07 May The 8 things you should bring when wedding dress shopping
You booked your bridal appointment to try on wedding dresses – Congratulations! This will be one of the most fun experiences of the wedding planning process. You’re with your loved ones, you get to play dress up, and there might be a little champagne involved before or after your appointment. Now that it’s booked, it’s time to prepare! As a bridal shop in the heart of Michigan, we see brides from all over the Midwest – and even Canada – travel to shop in our bridal boutique. No matter whether you’re going to bridal shops in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, or Chicago, there are eight things each bride should bring to their wedding dress appointment. So many brides forget at least one of these things, so we’re here to help by putting them all in one list.
1. YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP DONE IN A WAY THAT MAKES YOU FEEL CONFIDENT
This is an often overlooked part of the bridal shopping experience! We are so caught up in the thought of finding our wedding dress, we forget to show love to the person wearing the dress. You are more important than the dress, so make sure you have your hair and makeup done in a way that makes you feel confident! You will not fall in love with any wedding dress if you feel like a mess, so take some time to prep and glam before heading to the bridal shop.
2. NUDE UNDERGARMENTS... AND SHAPEWEAR IF YOU PLAN TO WEAR IT ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
Your bridal appointment is not the day to wear your hot pink underwear, even though it’s our favorite color! It’s important to choose undergarments that will not distract from the wedding dresses. So no sports bras, bright underwear, or bralettes. While all of our wedding gowns do come with built-in bras, we understand that not everyone feels comfortable without some coverage up top, You are welcome to wear a nude bra (although it may slightly alter the way the dress looks), a sticky bra, or nipple covers. If you plan on wearing shapewear on your big day, please feel free to bring it! The proper undergarments will give you a better idea of how the dress will look on the wedding day.
3. WATER
It’s hard work trying on wedding dresses! Make sure you have a bottle of water to hydrate while shopping. We advise against anything other than bottled water, as bridal shops may ask you to leave your Starbucks and energy drinks at the front of the shop, to reduce the risk of spilling on their wedding dresses. Please be courteous of these rules, they’re in place to give YOU the best experience possible. No one wants you to try on a wedding dress with a coffee stain!
4. AN OPEN MIND
most of our brides walk in with an idea of what they want, complete with Pinterest boards, photos of dresses saw on TikTok and Instagram, or photos of dresses they tried on at other stores. However, most brides also end up saying “Yes!” to a dress that is completely different than what they expected. Even if you hate it on the hanger, you may fall in love with it on your body. This is why it’s important to be open, trust your stylist, and maybe let one of your guests suggest a wild card dress for you!
5. INSPIRATION PHOTOS
This might seem hypocritical after reading the last point about being open. but inspiration photos can get the ball rolling when talking to your bridal stylist. Seeing photos of dresses you gravitate towards can help stylists determine patterns and details you might like. It gives your stylist an opportunity to have you try on dresses you’ve always dreamed of wearing. If you try it and it doesn’t meet expectations – that’s okay! Now there won’t be any regrets about not trying on a particular style. Having inspiration photos also gives your stylist an overall idea of the aesthetic you may be going for at your wedding, or may bring up a discussion with her about the parts of your body you love to show off or hide.
Need some more inspiration before your bridal appointment? Click below to visit our Pinterest, full of wedding inspiration boards for every bride, from the destination bride getting married on a beach, to the rustic bride getting married in a barn, to the whimsical bride having a garden party wedding.
6. THE RIGHT SUPPORT SYSTEM
Make sure you bring the right people to your bridal appointment. This is essential! These people will make or break your appointment. Bring people you love, trust, are honest, and who have your best interest in heart. Everyone else can see your dress on your wedding day. We all have a friend with some jealous tendencies or a relative who’s a little too critical. We still love them, but they do not need to come to the bridal appointment if they cannot be relied on to be supportive the entire time.
7. A CLEAN BODY - NO SPRAY TANS OR SELF TANNER, PLEASE!
We know that spray tans or self tanner may make you feel more confident, but your dream dress will look a lot less dreamy if it is stained with tanner. We don’t want to have to put you into a stained dress, and we don’t want to put the bride after you into a stained dress. We appreciate your understanding!
8. DEODORANT AND PERFUME
Again, it’s quite the workout trying on wedding dresses! You’ll feel your most confident if you look and smell your best (and it’s hard to love your dream dress if the only thing you’re thinking about is your armpits). Feel free to bring deodorant and perfume with you, and don’t be afraid to ask your stylist for a moment to reapply if you are starting to feel a little smelly.
With this list, you are well on your way to finding your dream wedding dress. We wish you the best of luck on your journey, and hope to see you at Pierre’s Bridal, Prom, and Tuxedo in Lansing, Michigan! Browse the tabs at the top of the page to view our bridal collections, available in-store, and our bridal outlet, available in-store and for direct purchase online.
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