When it comes to your wedding dress, I can speak from experience that you’ll absolutely know when you put it on for the first time. That’s how I felt when I put on “Jacqueline” by Maggie Sottero. The second the bridal consultant zipped me up, I lost it. (In a good way.) That was one of my biggest anxieties when walking into my dress try-ons; that I wouldn’t have that “moment” everyone talks about or that “feeling.” Although I will say, this moment is much more likely to happen if you make sure that you’re creating the environment for it to happen. Here are some of my wedding dress try-on tips if you’re planning on going soon.

One: Pay Attention to How the Dress Makes You Feel.

First thing is first, when you’re trying on dresses, make sure you’re paying attention to how it makes you feel and what you love about it. For me personally, I loved how my Maggie Sottero dress made my petite frame not look swallowed up in a ball gown. I originally did not want a fitted gown, but after the first four ball gowns I was like, “okay, time to change course.” I also absolutely loved how Jacqueline gave me a fitted look, but I didn’t have to lose any drama (which I wanted!) in the train. Also, the subtle rhinestone buttons gave me that hint of sparkle I wanted. Overall, I loved how my dress was classic and timeless but still made me feel glamorous. Believe me, when you find “the one” you’ll remember how it felt on you more than anything. 

Two: Less is More.

I know that you want all of your closest friends and family members there with you, but trust me when I say that less is more. It’s so easy to turn dress shopping into an event, and it should be! However, Keep it to three or less people at your appointment if you can. The less opinions you’re hearing in the room the better, because I mean let’s face it — the only opinion in the room that matters is yours.  Your dream wedding dress will not be the same as the other people in the room. If you’re letting outside opinions get in the way, it’s harder to have that special moment for you. You don’t want to try on a dress, like it but not love it, and have your cousin at the end say “I liked that second dress you tried on better.” Talk about ruining the moment. Only bring the people that you know will support and love whatever you try-on and keep their negative opinions to themselves. 

Three: Try everything on.

When I went in to my first dress appointment, I was convinced with everything in me that I wanted long sleeves. As I was trying on the sleeved gowns, I just wasn’t loving how they looked on myself. The dress consultant brought in a few other options that to be honest I wasn’t excited about at all, but when I put them on I was shocked. You never know until you try. I’m so glad I stepped outside of my comfort zone and tried on other options because it led me to finding my dress. The craziest part was that it was absolutely nothing like I’d pictured, but somehow it was better. However I will say, make sure everything that your dress consultant is bringing you is within your budget, and make your dress budget very clear and known. There’s nothing worse than finding a dress you absolutely love then finding out it’s $2,000 over your budget. 

Four: Don’t Get Discouraged — Keep Looking!

The pressure to find your wedding dress on the first appointment is so high, but guess what? You don’t have to buy a dress the first appointment! This also ties into keeping the event small because the pressure is even higher to get a dress when your friends and family from out of town came just to watch you “say yes to the dress”. I didn’t find my dress until my second appointment, and it also gave me a much better idea of what I wanted after the first appointment. I had time to look back on pictures from my first appointment and see which dresses flattered my figure the most and I felt I looked best in. There is no rush, so take your time and enjoy the process. You can always send pictures to your friends and family members afterwards or FaceTime them if you find your dress at a different appointment. 

Five: What To Bring.

When I went to my appointments, I made sure to wear something super comfortable and easy to change in and out of. I also brought a nude strapless bra, wore a nude thong, my nude Spanx and shoes that were easy to slip off. A hair-tie in your purse is also a must to see how the dresses might look with your hair up. I also made sure I had my dress inspiration pictures freshly screen-shotted in my camera roll so they’d be super easy to pull up to show the consultant. (There wasn’t great cell service at my first appointment and I’m so glad I’d done this!) Make sure you have a designated friend/family member to take your phone and consistently be taking pictures and videos. (Trust me on this one, you’ll want to see how your dress looks from all angles, still and video so you can practice posing before the big day.) Another piece of advice? Don’t schedule a lunch/brunch/dinner reservation after the bridal appointment because you’ll feel rushed the whole time. 

Six: Get Out of Your Head.

For me, this was probably the hardest thing to do. I was so concerned with my dress and myself “looking perfect” for the first appointment that I wasn’t present. This is such a special time for you and you need to take a few moments to take it all in. Also remember that the wedding dress cinched up with clips or a bit too small will look completely different once it’s altered in the best way. You’ll also have your veil and your hair and makeup done, so all the pieces will really come together. Focus on the dress itself, not the other elements surrounding it. 

This experience was one of my favorite parts of wedding planning, and I hope it is for you too. You’ll look absolutely beautiful in whatever dress you choose, whether it’s exactly what you imagined or nothing like it at all. I absolutely loved my Maggie Sottero dress. As long as you feel incredible in your dress, you’ll radiate that on your big day. Sending so much love to all of my future brides. 

Xo Megan