PROJECT FIND EMILY’S WEDDING DRESS!

Hey guys! It’s been a few months since I wrote anything about my wedding plans, so today I wanted to share a big update with you! First of all, we’ve booked our wedding photographer!! It was the second thing I did after booking our wedding venue as it’s top of our priorities, along with a videographer (which I’m still yet to find as my faves have already been booked for my wedding date, sad face!). Now just a few weeks in and the search for my wedding dress is on!

Last week I booked in at two local bridal boutiques and I have to say I was a little more nervous than I’d expected. Anyone else feel like that? Maybe I was mistaking nervousness for excitement? Who knows? Anyway, joined by my two bridesmaids and mum, my first appointment was at a brand new boutique called Waxflower Bridal. If I’d been nervous before I needn’t have been. Owner of the boutique Kathy, was one of the most fun and friendly people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Plus the store looked so utterly fabulous, that I totally forgot I was actually there to try and find a wedding dress, as we were all so busy taking photos.

First, Kathy asked if I had any designers or styles in mind and I showed her a dress I’d found online. Then she asked me to pick 5 different dresses to try on. I picked a mixture of jumpsuits, two-pieces and of course dresses. We then headed to the pretty pink dressing room where she helped me into each dress. She listened to all my concerns when I told her I had a hang up on having too much cleavage on show and advised on what type of underwear would suit each design, really putting me at ease. I’m so pleased to say that my first bridal boutique experience was an amazing one.

My next appointment was at All About Eve. We met shop assistant Kirstie who was super friendly and she again asked me to pick 5 dresses. This time I asked my bride squad to each choose a dress for me. Reason being that I found myself constantly drawn to a similar style but I still wanted to be open to other designs because #whynot? This time there were only dresses to choose from but they were all beautiful nonetheless.

I have to say I didn’t really find any dresses that I absolutely hated, although I did encounter one dress which Jess picked out for me, that looked like it could appear on an episode of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings – it absolutely swamped me! But apart from that, I really liked all the outfits I tried on and by the end of it, there were two that I felt I loved. I was torn and felt with a few adjustments and additions these two would be perfect, but which to choose? I asked my entourage to take pictures of me in both so I could mull over them at lunch and immediately after seeing the photos I knew which one it had to be! HINT: It’s not pictured here, I will be leaving that as a surprise for the big day of course!

So here’s what I learned from my experience:

Start looking for your dress at least 6 months before your wedding date. 6 months is the average lead time so you probably want to start looking before then.
Only take those whose opinion you really trust to your appointments
Limit the number of people to four maximum
Appointments range from 1 1/2 – 2 hours so make sure you allow enough time in your day so you don’t feel rushed
Wear a good supporting bra! I really wish I’d worn a multi-way one
Ask if whoever attends the appointment with you can take photos of you in the outfits. I couldn’t believe the difference in photos compared to what I could see in the mirror.
Go to your appointments with an open mind. A good shop assistant will know which styles will suit your body type, so let them make suggestions.
Don’t be afraid to ask if any of the designs could be modified slightly. I wanted a particular sleeve on my outfit and was amazed to find they could make that alteration for me.
Take note of how the material feels on you skin. There were a few dresses that I tried on that felt so rough and itchy that I couldn’t have bared to be in them allllll day!
Will you be able to move around in it comfortably? I am certainly not one to favour fashion over comfort so I wanted to make sure that whatever I chose, was going to be comfortable enough for everything I was going to have to do i.e walk, dance, sit and eat. The last thing I want to worry about on our wedding day is things digging in when I need to sit down or restricting my arms when I’m trying to throw shapes on the dance floor!
Don’t make any rush decisions. Go home and think about what you’ve seen, take some time to think about it and I promise you’ll find you cannot stop thinking about that one dress, which means that should probably be the one you choose!

In the next few weeks we’ll be heading back to Waxflower Bridal to try my chosen outfit on along with my bridesmaids who will also be in their dresses. I feel like I need to see what we all look like altogether before I make my final decision and it’ll be an opportunity to discuss any final modernization to the sleeves etc. I can’t believe we’re already three weeks into January which now means there are just 232 days until our wedding. I’m so excited to share more details of what we have planned with you soon!! Eeeek!!!