Congrats on your upcoming wedding! I’m so excited for you to dive into this season of wedding planning and I hope the resources on this blog are able to help you streamline things and stay organized. One of the most exciting things about planning a wedding is getting to pick our bridal ensemble. What a fun time for you! But it’s a little intimidating, right? This is your WEDDING DRESS, a piece of clothing you’ve imagined your whole life and likely built up to be the preeminence of fashion and style suited to you and ONLY you.

Guess what? It doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, I recently chatted with Bridget at The Bridal Studio in Downtown Salt Lake to discuss what wedding dress shopping is really like as a wedding dress boutique owner and a recent bride herself. Today I’m sharing her tips for preparing for your bridal consultation, and advice for the rest of the process until you find a home run of a gown for your big day!

First of all, Bridget suggests coming to your fittings and bridal consultations photo-ready with hair and make-up done to capture the exciting moments right after you say “yes” to the dress! Nothing clashes with the most beautiful gown you’ll ever wear than a neon green headband or a greasy top-knot. And I say that with all the love in the world as a huge proponent of day-old hair in headbands and top-knots. But for the pictures you’ll no doubt take in your wedding gown options and final choice, you’ll greatly appreciate the extra foresight to look your best.

As far as underclothing, Bridget suggests wearing nude undergarments or at least avoiding brightly colored underwear or accessories so you don’t further distract from the style of the dress as you’re trying on bridal gowns. You wouldn’t want the bands of your pink sports bra showing in the back, bringing in a whole new vibe to your wedding day ensemble! Another nice thing to remember is that most dresses have construction built-in.

In regards to your shopping group, Bridget says, “As much as we love a party, you don’t want more than five people with you; three is ideal.” If more people want to join in, she recommends you bring your entourage with you to pick up your dress when it’s ready to take home, after you’ve completed all the fittings!

Another way to prepare for your initial bridal consultation is to do a little research. You can look on The Bridal Studio’s website or even on Pinterest to get a narrowed-down idea of the style or vibe you’re going for. You should also determine the price point of dress shops near you and what general styles they carry. This helps you save time shopping. You shouldn’t have to go to more than one or two stores if you’ve done your research.

But the most important thing to remember when starting to shop for a wedding dress is that bridal consultants have their job for a reason. Come with an open mind and be ready to try something new that they suggest! After all, they have the expertise and training to find you something that flatters your shape. About nine out of ten brides conclude dress shopping with a different shape picked out than they set out to find. Trust your consultants!

I’m so excited for you to find the perfect dress! If you’re in the Salt Lake or Utah County area, be sure to pay Bridget a visit at The Bridal Studio to see the incredibly beautiful gowns she carries.