Our Top 7 Wedding Dress Shopping Tips | By Louise Christine

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You have the guy, now how do you pick the dress? At Louise Christine, we are here to help. Today we are sharing 7 wedding dress shopping tips that will help you find the perfect dress.

Most brides have been envisioning their perfect wedding dress from the minute they said “yes.” So when they step into our bridal boutique their anticipation is high! Having worked with thousands of brides through the years, we are experts at making your wedding dress shopping trip a success. But there are a few things that brides can do to help make sure things go as smoothly as possible.

These are our top 7 wedding dress shopping tips that will help make your dress shopping experience fun and stress free.

1. Start Early

We recommend shopping for your dress approximately 10-12 months before your wedding to allow time for the dress to be made, shipped, and altered. With less than 10 months your options can become more limited. There really is no such thing as shopping too early if you are ready to find your dress! If your wedding is coming up quickly, let your bridal consultant know so they can point you toward dresses that will work for your timeline. At Louise Christine, we have off-the-rack styles that would be available to buy and take home the same day.

2. Bring the Right People

We recommend bringing a few trusted family members and/or friends who will support you. You want anyone who comes to have a good attitude and be open to seeing you in a variety of dresses but most importantly they should have a sense of fun and excitement! In general, less is more. Bringing too many people can be stressful and won’t be a great experience for the bride.

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3. Bring the Right Undergarment

You will want to pack skin toned underwear, a strapless bra or any other undergarment that will make you feel beautiful in any dress! Most gowns have cups and support built-in, so wearing a bra while trying on is optional. But some have a sheer lining or the option for one and we want to be sure you are comfortable in each dress.

4. Bring Inspiration

We also suggest bringing any photos of dresses and wedding day inspiration you love! A picture is worth a thousand words and a Pinterest board provides endless inspiration for your consultant. Your consultant wants to make your dreams come true and getting to know your style helps us tremendously. The more we can get to know your style, the better we can be at picking and suggesting wedding dresses you’ll love.

5. Know Your Budget

It is important to know who is paying for the dress and what they are willing to spend before your appointment. That way, you can start your appointment with confidence knowing which dresses you would like to try on or avoid based on price. Your consultant will always be respectful of your budget but if you would like to try on a dress that is over budget, is ultimately your choice. When sharing your dress budget, be sure it is only for the dress and excludes your alterations budget.

The wedding dresses in our shop range in price from $900 - $3600. We also have a selection of sample gowns available to purchase off-the-rack and take home the same day that begin at $500.

6. Book An Appointment in Advance

Appointments are always recommended so that your boutique can secure a fitting room and consultant to work with you. At Louise Christine, we allow up to six guests per appointment to keep our shop stress free and intimate. We find that in general, the fewer number of guests, the more enjoyable the experience is for the bride. The best advice we can give to brides is to only bring those who have your best interests at heart and whose opinion you trust.

If you are considering coming in on a Saturday, appointments are required and typically fill 2-3 weeks in advance. While we do allow walk-ins, but there is no guarantee that a fitting room will be available at that time.

7. Don’t Stress About Size

Keep in mind, bridal sizing runs differently than your normal clothes. It is normal for your bridal size to be 2-3 sizes higher than your regular size.

If you are looking for a Plus Size dress call ahead and check with your boutique. At Louise Christine, we have a collection of dresses in bridal size 20-28 in-store to try on. These gowns vary in style and price, so it is best to call if you have something specific you’re looking for.

At Louise Christine want to make your shopping experience a great memory. We are always available to discuss any questions prior to your appointment!

For more information visit our Louise Christine website and check the FAQs. When you are ready to shop go to the book appointment tab, we can’t wait to see you.

Meet Louise Christine Bridal Boutique! We are a customer service based bridal boutique in the Dayton area. We love working with brides to find their dream dress! Louise Christine opened in 2015, created by mother-daughter duo Lisa and Abi. In 2016, Natalie joined the team! Since then we have enjoyed helping hundreds of brides find their dream dress!