I didn’t go wedding dress shopping. Well, not in the same way that most brides shop for wedding dresses. I wasn’t interested. I was a size 14 and thought I was just too tubby to enjoy the process, so visited a few shops selling evening dresses with my Ma and purchased the first one I tried on. Easy does it.
Now that my Lil Sis is engaged and planning on getting married this year {I know! Freak out!} we had to get moving on the wedding dress search, so we piled into the car all us bridesmaids {bar one} and the little flowergirl too. Our first stop was the City.
Since I was the only bridesmaid that’s already married, and having not stepped inside a wedding dress store before I had no idea what we were in for. Not at all. So in we walked all ready for a good time, only to be stopped in our tracks by a sales assistant named Julie. “Can I help you?” she greeted us from behind the glass counter.
“We’re looking for a wedding dress,” I said, stating the obvious.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Umm… no,” I replied, feeling somewhat like a naughty schoolgirl turning up late for class.
“You can look at dresses, but you can’t try them on. No mobile phones either. You must not use your phone in the store. You can keep them in your pocket or handbag, but you must not pull them out. Is that clear?”
We nodded like good girls, and made our way around the store. Dotted around were girls in white gowns and gloves {to protect the dresses, of course} and not a smile to be seen. Wedding dress shopping is super serious business.
The racks were filled with overflowing tulle and blinding crystals. We found two dresses among the bazillions that looked they might be ‘the one’, so we made our way to talk to Julie and see what we could do.
“There’s a six week wait for an appointment,” she informed us, flicking through her diary.
“And if we like the dress, how long does it take for us to get it?” I quizzed.
“Well, it’s around 6 to 10 … months for it to arrive.”
“Forget it,” my sister piped up from behind me, “I’ll be married by then.”
We made our way to another bridal store a few shops down, and managed to grab an appointment then and there for Lil Sis to try on a few gowns. Megg {my sisters BFF} and I waited among the tulle growing ever anxious with the pressure the wedding gown shopping brings. The dresses were mediocre and we’d all already had enough.
“That’s it!” Big Sis declared, “No more of these shops. We’re hitting non-wedding shops. It’s too-too much!”
We all sighed a huge sigh of relief and agreed, hot footing it out of there.
By the end of the way we had a non-wedding wedding dress, a flower girl dress, rings and smiles on our faces.
“Take that Julie and your ten month wait!” we laughed as we drove home.
So we’re part way there, and Lil Sis looked beyond beautiful in her chosen dress. I can’t wait to share it with you when she’s hitched and a Mrs.
Are you married? Did you go wedding dress shopping? What was your experience like? {Oh, and I hope you were better than us and at least made an appointment!}
Hi Chantelle,
I went wedding dress shopping for my 2nd wedding 8 years ago, with ideas that I didnt want to be a frou frou bride, at 45 I didnt want what I wanted when I was 20 (first time). Im a big girl, most wedding dress shops laughed at me, dont have your size here, went to the last shop in desperation of not wearing track pants and a tee shirt down the aisle and got a lovely number, but it was a bridesmaids dress which they made for me. Not fun Dread the time when my sons girlfriends do this. Glad yours worked out ok 🙂
Happy stitching
Pam
went in, no appointment, tried on 4 dresses in total and bought the first one i had seen and tried on. all done in two days (the 2nd day was when my mum came with me to see it) i had no birdesmaids and went dress shopping by myself
When S and I get married later this year – he says we are going to Vegas to get married by Elvis – I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt…….I'm not making a fuss for Elvis!!!
To be honest I don't think it matters what you wear – the dress doesn't make the marriage..S and I have both had big doo's when we were previously married and now we are both divorced – so this time around, there will be no fuss, no frills and no big doo – just me and S declaring our love for each other to each other!
Fortunately you don't have to go through such an ordeal in Germany ;-). Maybe it's different in the big cities, but I just went to a couple of bridal stores and checked out the dresses, got to try them on, too ;-). I found MY dress at the second store, but did check out some more just in case ;-). I'm still in love with this dress and at that time it was absolutely perfect for me. Wedding dress shopping is so much fun, so I'm glad you and your sister had a good time in the end. I do envie you for getting to plan the whole thing with her 😉 – maks 🙂
I made appointments at about 4 places earlier this year. Two were fairly horrendous and similar to your experience, two were really lovely, helpful, friendly without being fake and gave me quotes on a dress which I wanted (none of the ones were 'perfect' I wanted a a little from dress a, a little from dress b). Turned out I'm getting it made by a local dressmaker friend of my mum's anyway.
