Top Ten Tips To Find Your Dream Wedding Dress

Photographer: Alli Woods, https://alli.studio/

1. Know The Bride You Want To Be

The beginning of every bride’s journey to finding her dream wedding dress should begin with a dose of daydreaming balanced out with some solid and realistic research. When you imagine yourself on your wedding day...how do you want to feel? Do you see yourself as a whimsical, romantic bride? Or rather a minimal, modern one? The venue that you choose can also be a great pointer. A garden wedding has a much different feel than one at a modern museum. Once you’ve decided on the vibe you’d like to feel from your dress, begin some perusing of our worldly curated group of Zo & Willow designers HERE

2. Bridal Industry Timeline

Now that you’ve narrowed down your vision, the exciting time to book your first appointment has come! Be sure to begin your dream wedding dress journey on time. Many new brides are not familiar with the timelines of the bridal industry. The best window to order your dress is around 7 - 8 months before your wedding. Most quality bridal designers take around 5 months to produce your wedding dress in your size and then final alterations take place 6-8 weeks before your wedding date. Those last alterations are what truly make your dream wedding dress custom fit and you do not want to rush this process!

3. Your Crew

Once your appointment is booked it’s time to consider how you’d like the day to look. It’s quite important to consider who you bring along to your appointment. We’ve seen the situation many times where a bride brings a large group to an appointment and the focus can quickly shift from finding your dress to a slew of contradictory opinions. People will give you advice based on the dress that THEY WOULD CHOOSE for themselves. This is not the information you need in this moment, and especially not if it’s coming from many different directions. It’s best to keep your group small (2-3 people max) and to ultimately stay true to your vision.

4. Day Of Appointment Essentials

We recommend that it’s best to not wear heavy (or any) makeup on the day of your appointment. The try-on process is much quicker if we are not using the makeup guard while putting on each dress. If you’re a bride who knows you need a certain type of lift in your bra or you have a favorite type of undergarment for a seamless look, bring those along. This may change depending on the neckline or back of your dress, but it’s good to have options. We stock some examples in our boutique as well and we will guide you on how to choose the best undergarments for your dress. If you know the size of heel you will be wearing, it’s also a good idea to bring those along so that you can walk a bit to feel the flow of each dress.

5. Know Your Budget

A really helpful factor in finding your dream wedding dress is the budget. Figure out who is paying for the gown (family, partner, you?) and decide/agree on a number you feel good about. The price range at Zo & Willow is 2,000 - 5,000 with most dresses falling in the 2500 - 3500 range. Also remember to include in your total the cost of accessories, shoes, and alterations. Knowing your target range will help to rule out any heartbreaking situations. Knowing your number will also help figure out some creative solutions like blending a payment from you with someone else. When you order a made-to-order gown, we take half the amount at the time of order and the other half when the dress arrives. If your budget is under 2,000, we do host an annual sample sale so you can get in contact for details on those dates.

6. Throw Out The Rules!

One thing we absolutely love at Zo & Willow are the bold brides who throw out the rules. Despite all the advice that's available about choosing the most appropriate silhouette, style, and fabric, you don't have to listen to us, your consultant, or your mother. It is your wedding afterall, and the more personalized it is to your vision the better. Just tune in to how each dress makes your feel when you are in it and the choice will become clear.

7. Not Everyone Cries! Some Do But Some Don’t

Just because tears don’t hit the bridal salon floor does not mean you haven’t found “the one”. There are many moments in the wedding process that could come with an overflow of emotion, and for many brides one of those moments is not the dress. Some people view finding the dress as a way to express their personality, it’s a completely individualistic experience.

8. Stay True to What You Love

Your crew will want the best for you and the wedding planning process is fun and exciting for those involved. This excitement can lead to lots of voices and opinions. But regardless of other people’s ideas and expectations, the best advice we can give you is to stay true to what you love. Don’t bend in the moment when your mom, maid of honor, or sister love a dress on you. Instead, connect with your intuition and what makes you feel happy and like YOU.

9. Relax and Stop Looking

Trust your judgement and trust yourself! Once the bubbly is popped and dream wedding dress celebrating has begun, stop pinning, shopping, and instagram-researching. Avoid the chances of self-doubt creeping in and instead move on to the fun process of accessorizing and coming up with other ways that your chosen dream wedding dress can tie into your wedding vibe.

10. Here For You At Zo & Willow

Last but not least, let us assure you that we are here for you throughout this entire process. At the start of your Zo & Willow appointment we will sit down with you and your team and make sure we understand what you’re looking for from your dream wedding dress. We will also walk you through our collection of designers and help you to try on each dress. This is such an exciting time for you as a new bride, and we are honored to be a part of it.