Wedding dress shopping

So I'm thinking about going wedding dress shopping, but my wedding isn't until next May. Do you think it's too soon to go shopping? Should I wait a few more months? Also, I'm unsure on whether or not I should ask my bridal party to come. I'm already planning on taking my mother, sister, grandma and my FMIL. One of my bridesmaids keeps asking when 'we're going to look at dresses' lol so I'll have her come, but now I'm debating on whether I should ask the other 4 girls. What do you girls think?

Wedding dress shopping

I don't know the first thing about all this planning but like you I am a 2016 bride (July) and while I want to go dress shopping I think its too early. I will probably wait till Sept. and go then. If you can hold out until like the summer I would say wait and go then.

I think that's a lot of people to have come look at dresses. Mother, sister grandma and FMIL are more than enough - that's your core - that's your family. The more people you add the more difficult any and everything become especially with a bunch of woman LOL!

My opinion is to keep it small and keep it personal. Everyone has a different opinion and you don't need dress shopping stress.

Wedding dress shopping

All I have to say is - it doesn't hurt to look.
If you want to go - go. :)

And when it comes to who to bring with you - go with a small group. Too many opinions will make you crazy and you want it to be a wonderful experience.

I ordered mine in July 2014 for my September 2015 wedding. :)

There's no true rule book to this.

Wedding dress shopping

I started dress shopping just last month for my May 2016 wedding. I had a break from school and I wanted to be able to enjoy shopping which is why I decided to start. It was a lot of fun and no one looked at me like I was crazy for shopping for next May! Most of the stores were pretty happy because they knew they would have plenty of time to get my dress if I chose one. I found one dress I really love and I found out there is going to be a trunk show at the end of the month so I will most likely purchase it then. For me, that is the greatest benefit to shopping early; you are not forced to buy the dress right then and have time to look for things like trunk shows for that designer (it will be 12% off at the trunk show saving around $300)!
As far as bringing your bridesmaids, I wouldn't. I was in the same situation where I know some of mine would have like to have come but I know it would have been too many opinions. I had my mom, sister, fmil and fsil (sometimes just my mom and sister) and that was perfect. Afterwards, I texted pictures to my bridesmaids of certain dresses and we didn't agree on which one was the favorite so I can only imagine how it would have been if they were there. Not that they would make me change my mind or be mean about it, but I'm sure if 3 of your closest friends don't like the dress you like and like another one better, it will sway you a little. Hope this helps.
As far as stores go, I recommend Bridal Reflections in Massapequa (Carle Place is a little more expensive). My consultant was great and they have a really great selection!

Wedding dress shopping

I think if you want to go then go it cant hurt. If it helps, I started looking for my dress for my June 2015 wedding in March 2014 and I didn't find one until July 2014.
Who you bring is also entirely up to you. I know a lot of people say more people means more opinions and the more difficult it will be but that's not always the case. It depends on your personality and what you want as well as the personalities of the people you'll be bringing. I will say the first time I went I had 4 bridesmaids with me my mom and fmil and it was totally fine. After that I went with less people just because everyone wasn't always free.
Good luck!

Wedding dress shopping

My future sister in law is getting married 2 days before you and she received her dress in the mail yesterday. So no I don't think it's too early lol.

Re: Wedding dress shopping

I feel like its really up to you. The good thing is that you won't feel rushed to pick a dress so if you start early you can go as many times as you want to look and then once you find the one you will know. My best friend is getting married in April and she's had her dress for over a year at this point. I am most likely getting married in 2017 and I am dying to go try on dresses. hehe :)

Do what you want to do so you can enjoy it!

As far as who to go with.. I always said i wanted to go with just my mom and my FMIL but i feel like my bridesmaids would take offense to that, so im very on the fence about that as well.

