Pastels and Passion Fashion and Friends to Housing and Trends

It’s been almost two weeks since my last blog post, but if you read it… you’ll understand my want to spend time with family.

On a lighter note, I want to talk about shopping for your wedding dress and 5 things to consider before buying! I’ve been married for just over two years and still get questions in conversation about my wedding and of course the dress(es.) Yes, you read right… plural. I’m hoping by sharing my experiences (shopping for my own and attending many appointments with friends) that you may learn a thing or two yourself.

1. Don’t feel rushed to make a decision – 

-Being someone who had imagined her wedding since the age of 5, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted. I walked in to a store 2 weeks after getting engaged and gave all my expectations. Within 5 dresses I bought the first one I tried on, it met everything on my “need” list. It was blush, trumpet, didn’t have lace, silk or satin and just a few embellishments. I felt accomplished. How could anyone say wedding dress shopping was hard? I conquered this task in under an hour. (Continue reading to see where I went wrong.)

2. Keep an open mind – 

-As time went on, I started to question if I had ordered the right dress. I wondered if I should have tried other styles, maybe checked out a store or two or further more… brought my mom? With the worry of becoming “Bridezilla,” constantly on my mind, I actually discredited the process. I spoke with my (now) husband who said I needed to know 100% that the dress I bought was “the one” and if I was questioning it… I needed to go looking again. The second time, I still only went to one store but I brought my bridesmaids and mother for opinions. I walked in with an open mind this time and tried on a variety of styles. Instead of just trumpet, I tried a-line, princess, sleek. Instead of blush, I tried white and ivory. Instead of sticking to straps I tried them all, including strapless (which I knew was a definite “no.) After trying them all and talking my time I walked away to think about things. I then came back for a second viewing of my favourite dress because I knew this time I had to make my decision wisely. It was “the one.” A dress that was nothing like what I had imagined. It was lace, had a thick strap, it was sleek and… was WHITE.

3. Budget – 

-If budget is important, make sure you’re looking at dresses you can afford. It is so easy to say “i’ll just try it” and then end up falling in love. The last thing you want to do is buy a dress while wishing you had another or blowing a budget when you could have avoided the situation.

4. Your opinion is the most important – 

-I was lucky that for both dress “trips” my entourage was encouraging and helpful but I have seen it go opposite as well. Remember when selecting your crew to attend your appointment that most times, less is more. The more people you have, the harder it is to get an agreement and you’re opening yourself to a bunch of opinions. Bring those who are most important to you and at the end of it, remember, you’re the one who is wearing it and your opinion is the most important.

5. Be confident –

-Walking down the aisle can be nerve-racking. Everyone has their eyes on YOU! Pick a dress that you feel comfortable and confident in and remember, wear the dress, don’t let it wear you!

Less than one week before my wedding, I decided that because I still loved the first dress, and the second one had my heart, I would wear both. Thanks to NWL for ordering that second dress on rush and my wonderful seamstress Lena for make BOTH fit perfectly, hours before I jumped on a plane. I’ve always said I was the most indecisive person when it came to decisions for my wedding, the only thing I knew for sure, was the man I had chose was perfect.