Going Dress Shopping

Meghan came into town a couple of weekends ago so I could take her on her first dress hunting trip. We ended up visiting three bridal shops in the Detroit area - which was just the right amount...I think any more stops and we really would have been sick of wedding dresses :) Our favorite place was the second shop we visited - I Do Too Bridal in Plymouth. Not only were the sales attendants super helpful and friendly, the shop layout made it comfortable to try on dresses (even with multiple brides in the store at one time). Additionally no appointments are necessary and their prices are very reasonable. When we first arrived, we picked out a few dresses for Meghan to try on and once our sales person learned which styles she tended to like, they brought out more. The dress that is in the lead for her right now is a Maggie Sottero gown called Shirley (below) in a color called "light gold." It was a dress we probably wouldn't have every pulled off the rack due to the color. But once she tried it on we were sold...simple, lacey, elegant, just enough of a train, and light enough to be appropriate for an outdoor wedding. Since this dress is in the lead she's now thinking of a vintage-inspired theme for the wedding. I'm getting excited and can't wait to brainstorm some inspiration boards for her!

Before going to shop for a gown, it's good to do a little bit of pre-work. First, know what types of dresses and design cues compliment your body shape. Nordstrom actually has some good tips on their Dress Shop Fit Guide that not only helps you identify your body shape, but tells you what types of dresses will compliment you. I discovered my shape is called a pear, which means "Fuller at the hips and bottom and smaller on top. Dresses with fitted, open-neck or strapless tops enhance your upper body and draw the eye up, while full or A-line skirts help hide wider hips. Darker colors camouflage your lower half."

Second, it helps to look at dress sites online and pick out styles you like. Keep in mind how you think the shape will fit your body. For example, if you're larger, you probably don't want a poofy, oversized ball gown as it will make you look even bigger, but you will want something that flares a little and isn't clingy. Finally, before visiting shops, do some research. Find out what other brides have said about their experiences there and try to avoid stuffy shops that have ridiculous policies like not letting you take photos of the bride-to-be in the gowns. (We followed a strategy to take a picture of the tag on the dress and then of the dress from multiple angles once Meghan tried it on. This helped us remember which gowns we liked the best when we got home).