World of Wedding

There is no doubt that your wedding dress will be one of the most expensive items in your wedding. In fact, you can save a fortune if you are going to rent the wedding gown. Renting a gown is also considered environmental friendly.

However, renting a wedding gown is not the same as buying a new one because you have to return it after your wedding. In order to prevent unnecessary arguments with the or the wedding dress shop, you should bear the following points in mind.


Place your order as early as possible

Since it will certainly take some time for the alterations of the gown in order to make it fit your body, you should place your order to rent it at least half year before your big day. You may need to place the order even earlier if you are going to do that in the peak seasons.

Check the gown carefully when you pick it

You have to check the wedding dress with the greatest care when you pick it. You need to check if there are dirt and damages on the gown. You will then drop down everything about the dirt and damages on the contract before signing it.

This is very important if money saving is the main reason for you to rent the gown. You will certainly rent an older gown with a lower price. However, there will usually be more dirt and damages on such a gown (since it is an older one). If you do not check all the problems of it carefully and drop notes about that, it can be sure that you will just be arguing with the people from the bridal shop when you return the gown.

Pick the wedding dress yourself

You should not ask others to pick the gown for you. This is because they cannot try the wedding dress for you when they pick it. You should spend the time to pick it yourself. If you find that the gown does not fit when you are trying it, you can ask for alterations right the way. You may not have enough time to bring the gown to the shop again for alternations if you are having others to pick it for you.

Pick the gown a few days before your wedding

You should pick your wedding dress at least a few days before your wedding. If you really find that the wedding dress does not fit, you can still allow the shop a few days to alter the dress for you. Of course you should not pick it too early either since you may become fatter or slimmer (it should be slimmer, I bet) after you pick the gown.

Ask about the penalties if the gown is damaged

You will also need to ask about the penalties if you damage the gown. The penalties will certainly be different for different shops. Dropping down all the penalties may be involved if the gown is damaged will be a crucial step. Otherwise it will just render unnecessary arguments.

Chances are your wedding dress will be the most important clothing purchase of your life. Yes, you will only wear it once; but, will you ever wear another dress more anticipated and more talked about?

And while this is indeed an important clothing decision, you have probably never gone through the process of purchasing a wedding gown until now. Thankfully, I have rounded up useful advice to get you started on your way to walking down the aisle in the dress of your dreams.


Start Shopping Early -

Time is of the essence. Most likely, you did not get engaged after a week of dating, so why would you want to rush such an important shopping decision? Planning a wedding is stressful, and the last thing you want to add to your worries is dress shopping. You need time. Not only do you need time to shop, but keep in mind that you will also need time to wait for your dress to arrive and time for fittings. Try to start looking for your perfect wedding dress right after you are engaged. You should aim to purchase your wedding gown at least 6 months before your wedding date, as this will ensure enough time to wait for your gown to arrive and have it tailored.

Wedding only 5 months away, and you haven't even tried on your first dress? Don't panic. While shopping early is preferred, you can always buy a dress off the rack, and many bridal salons can turn a dress around more quickly if necessary. You just may have to be a little more flexible in your dress choice.

Educate Yourself -
Wedding dresses come with their own unique glossary of terms (or jargon, as you may want to call it). Before stepping foot into a bridal salon, try to brush up on your vocabulary. There are terms for gown silhouette (the basic shape of the gown), neckline, bodice, sleeves, trains etc. Learn the basics and try to narrow down which options you prefer and which ones best suit your figure. Overwhelmed? This wedding dress styles guide provides detailed descriptions on every type of wedding gown.

Envision Your Perfect Wedding Dress -

Many bridal salons do not allow you to simply browse through all their wedding dresses. They first ask you a few questions about your wedding and your overall style and bring dresses that reflect your vision to you. Therefore, it's best to have an idea of what you want before you shop. After you have educated yourself on the various parts of a dress, think about what wedding dress style suits you. Always dreamed of being a princess?

A ball gown silhouette is probably your best bet. Dream of showing off a figure sculpted by hard work at the gym? A sheath dress may be perfect for you. Keep in mind that your dress, while suiting your personal style, should also suit your wedding venue. A formal ball gown is probably not appropriate for a beach wedding in the sand, while a sundress may not work in a cathedral.

Know Where to Shop -

The most popular choice is the bridal salon, known for a high level of customer service. Bridal salons exist almost everywhere; you can search our local wedding services section for ones nearest you. Of course, all bridal salons are not the same. Some feature wedding gowns from multiple designers, others feature only gowns from one specific designer custom for their particular store.

Price ranges vary as well. While many bridal salons offer gowns starting as low as $300, prices at other stores can start as high as $4000. Call and inquire before choosing a store. Brides on a tighter budget can try an outlet. Bridal outlets offer hundreds of dresses, often from past seasons, at a discounted price.

Determine Your Budget -

It's best to have an idea of what you would like to spend before stepping into a bridal salon. This will save you the hassle of going to salons out of your price range or allowing the sales clerk to bring you dresses you cannot afford. The average cost of a wedding dress is around $800. Shop around online and in magazines to get an idea of how much wedding dresses cost and how much you want to spend. In general, your wedding gown shouldn't exceed 10 percent of the cost of the wedding reception.