When to start ordering/buying bridal gown???? Help-Thanks :-)

[UkneekFreak]

Hello Everyone
My wedding isn''t until May 27, 2006, but I am looking for advice as to when I should order my wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses. I have been to two bridal shops, and all the brides seem to be waiting until the last minute to buy/order their dresses. I am a student, and will be excessively (my advisor told me I would have to give up my life next year) busy with student teaching all next year. I really won''t have as much time next year (2005-2006) to be looking at wedding gowns. Is it way too early to start now? I know that I have like 14 months left, but I am getting ansy. I know that dresses can be taken in up to two sizes. If I lost like 20 pounds before the wedding, would this be more than two sizes? Please let me know what you think. Thanks in advance for all your help. I really appreciate it.

 

[qtiekiki]

I know how you feel. I started gown shopping last September, even though at that time I was planning for a Aug 2005 wedding. I ended up ordering the first dress I tried on in January of this year, and my wedding is in November now. I was feeling the same way as you that I want to get as much things done as early as possible because I have a lot of other things to do for the wedding. It''s a relieve to be able to get things done and out of the way. I think it''s ok to get your gown early as long as you sure that the gown that you absolutely love and that it makes it easier on you (although other might think I am crazy... heheh)

 

[windy1365]

I ordered my gown about nine months before my wedding, and I have had to worry for months about not gaining or losing weight or inches.

I would start looking about seven months before the wedding b/c it takes about three months to come in, then you have to have two or three fittings. I would not order one size then plan on losing weight. Getting the dress fitted costs almost as much as the gown. My gown was $1,000, but after the fittings, it ended up costing another $1,000. I wouldn''t want to have to pay another $1,000 on top of that!!

 

[MelissaSue]

you are a date twin with me and teebee!! We are all getting married May 27th 2006! I have my dress picked out but not ordered, my church and reception booked and thats it. Oh.. actually I have a DJ booked too, my dad just told me that today (its a friend of his). I want to get my photographer SOON.. like in the next few weeks. I will probably order my dress in April or May. Definitely by may. BM dresses I''m going to wait a bit for. I have one BM who is going to be starting to try to get pregnant next month, so I want to wait a bit to see what happens with that. I also don''t know exactly what I want for BM dresses.
A dress will probably be able to be taken in enough if you lose 20 lbs, unless there is A TON of detailing on it where it would need to be taken in. I want to lose a few pounds before I order my dress too.

 

[JessesGrl]

I am getting married on October 1, 2005. I ordered my dress in early December ( I had tried on dresses BEFORE I got my ring b/c I knew he had it.....) Anyways, My dress takes 6 months to come in....a lot of dresses take that long of a time so I''d use that as my guideline...and it''s never to early to "look",,,,

 

[just_looking!]

I''m really leaving it late on getting mine as I''m planning to get the dress in the UK when I go home to finalise the wedding arrangements in mid May. The problem is that the wedding is on 15th October 2005 and the wedding shops tell me I need 6 - 9 months to get it ordered. Hmm - no wonder I''m panicking!!

Am dieting at the moment and will order the size I am in May with the view that I am unlikely to put on much as I plan to keep eating sensibly. My MoH suggested I get very strong foundation garments for the try on then I can wear prettier ones on the day if the get fit campaign works. Soooo funny!

Will post my dress once I decide which one it will be. So far I like dresses by Suzanne Neville, Alan Hannah, Sassi Holford and Jenny Packham. However I''m planning on trying on Reem Acra, Monique L''huillier etc. for a laugh at Browns Brides in London just to see what I''d be able to wear if I won the lottery!

Have any of you looked at the sizing guides yet? They bear no resemblance at all to normal sizing and aren''t even vaguely consistent between designers!

 

[flopkins]

My wedding isn''t til april of 2006, but I''ve already been dress shopping several times, and pretty much decided on a dress, but haven''t ordered it yet. I think it''s never too early to start looking! If you find something you love, you can keep it in mind for a while and wait on ordering it if you think you might find something else! Just check if the dress you want will still be around (not discontinued) within the next few months. All the new dresses for 2005 are coming out now, so I would say it''s a good time to shop the new styles..
I agree that alterations are expensive, I am hoping to lose a few pounds too, but I don''t think there''s any harm in ordering the size you are now, and sizing it down... it will prob feel good! I suppose I don''t mind so much bc I was able to bargain to get all my alterations for free, but I would be paying the premium for a bridal salon instead of ordering online. I plan on ordering my dress by June, so about 9-12 months before the wedding. Maybe it''s early, but I''m super excited, and don''t want to wait forever!!

Either way, good luck!!! Keep us updated!

 

[amyi]

Yeah I am going to order mine soon I think, for a January wedding. The shop I am planning to buy from is having a sale the month of March so I can''t pass that up!

Flopkins- Just out of curiousity, what bargaining tool did you use to get your alterations for free? I''m impressed!

 

[flopkins]

amyi:
the salon (House of Fashion) allows price matching, so i was looking around for good deals, and they certainly can''t match online, but there was another salon (Bride & Joy) MUCH closer to me that had the dress for the same price, I told them I wanted to buy from them (House of Fashion) and they said they would give me 10% off or free alterations.

I think this method will work anywhere, you have to ask if they will price match, or at least do free alterations. And do your hw if there is another salon that carries the dress that is cheaper.

Also, a lot of brides on TheKnot mail order their dresses from Pearl''s Place http://www.pearlsplace.com/ - it''s a real salon in Louisiana but they give a steep mail order discount. For example, the Paloma Blanca I want retails for $1500, but they quoted just under $1000 to me. They only quote over teh phone however. And, they''re not listed as an authorized dealer on Paloma Blanca''s website- they claim bc other salons were being undercut and were pissed. But they said they''re a huge dealer of the brand!

RK Bridal will undercut by another 5% any mail order quoted price too, they are based in NY. http://www.rkbridal.com/

Mail order is huge savings, but I think I''m going to pay the premium for the bridal salon because of their service, and because I trust their alterations etc... plus there''s no denying that having a physical person to talk to in case anything goes wrong is a plus!! If my budget gets shot inthe next few months I might reconsider mail ordering though!!

 

[amyi]

Flopkins:
Good deal! Thanks for the information. I''ve heard of the website deals but I think I agree with you and would rather deal with the store in person.

 

[codex57]

My fiance tells me all the stores tell her that you need to order at least 6 months ahead of the wedding. Otherwise, they charge a "rush" fee. I''d start looking well before that tho. My girl''s having a REAL tough time trying to find one she likes at a decent price. We keep going over budget, but since we''re now pressed for time, I guess we have no choice but to go over.