses, with long veils (or loose hairstyles) may prove troublesome and a shorter, close fitting wedding dress may be more practical.

Take the time to find out what is the true color of the sand, as white sand is the best as this will not stain your wedding dress. Some sand can leave a horrible yellow stain on your wedding dress. It is advisable to wear a 3/4 length wedding dress if this is the case.

Most brides will also want to have their wedding photos taken on the beach, so it is strongly advisable to check out what type of sand is found at the location you have selected before you decide on the length of your Hawaiian wedding dress.

In any wedding that is going to be on the beach, sand is a important factor that you can not escape. When selecting a wedding dress to wear on the beach, you need to take into consideration that sand will find its way into every possible spot it can. Avoid selecting a beach wedding dresses that have lots of folds, pleats, or even lots of lace that sand can get trapped in.

Is there shade on the beach where the wedding is taking place? If not, you might want to consider a wide brimmed hat as part of your Hawaiian wedding attire to protect you and your beach bridal party from the sun.

Will the wedding take place on the sand or in a wedding gazebo? Sandals or flip flops (which can be very stylish) may be more appropriate than high heels or closed shoes if walking through sand is likely. You will notice in many Hawaiian wedding photos that the bride is even barefooted adding that extra casual feel to the day.

Lets not forget the wedding photos. Having you and your husband frolicking in the waves, or standing on the shore edge looking into the sunset, these romantic photos success will depend on what type of dress you are wearing. A bride trying to hold up a hooped wedding dress standing in the surf doesn’t make the best photo shot. But I am sure it can be done, but not the best scenario.