I was a size 22 when I got married. Tears and more tears. Then I found a wonderful shop, where they held things around me and made me imagine what could happen. My Mum made my dress, andi felt like a princess ( and not Princess Leia either!). Have been to see the movie Bridesmaids? I'd recommend it.
I went shopping about the 6 months before the big day to be told that this dress has a cut off of a few days and this one you'd have to decide today. They said the Designers don't take orders less then 6 months before your day. Yikes, why was that not in the wedding magazines! Then they didnt' measure me. A much too small gown was ordered leaving me to panic, I ended up hiring a personal trainer for three times a week. That's stress I could've done without!!!!
A work colleague brought hers in to work so I could see if that style worked for me… I'd only just become engaged a few days before and hadn't thought about dresses. I tried it on and loved it and then didn't want to take it off… a sure sign that you've found your dress. She had it cleaned and I paid her $300 for the dress and it's still in my cupboard. I wore it recently and it's now too big but at the time it actually fit perfectly without any alterations.
I've had more experience with this than I care to admit. When my sister asked me to meet her at a shop I asked if she had an appointment and she said no. I didn't even want to walk in there as I already knew what the response would be. She found a fantastic store on the North Side of Brissie and the girls were great and we could all try on whatever we wanted! These cranky old wedding dress owners are only that way b/c of years of girls trying on dresses, taking pics, having it made at half the price. But too bad. If you don't like the business you're in, get out. We got our bridesmaid dresses at Crossroads outlet for $20 each!
I went to a few bridal shops locally (Newcastle) and in Sydney. Every single “assistant” was lovely to my sister (Skinny bridesmaid) and some were just plain rude to me! (Not so skinny Bride) I ended up buying mine from Ebay – exactly what I wanted, made to MY measurements and 1/8th of the price in store. Arrived in 3 weeks and I couldn't have been happier!! If only some of those who work in Bridal shops would realise we are the ones paying their wages! What happened to customer service??
Great post Chantelle. I never went wedding dress shopping – as you say, much too serious! I bought an off the rack dress from a shop in the Strand Arcade. I saw it, I loved it, it was the only one I tried on. And it wasn't even white (gasp!).
Can't wait to see what your sis came up with! Take that indeed, Julie!
I never wanted to do the whole “ooh la la – I'm getting married” thing, so very simply went out with my mum to some of the outlet wedding dress places in western Sydney. All I knew was that I wanted something plain and simple. And all I could find were gaudy over the top dresses that were puffy and completely covered with beads. Not my scene at all. After travelling around all day and feeling very despondant we ended up in Parramatta at a hire shop where I found my dream dress. It was hire only but that was ok, I didn't want to buy a dress I'd never wear again – couldn't see the point in wasting the money. Managed to get the dress, alterations and the hoop petticoat for just over $300 – awesome!
But I once went wedding dress shopping with a friend who was getting married (I was one of the bridesmaids) and she was very over the top (she got married at St Mary's cathedral in the city and arrived there in a horse-drawn white princess carriage). Shopping for dresses with her was painful, but not just her, but also the shops themselves. Like you said, so serious and not at all “fun” at all. She finally found her dress at the end of the day and we (the bridesmaids) had to sit and watch her twirl around in it for over an hour. It was a massive dress with a bodice covered in Swarovski crystals which came to a grand total of $5000. But it was perfect for her as it totally fitted her style (but I couldn't help but think it was a waste). I think she was able to get it fast-tracked and had it within 6 months.
I never knew it could be such a serious thing – they need to lighten up a bit!
Gosh! I wouldn't have been prepared for that experience either. I got married 13 years back, so it's going back now. There was no need for appointments at any of the stores I went to. Unfortunately I was a bit before my time, there are so many wedding dresses I like now, but back then, not so much. I ended up getting a dressmaker to make mine based on a picture I got in a mag. when I was in the US. A lot cheaper too, which is a good thing, because I have never got the dress out of the box since the big day.
