How long did it take you to find your perfect wedding dress? How many did you try on?
I went for a girly day in Cardiff with my 3 bridesmaids and we went to 4 different shops. I tried on about 5 in each store…ones that I loved the look of and ones that I thought ‘no way’! However….when I tried on the ‘no way’ ones I actually changed my opinion and the dream dress ideas I went in with were altered pretty quickly. I found my dress in the last shop on that day so I guess I found my dress in one day! I knew it was the one because 2 of my bridesmaids cried, the other had the biggest grin and I felt amazing!
Did you have a picture in your head of your perfect dress when you stated looking? What pre-planning did you do, if any?
I definitely went in with some idea of what I wanted after looking online, searching through magazines, and looking at materials. I had a few things what I 100% did not want…no big meringue and it needed straps. Having said this I moved away slightly from my original ideas when I was trying on dresses (although there's still no meringue in sight!). I think it helps to go in with some idea of what you want otherwise the experience can be slightly overwhelming, but I also think it’s really important to try a few different dresses as well..you never know, you might change your mind!
Who did you take wedding dress shopping? Why did you choose them to come with you?
My three amazing bridesmaids! I took these lovely ladies as I trust them completely. They would never say anything just to please me and they would be honest. I could tell just from looking at their faces if they liked it, loved it or hated it! It was so helpful because they could see the full picture and the wow factor of each dress. There were a few which barely made an appearance out of the fitting room before being shooed back in, and a few that caused fits of giggles (the totally over the top Katie Price style ones)! I knew I had found the right dress when I saw a look of sheer joy and excitement in the girls' faces. Dress shopping is actually very emotional and it was amazing that they were the ones I shared this with. A lot of people take their mothers but for me it was always going to be my girls!
What tips would you give to those about to start looking?
Go in with a few ideas and do some research but stay open minded! Try on a range of dresses (even if you then rule them out after trying them on!)
Take someone with you whose opinion you really care about and who you know will be honest
Keep a budget in mind but if you find the perfect dress search around, bargain hunt, or even think about going second hand or vintage.
Did you have a price limit in mind before you stated looking? Did you change your mind during the hunt? Did you do any bargain hunting?
I stupidly booked four amazing bridal shops that offered us bubbles and strawberries to make the occasion more special. Although this was exciting, it meant all the dresses I tried on were out of my range... and preceded to fall in love with a dress that was about 4 times more than my budget! Eek! – After looking around on sites such as preloved.com and other similar sites, I decided against a second hand dress as it was really tricky finding any in my size. I carried on my search online and found a few companies that make replica dresses at a fraction on the cost. Mine is currently on its way from America and I’ll let you know how amazing it is when it arrives!
We've decided to go for a relaxed, fun, rural country theme for our wedding. I think my dress does match this as it has a very vintage feel and the lace really adds something special, but I didn't really have the theme in mind when choosing!
Did you get any surprises during the dress hunt?
The biggest surprise to me was how emotional I found the day. It was exhausting! When I came out of the changing room wearing the first dress it really hit me that I was getting married, and would soon be walking down the aisle to the man I love, who I will spend the rest of my life with. There was something about wearing the dress that made it all so real.
How did you know which dress to choose?
I just knew! I loved it and the girls loved it. It was the perfect mix between different and traditional. Sometimes it's hard to stop looking because you never know what's out there, but I loved the dress and felt amazing in it and that was enough for me!
Did you go for tradition or fashion when choosing the dress?
I would like to think I bit of both. I am not the most fashionable human being! I wear what I like and I’m not fussed about what people think (which is a blessing!) but like to think I don’t look too ridiculous. The dress is flipping amazing!
Fiona is getting married on 5th July, 2014. We wish her and her fiance, Andrew the best of luck! x
Photos from We Heart It and Weddbook
No comments:
Post a Comment