While some couples plan a
whirlwind wedding with a four month engagement, most take at least a year or
even two to plan the big day. Most brides want to start shopping for that dress
as soon as they have a ring on their finger, but how soon is too soon, and how
late is too late?
When should I order my dress?
Wedding dress plaza recommends that ideally you should begin looking at
dresses twelve to eighteen months before your wedding, with a view to ordering
your dress about a year in advance. This will give you plenty of time for
alterations to be done thoroughly, and for you to find the right accessories,
flowers, and hair style to complement the dress.
Brides buying a dress off
the rack will still need to have some alterations done, but they may be able to
get away with ordering a dress six to nine months before the wedding; around
three months should be scheduled between the first and final fittings to allow
time for alterations. Having a dress custom made will take longer, and will
require three or four fittings, so a year is advisable.
Brides that are ordering
a dress online, or looking for a pre-loved gown should also order a year in advance to
give them time to find an alternative if they are disappointed with the gown
when it arrives.
Should I wait to order it until after I’ve
lost weight?
Many brides want to lose
weight before their big day, but waiting to order your dress until you have
achieved your dream weight isn’t advisable. Unless you plan really drastic
weight loss, you will probably only drop one dress size, and most gowns can be
altered to accommodate this. Even if you lose weight your basic body shape
should be the same at your first and final fitting.
Tell the assistant that
fits your wedding dress
if you plan to lose a lot of weight and they will
be able to tell you a date for final alterations. This is usually around six
weeks before your wedding, and after this time it will be difficult to have
your dress altered to account for further weight loss.
If I order it too early will my dress be
out of fashion?
Bridal fashion is always
a year ahead of itself because brides are expected to order their gowns a year
in advance. However, it is true that a whole new range of gowns and styles will
be released if you order more than a year before the big day.
If you are really
concerned about being in fashion, you should wait until the bridal wear ranges
for your wedding season have been revealed, but the changes in wedding gown
design from one year to the next aren’t that dramatic, and you can be sure your
guests won’t know if you are wearing last year’s dress. If you buy a dress at
the end of its season you might even get a discount.
