How soon do you start shopping for dresses

About a year or so in advance... you have about a year and two months to go right?? It's not too soon -- you can start now if you like. It's not a good idea to order TOOOO soon though because you may end up stressing about your gown and changing your mind a thousand times or doubting yourself so just keep that in mind.


Just take your time and don't let sales people pressure you into ordering or making any kind of decisions!!! Good luck and most importantly have fun!!

Like a few of the 2006 ladies out there, I too am an early bird and ordered my dress 2 weeks ago. We have 2 weddings a month apart in my family (mine and my sisters after 2 long engagments) so there's no such thing as 'too soon'. Actually, I 'stumbled' upon my dress anyway. I was looking for a particular dress on the web and found mine. Went to try on both dresses and the one I picked is exactly what I ever imagined I'd wear the day of my wedding. You'll know when it's right, and I'm with you - I hear all the horror stories and whew am I glad I'm planning in advance.

Here's a horror story... I went to try on dresses at a bridal salon. While there the mother of another gal was there and asking me questions about my wedding, wondering what kind of 'kook' I am to be waiting 2 years. She was boasting about how her daughter got engaged this past winter and is getting married next month. Well, then the daughter/bride walked out of the dressing room and a very beautiful dress. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the bride. She would have been a very pretty girl if she only remembered how to smile. She looked like she was having a nervous breakdown instead and she was balking at her mother in public. I came home that day and told my fiance 'thank you for not letting me push us into that'. We are having so much fun and not stressing at all over the wedding. I create enough stress in daily life anyway, and I know I'm a high stress person (I'll find a way to stress even if none exists) so for me, no such thing as too soon. Some people do work better under pressure though, I just know that I'm not one of them. Also, my size hasn't changed since I was 20 and I'm almost 31 now, so alterations really aren't an issue either and there's no rush on them. As for changing my mind between now and the wedding... just like after you find the right guy - you stop looking, same goes for the right dress

I would start now...the safest is to order the dress 8 - 12 months before he wedding.

Have you been looking in mags & saving pictures? This may help tremendously when you are ready to shop.

Have Fun!

Start as early as you want, it is fun!!! You'll know you found the 'one' when you start comparing all subsequent dresses to it. Def order tho about a year in advance.

ASAP for many reasons
1. What if you can't find 'the one'
2. Some take up to 10 months to order (or so they say)
3 and 4. The prices can go up. I put a 'hold' on my dress for $50 2 years before the wedding. When I went back a year later, the price went up $150 and I didn't have to pay the increase. They could also disconitue the dress. 'Hold' meant that I put the deposit down, if the dress was disconinued, they would call me and I'd have 2 weeks to order the dress.