An Interview with Modern Dress | Wedding Dress Shopping 101
Wedding dress shopping is one the most memorable times in a bride’s wedding planning experience. It’s something most girls dream about- finding that perfect dress for one of the most important days of their life. For this week’s post, I was lucky enough to partner up alongside Ashley, the owner of Modern Dress, a bridal and formalwear Boutique in Boone, IA so we could give you more of an inside look at the wedding dress shopping experience and offer some great advice to help make yours as exciting and stress-free as possible!
Q: How far in advance should a bride start wedding dress shopping? Also, how long does it typically take for a dress to come in?
A: Brides should order their dress a year out if they have the time (we have some that order 15-18 months out if they need to plan around their college schedule, time of year they are getting married, they live out of state but want to buy locally, many different reasons for ordering a dress early!). It can take up to 6-8 months for the dress to come in and then we like plenty of time for alterations, finishing accessories and just that piece of mind that your dress is here! There are some in-stock options through certain companies, but those can be limited to the color and size you have to order. We also sell some of our gowns off the rack if there is a short time frame.
Q: Does Modern Dress offer alterations?
A: We do not offer alteration services in house, but we work with a fabulous company, KN Custom Sewing. We have been sending our brides to Karen & Colby since we opened in 2012 and have the most confidence in them! Alterations services are never included in the price of a gown, so brides need to remember to plan for that when they are setting their budget. (KN Custom Sewing, 515-233-0303)
Q: Who should a bride bring along with her to her appointment?
A: We really try to encourage our brides to bring a smaller group of 2-4 people. We are a smaller intimate boutique and we want every bride to have the special experience we offer! Sometimes if there are too many opinions or voices, the bride doesn't get to think for herself. We also recommend you bring those you trust, the gown is usually the only surprise of the wedding, so keep it a surprise! We want brides to remember their bridal shopping experience as a fun and relaxing time, not overwhelmed and stressed!
Q: Do you have any other advice for brides shopping for wedding dresses?
A: Some advice would be to think about styles you think you are wanting, but come in with an open mind. We love seeing a bride's Pinterest or seeing saved photos of how they are envisioning their wedding day!
Trust your stylist! Often times our stylists end up picking out the bride's gown because we truly know how dresses fit each body type and what the bride might be looking for!
KLE’s Personal Advice:
· Look the Part- Schedule a blowout and do your makeup before your appointment! Better yet, if possible, schedule one of your beauty trials before you go try on dresses. You’ll not only look and feel fabulous, but you’ll also have a better idea envisioning what you’ll look like on your big day!
· Capture the Moment: Have a friend or family member take photos of you in each dress that you love, and in as many angles as possible, this way if you’re having a tough time making your final decision you can have these to go back and look at and reference.
· Do Your Homework Before Your Appointment: Prepare for your appointment by learning about the various dress silhouettes and finding which wedding dress styles you love! Make sure to save the images and bring them with you to your appointment so you can show your stylist. This will be an extremely helpful extra step in creating a great starting point for both you and your stylist!
· Bring Your Best Girls Along: Think carefully about who all you would like to be there while you’re shopping for your dress. It’s easy to get caught up in “who you feel like you need to bring along” but remember that this day is about you! Make sure the special people you choose to have alongside of you are going to be uplifting, positive and are there to add more joy to this special time by being there with you!
· Celebrate and Relax! This may mean pouring a few mimosas for you and girls, creating an extra fun playlist full of songs that instantly put you in a great mood or reminiscing on some of your favorite memories of you and your soon-to-be other half! Whatever it may be, be present in the moment and soak it all in! It will be an experience you’ll have to hold onto for the rest of your life!
xoxo,
Karla
Photography | Jennifer Weinman Photography