Gown shopping experiences for the bride-to-be

When it is the most important day of your life you want to make sure you are wearing the perfect gown. From silk to satin, chiffon to brocade: the last thing you want is to look like a fashion disaster when you walk down the aisle.
When shopping for a gown, be sure to do it well in advance. Whether it is a second hand wedding dress you are buying or a designer one, do not leave buying your outfit until the last minute. If you are opting for a designer gown, bear in mind it can take up to four months to be completed and delivered, and you also need to allow for any last minute adjustments and final fittings.
Dress fittings are a whole new experience when buying a gown – self conscious you cannot be about people seeing you semi naked. However, if you can afford a private dressmaker then the fittings can take place in the comfort of your own home. If buying from a shop, always book appointments for your fittings in advance.
Wedding dress sizing is different to the regular sizing of clothes. Wedding gowns normally come up one or two sizes smaller. So if you are a size ten and the dress that fits you is a size fourteen, do not panic. To make matters worse boutiques usually only display the smaller dresses on the rails. Don’t get disheartened by thinking you will never get into dress, as the shop assistants will try their hardest to help you find a perfectly fitting dress.