How to Try on Wedding Dresses: Tips to Find Your Perfect Bridal Style (tips from a bride herself)
- amym2322
- Feb 4
- 4 min read
I got to go wedding dress shopping last weekend in Orlando, FL and I wanted to share what I learned about the process! I shopped at Lily's Bridal and Bridal Gallery. Disclaimer I am not a bridal stylist or anything of the kind - this was my first time ever trying on dresses! However, I do think these tips would be helpful if you are starting the process of looking for a dress.
First and foremost - who to bring! It is definitely important to bring people who will support you in the right ways, but also not be afraid to tell you their honest truth if they do not like a dress. You also want to bring people who will help create the environment you can most easily thrive in. If you are a party - high energy girl and you want people to hype you up - bring those friends/family! Or, if you are looking for more of a chill, laid-back vibe, or have nerves, it is definitely better to bring your calmer friends/family members. It may sound silly but knowing this about yourself quite literally can make the experience - so it's a good thing to think about before sending out invites!
Second, make an appointment! Some places are walk-in, but it just gets chaotic, and they might not always be able to take you at that time. Make an appointment so there is a whole hour and a half dedicated to your group - you have plenty of time then to try on a bunch of options.
Third, no more than 2 appointments in one day! This is a personal opinion but after two, I was completely wiped! It is a lot of fun but also such a stimulating environment, where you are constantly making decisions - it does take quite a bit out of you by the end! Obviously if you have family in town and have to book more than 2 appointments so they can attend - that makes total sense. But, if you are not in a rush, I wouldn't go over two.
What Dresses Should I Try On?
Short answer - all styles! This sounds overwhelming, but to be honest, even if you think you are opposed to a style, you don't fully know until you've tried it on. You also never know what you might end up liking. My friend went wedding dress shopping looking for sleeves and plain satin and came home with spaghetti straps & a pleated skirt! For me, I am pretty opposed to a strapless dress, as well as a super fitted one. However, I did try both on just to confirm my thoughts. It gives you so much peace and ease towards narrowing down the styles you like! For tips on styles, see the section below!
The Ballgown - Your "Cinderella Moment"
This is one of the styles I think every bride should try on - regardless of if it is their vibe or not coming in! The ballgown style is pretty self-explanatory, but basically is a huge, layered skirt, often made from tulle. Even if it's not your thing - it's fun to see yourself in a ballgown, and then you can officially cross it off your list to try on!
The Fit & Flair (Mermaid) Style
This is another style I think worth giving a go! These dresses are fitted all the way past your hips, then flair out around the bottom! They accentuate your curves and often provide a strong look of elegance. Not for me though! It did fit fine, but I felt like a penguin with my legs stuck so close together haha! Glad I tried it on though so I could cross it off!
The Sparkle
Regardless of if you are a "sparkles" girl or not - you should try on a sparkly dress! No matter the style, although they often have bigger skirts, I think it is another large factor you can either check off or add to your list. If you try on a sparkly one and know sparkles aren't for you - it helps narrow down your search a lot!
The A-Line
Last, but not least in the main styles of dresses - is the A-line. This, as I was told by a bridal associate, is one of the most universally flattering styles for most all women. It is known for its slimmer fit and slimmer skirt than a ballgown. I believe it is called an A-line for the general shape being an "A" from top to bottom. This of course can come in many different forms - satin, lace, sparkly tulle, but definitely throw on an A-line dress and see what you think!
xoxo
Amy
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