Wedding dress shopping

I went dress shopping a few times back in October/November because I'm extremely picky and being engaged for 6-7 months at that point I was itching just to go try on styles and see what I liked! I haven't gone since then, but now that my FH is in Oklahoma for training until the beginning of June I'll be going dress shopping within the next few months and probably purchasing my dress.

The most people I've had come with me dress shopping was 3, which was only once, and the other times I just brought my mom and MOH. The more people means the more opinions you'll have and it can get overwhelming.

Re: Wedding dress shopping

Dress shopping was so much fun and exhausting lol! Everyone told me that I had to try on lots of dresses and I think they were right. It took quite a few before I found 'THE DRESS'. My wedding is this April and I started dress shopping last winter (Jan 2014) after I picked my theme and location. I'm very picky so I wanted to start early. When I couldn't find anything I decided to wait for new collections to come out according to the season of my wedding date. Once I stopped and changed course that's when I found my dress. I found it at Demetrios, it was the 2015 spring collection preview and I couldn't stop from tearing. It was perfect! I also only went with my Sister who is my MOH because I really didn't want too many opinions to mess me up. The moment I knew that was the dress for me I went to get my mom to show her. I have my first fitting next week and none of my friends have had the time to go see the dress since I bought it. And they all want to but it hasn't happened. Had I waited for all of their schedules to coincide, then I would still be looking for a dress lololol. I'm actually kinda happy I didn't do a huge entourage, it would have been a lot. I say do whatever is comfortable for you. Hope this helps.

Wedding dress shopping

I agree with everyone saying it's not too soon.

In terms of bringing along people, I knew that I would never be a person who could find and buy my dress on the same day, and my bridesmaids were all super excited about the idea of going dress shopping. So I just planned out one (really long) day where we went to 4 dress shops and tried on tons of dresses. This gave me a better idea what I wanted and gave us all the experience. I also them went alone with my mom for a day, and when I realized I was pretty sure about one I'd seen I went back with my mom and dad to get it.

Re: Wedding dress shopping

Regarding the # of people you bring, I agree that the more people you bring, the more confusing it can be.

I would recommend bringing a core group (your family) first. Since you have so much time, there's no rush to make a decision. So you can narrow down your choices and then bring back your friends to see the ones you like best.

I know I couldn't get a dress that my mom didn't approve of, so it was vital for her to be there. But it wasn't vital that my bridesmaids were there.

Just take lots of pictures, if you can. I loved one dress on me, and then I hated how it looked in pictures.

Wedding dress shopping

thank you everyone! you have all made some great points...i think i will just go with my mom, sister, grandma and fmil and then when i am close to deciding on a dress, i will bring the rest of my bridal party. I think i will wait another few weeks and then start dress shopping. I am also very picky, so i feel like it may take more than one day of shopping to find my dress, but who knows what will happen lol

Wedding dress shopping

its not too early! start looking if you have a chance, its fun and you get to see which styles you like. I would definitely recommend not bringing too many people especially the first time and if you're unsure of what you like/want. Start off with a small group and maybe go from there. I would recommend Bridal reflections in massapequa, bridal suite of bay shore ( the selection is a little smaller), and fantasia bridals. good luck in whatever you decide!

Re: Wedding dress shopping

I got my dress last May and my wedding is this September, I don't think it's too soon to start looking and trying things on at least. I can't speak for other places, but I went to Kleinfeld's and I couldn't bring more than 4 people with me to the appointment. Good luck!

Wedding dress shopping

My wedding is in June this year and I bought my dress in April last year. So I agree with its never too early to go! I was lucky and fell in love quickly, but you never know if it will take you a while or what the case may be. Don't feel rushed. The first time I went I brought just my mom and sister, the my mom and cousin and then when I basically knew the dress I wanted the rest of my bridal party came. We also went to the other side of the store and picked out bridesmaids dresses that day (took only about 4 dresses to find one we liked). When I had the big group everyone liked different ones but once they realized which dress I really loved and light up in, they all agreed on it so it wasn't bad. In glad they all experienced it with me.