I have to say it's not all bad out there – you just have to choose your targets carefully. Yes, booking is the done thing nowadays, but mostly so the staff can assist you properly and not be pulled in a thousand different directions at once. It makes sense.
I would recommend KWH by Karen Willis Holmes in Sydney and Melbourne as being a great ready to wear option for brides. I came very close to buying my dress there and the staff were fantastic. In the end I had a dress made for me instead, but Karen's designs are simply beautiful. And no appointments were needed for her RTW collection!
Well done on your sis finding a dress. I am sure the whole bridal party will look gorgeous. I had a dress made and thought couture would be this wonderful, girly, fun filled experience. Wrong. Seriously wrong. I had to sign a contract not to gain weigh which only made me want to stuff my face. Then they cut the lace for the bodice too small which made the layer underneath crinkle. They didn't admit it was their fault and claiimed I was fatter. Thankfully they had my measurements and I was smaller. They then had to emergency order more from france at a very big expense per metre which they weren't happy about. It was a huge stress and I wasn't totally happy with it on the day either.
My mummy made mine. I was lucky.
However, as a young single girl one of my uni holiday adventures with my girlfriends would be to fake that one of us was a bride and go out wedding dress shopping. LOADS of fun as there is no real wedding to prepare for and you can confidently claim each dress is THE ONE. In retrospect it must have been horrible for the sales assistants.
I went wedding dress shopping and has a similar experience. I am a size 24 and found I would be ignored when I entered the shops. my Mum and I ended up at Calabro (www.calabrostores.com/ ). We met an amazing lady, Veronica. She understood my shape and what would work and what wouldn't. I could not fault her and her team 🙂
xox Carmel
I knew exactly what designer I wanted, as I had wanted her since I was in high school and stumbled across her sie (Then it was culture shock bridal – now culture bridal couture).
I made an appointment, went in and tried on the dress I wanted! Lisa was brilliant, she had me try on one of her other designs too just to be sure it was what I wanted.
I am plus size too, but the whole experience was brilliant. The dress was a made to measure but cheaper design. It looked beautiful and really suited my figure!
I heard so many stories from women un happy about the wedding dress shops, it has made me want to just find myself a pretty cream/opal dress from a normal shop & just style it up.
Went with my mum to a few known stores in Sydney, a couple out west and then chose the most expensive dress in a Store at Parramatta. I purposely avoided the “couture” places.. 1. I didn't want to get ripped off, 2. Didn't have the patience to put up with some snooty salesperson. I loved my dress. It wasn't imported, it was made locally. 3 days before the wedding, fit perfectly. Day of wedding, somehow lost weight around my big boobs! Luckily, the lady from the store came over to help me adjust the dress. All very lovely and i wouldn't have changed a thing.
I'm glad you had success in the end – and I'm sure the whole bridal look will be more original this way.
Holy crap, I had no idea wedding dress shopping was such serious business! Glad to hear she found the perfect dress xxx
I eloped to Vegas for an Elvis wedding. Dress was $15 from an op shop in Newtown. I tell my husband he was the bride in that he had his suit tailored in the city, 3 fittings, dark blue velvet with 23 inch bellbottoms.
My wedding dress shopping experience was less than positive. The first shop I walked into told me that I was too fat to find a wedding dress and there was nothing they could show me. I left in tears and have promised to tell every single plus sized bride to be NEVER to shop there. I found another shop that were not only friendly, but had plenty of dresses for me to try on…in my size! My wedding dress was simple, timeless and me.
Ah – the wedding dress shopping experience. I can remember one place in Sydney that only allowed you to try on 2 dresses that they selected for you! And then the other place that wouldn't let you try on a dress unless you gave them your budget. Lots of attitude!
On the flip side, I was lucky enough to try on a dress at Vera Wang in NYC (I was on holidays at the time) and they couldn't have been more delightful. They even took pictures for me!!
I'm married going on 10 years. I didn't go dress shopping. My mother made my dress and my bridesmaids dresses. She did an awesome job too. They were beautiful and we spend all of $200 at most on all the dresses!!
OMG, it's like that scene out of Bridesmaids (apart from the food poisoning). I got my first wedding dress at a little shop at Windsor in England, where I was working. I was treated beautifully, and it was quite cheap too. I did need it taken in, which cost almost as much as the dress. I chose the first dress I tried on.
