Posted on January 28 2021
It is a timeline that every Bride should know.
From setting a budget to your final alterations fitting, this wedding dress shopping timeline covers everything you need to do and exactly when to do it.
When planning to start shopping for your dream gown; a wedding dress timeline can make all the difference by keeping you on track and make sure that you will not skip any steps.
A wedding dress search that fits your budget, unique style, and is ready in time for your wedding day will take a little bit of time, but it is all worth it in the end!
With this timeline, you will learn when to start browsing for inspiration, when to purchase your gown, and how much time you should allow for your gown customizations or alterations.
If you need a last-minute wedding gown, you can still use this timeline to help you prioritize the steps, like shopping, accessorizing, and alterations.
Keep track of your schedule to avoid any stressful last-minute shopping by using a wedding dress timeline.
The timeline:
12 months before your wedding or right after you get engaged.
Set a budget.
Before you start your dress shopping journey, choose a budget ahead of time. It will help your bridal stylist pull the right dresses for you to try on.
Start your research.
After setting a budget, start checking some wedding dress photos to get an idea of what you like. You will get a sense of what dress styles best match your taste and the fabrics, silhouettes, and details you love. While it is still important, to try dresses on to ensure they fit your body type, looking at lots of dress pics will help kickstart the dress shopping experience.
Select your shopping bodies.
You do not want to invite too many people while doing your wedding gown shopping. Get a few close friends and family members, like your mom and maid-of-honour. Too many opinions can confuse you and, it will lead to a more stressful moment—and take even more time than it should!
Shopping time.
Hooray! Time to start shopping for your wedding dress! Research on everything you need to know about wedding dress shopping before you walk into your first appointment. You will want to cover all the basics — like what kind of questions should you ask your stylist — to make sure you get the best wedding dress shopping experience.
Is It The One?
It is a good idea to try on a few different styles to make sure the dress you have picked out is “the one”. Do not be afraid to ask your consultants about their opinion because they handled lots of brides before you and, they know what looks best on you.
9 months before your wedding
Purchase your gown.
Around this time, you should make a final decision on a gown and put down a deposit. It can take up to six months for your dress to be done and then shipped to your bridal store. So, give yourself enough time putting a down payment on your dress as soon as you know it’s “the one”.
6 months before your wedding
Choose your bridal shoes.
After you’ve placed your dress order, go ahead and pick out the shoes you’ll wear on your wedding day. Remember the colour and style of your dress, so you can wear something that will complement your gown.
Decide on any accessories.
You should also choose any accessories to wear around this time, including jewelry, hair accessories, or other adornments. You can even get your “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” at this time.
Choose your undergarments.
It’s a good idea to get the undergarments you’ll want to wear before your first fitting appointment. That way, you can use it while you try on your dress and make sure everything fits perfectly.
3 months before your wedding
Schedule your first fitting.
Typically brides have around three fittings to ensure that their wedding dress will fit them like a glove. Wedding dresses are not made-to-measure, so once your dress arrives, it’ll need to be tailored precisely to fit your shape and form. Alterations may take a long time, so having your first fitting three-month before your is a must.
6 weeks before your wedding
Schedule your second fitting.
Your second fitting should be a month and a half before your wedding day. This will give you some time, in-case the gown doesn’t fit as you envisioned after the first alterations. If something on your wedding dress doesn’t feel right, speak up, so you can stick to your wedding dress shopping timeline.
3 weeks before your wedding
Schedule your final fitting three weeks before your wedding. this will give your seamstress some time to make any small alterations.
Time to take your dress.
After your final fitting, you can finally take your dream wedding dress home! Make sure to place your gown to a secured place before the wedding, away from anything else that could potentially get your dress dirty or torn. We suggest placing your dress in a breathable, opaque bag and hanging it up in a secure place.
One day before your wedding
Put the final touches together.
The day before the wedding you should have your dress and bridal accessories all in one place, so, it can be safely transported to your venue or wherever you’re getting ready. We also suggest investing in a portable steamer so you can have one of your ‘maids help get your gown wrinkle-free and wedding-day ready on the morning of your nuptials.
Wedding day
Get dressed.
It’s your wedding day! All you have to do is steam your gown and then it’s time to get dressed, be beautiful, and celebrate!
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