By Vicky Angell, Love & Loved Bridal

Are you a newly engaged bride ready to hit the boutiques with your gal pals? Or is the big day creeping up fast and you’ve realised it’s about time you kick start your dress shopping journey? Regardless of what stage you’re at, wedding dress shopping means different things to different brides and you will probably have a variety of experiences along the way.

The place where you say yes at Love & Loved

For so many, the dress shopping bit is the best bit, the part where you can get together with your besties and close family to peruse the rails of endless bridal gown heaven. For others, it’s not that simple. Some brides will have endured negative experiences, feel conscious of their bodies or feel like they don’t fit the bridal mould. For those brides, wedding dress shopping can be daunting and overwhelming, which can lead to bridal burn out and a serious dose of procrastination. But, what those brides soon discover when they visit Love & Loved is that it doesn’t have to be like that. Whichever bride you are, raring to go or avoiding it all together, here are our top tips for how you can have an enjoyable shopping experience.

1. Define your bridal style

If you dive straight in you run the risk of reaching bridal burnout quite quickly. If you start shopping before you really think about your bridal style you might find you try on too many dresses of varying styles leaving you confused and unsure of what’s working best for you.

While we absolutely encourage you to shop with an open mind and trust your stylist, after all many brides end up with a dress they least expect, it is worth spending some time trying to determine your bridal style so that you can focus your search in the right places.

We recommend you start with your own wardrobe, after all this is where the clothes are that you feel good in every day. Consider the styles that re-appear throughout your wardrobe; is there a dominant silhouette, a neck-line that has become your go to? It’s likely that this is what’s also going to work for you when choosing your dream wedding dress. Not a dress person, no worries. If your wardrobe is lacking dresses and skirts perhaps this is a sign too? Consider something a little alternative. A jumpsuit, sharp suit or two piece combo could be a great option. These styles can still be luxe, bridal and bang on trend but they give you the opportunity to do it your way.

2. Get inspired

Make use of inspiration tools such as Pinterest to start to define your bridal style. Online has a wealth of content, experts and influencers that can help you nail your bridal style. We recommend you look for blogs, Instagram accounts and Pinterest boards that represent your style. Each account or blogger will have their own aesthetic, if it’s your vibe give them a follow and get non stop inspiration.

3. Do your research

Our wedding dresses, carefully curated for the Love & Loved bride

Finding the right boutique is essential to having a great dress shopping experience. Consider not only their dress styles and designers, but think about the aesthetics of the shop; does it give you the right vibes, does it feel like a place you can be comfortable? Reach out to them; do they reply promptly, do you like their style of communication? All this starts to build your trust in the boutique and will put you in a really positive mindset before you visit. We recommend you start your search locally but if you can’t find what you are looking for don’t be afraid to look further afield. Finding the right fit for you is essential and you can always turn a visit to a boutique into a day out, ask them to recommend local places to visit and great places to eat.

4. Choose your entourage carefully

Choosing your bride tribe is really important and can have a bearing on how successful your appointment is. Bring with you the people you want there the most and be sure to bring them up to speed on what you're hoping to find and looking to avoid. This way they can help you achieve your goal. Consider how many people you bring, at Love & Loved we do not place a limit on numbers because you know your people best. Just be aware of how many opinions you value and make sure your voice can always come through the loudest. Some people prefer to come on their own, we love that. It allows for a really calming experience and one where you can work closely with the stylist to curate your ultimate wedding day look.

5. Focus your search

Focus your search on just two or three boutiques but be ready to say yes at the first one! By following our earlier tips you should have found a select few boutiques that align to your style and values. Trust us, trying on too many dresses across too many boutiques can result in overwhelm and burn out. To avoid growing weary of the whole process be open minded to trying different styles and silhouettes but once you find the right shape go with that and start to explore the different styles within it.

6. Come prepared

We recommend you wear nude, seamless underwear to your appointment. A bra is often not required but if that’s something you're sure you will want to wear choose one that is low in the front and as plain as possible. If you don’t own the right underwear please don’t rush out and buy new, just arrive in what makes you feel most comfortable and we can make it work. Keep makeup light and avoid fake tan, as this often transfers to the dresses.

7. Be ready to say yes!

For so many brides the ‘yes’ moment isn’t always what they imagine. Committing to your dress means the end of your search and so many wrestle with this: “I will miss dress shopping”, “it’s been so much fun, I’m not ready for it to end” or “what if I see something else I like later on?”. These are all really common thoughts many brides have. By committing to the dress you love that makes you feel incredible, you are able to move on to other aspects of your day. You can start to finalise how you plan to wear your hair, book your make up trial and shop for bridesmaid dresses that will suit the overall look. Saying yes to your dress means it can be ordered and made in time without stress and don’t forget, you will come back and try your dress on a few more times throughout the alterations process. This is also a great opportunity to bring a friend or family member that couldn’t be present at your original appointment, making them feel included in this special part of the journey. And of course, you get the ultimate big reveal moment when you step out in front of your family and friends and your future partner to say “I Do”!

About Love & Loved Bridal

Love & Loved welcome relaxed, modern brides to step outside the bridal box with carefully curated collections to suit both their style and soul.

Located in a converted Buckinghamshire barn, Love & Loved Bridal Boutique was established in 2022 with the aim of delivering a fresh bridal experience. One that avoids the mainstream, eases the overwhelm and embraces authenticity. With our laid back approach and distinct designers, we’ll help you escape the expected and create a big-day look that’s wholeheartedly yours.

Our handpicked bridal collections bring independent, award-winning designers to rural Buckinghamshire who put style and purpose at the heart of all they do. Carefully curated for the Love & Loved bride, our considered edit includes modern, romantic and bohemian gowns and separates that inspire confidence and guarantee comfort. All are well-designed, versatile and inclusive, with sustainable, British-made dresses at the forefront of our offbeat offering.

vicky@loveandloved.co.uk / www.loveandloved.co.uk / @loveandlovedbridal