Second time around I was railroaded into going to a secondhand wedding dress sale by my fiance and in-laws. I was stupidly forced into choosing a dress they liked and paid for. It was more expensive than my dream dress which I found for $50 at another bridal sale (when I was looking for a bridesmaid dress for my sister). But hubby wouldn't let me swap, as his parents would be offended. I hated that dress, and looking back it was kind of an omen.
My brother is getting hitched in April to a girl whom I adore, but we haven't been dress shopping yet…there are 3 bridesmaids, and she chose me as one! There's me, another girl about my size (16-18) and my sister *scowl* the size 0 who is the same height as us. I don't think the rule thing is the same here though, I mean, they have all these bridal shows and stuff. I've never heard of making an appointment, that sounds ridiculous!
All the best to your lil sis, and may I not strangle mine for being so dang skinny. Here's to being a bridesmaid…I'll be in blue!
~Ashley~
* Perpetually Me *
I bought a dress off the rack in a normal shop. not a snooty wedding shop. sounds horrid. Like a previous commenter said – you HAVE to see bridesmaids. you will love that scene.
Oh yes, the wedding dress process is mind boggling, not to mention disheartening and a little frustrating when dealing with assistants like “Julie”! So glad your sis found a non-wedding dress that she liked. There are so many beautiful designers out there whipping up gorgeous dresses in light colours that are just perfect for walking down the aisle in. Lisa Ho is stunning for bridesmaids dresses too… just a little tip if you're still looking for bridesmaid dresses. It's where my bridesmaids got their's from :o) xo
haha. This brings back memories of my own wedding dress hunt 6 or so years ago. I remember one lady in a shop telling me that “it just isn't a wedding dress without a train”….. Another lady informed me that there was no way that I would ever find a wedding dress under $1000 (which was my budget – the entire wedding budget was $10,000 – which is the price tag of many of the dresses that you see). Anyway, I eventually found a beautiful dress in a bridal shop in Ballarat. It was actually a demo dress, made for bridal fashion parades… a new one was made up for me in the size and colour that I wanted – a bargan at $600. Perfect!
Wow Telle, you looked stunning in all your bridal photos. I especially love that one of you looking radiant in the limo. Who wouldda thunk it that you had dress dilemmas?!
As for me, I was lucky to be walking past an off-the-rack bridal shop the day after engagement. My nanna stopped, my mum stopped and I stopped.. in the window was the perfect dress. After all the experiences I've read here, I think that I was exceptionally lucky. How awful that people can treat brides so badly? It's supposed to be one of the happiest times of your life!
Great post Chantelle. I was with Richard in Bondi Junction and we went into DJ's. I saw a dress I liked, tried it on, he gave it the ok, hey presto one wedding dress. It was an evening dress more than a wedding dress. I can't help but feel I missed out a little too, but being a size 16 I didn't want the whole experience either. x
no wedding dress shopping here…i was unbelieveably lucky and my MIL made it for the cost of the materials only…I pulled different ideas from different dresses in magazines and she put it all together with hours upon hours of stitching, embroidery and crystal/bead sewing. I truly hope that one of my girls wears it when they get married one day! I don't think I could have handled the 'did you make and appointment' kind of nonsense. have a fabulous time at blogher11…can't wait to hear all about it! tatum xx
Hi Chantelle!
I'm from the states, so we do have those high-end wedding dress shops like the first one you described, but we also have a places like David's Bridal. You can go in and try dresses on that same day. They have dresses in a wide arrange of sizes and costs, they even have a whole rack of dresses for $100 and under! I got my wedding dress there, and I was very happy with it. It was a very easy experience.
I went to a local bridal shop (no appointment, naughty naughty) but they weren't too snooty and I tried on some dresses including one that was gorgeous but more than I could spend. It was a designer dress so I took a mental note of the style and did some googling when I got home. Found a second hand one in online wedding classifieds for 1/3 of the price of a new one. And only a 20 minute drive away. $200 for alterations and voila! Dress of my dreams, didn't want to take it off 🙂
Elizabeth Saxe Coburg-Gotha is an evil woman, why do we slave away at work our whole lives for money with her face on