When you’re trying on a dress

10 things you need to bring with you when trying on dresses in-store

It’s time for perhaps the most exciting adventure of the whole wedding planning process – the hunt for the perfect wedding dress! First, you scan magazines and the internet to get a feel for which styles you like, BUT that doesn’t mean that style will necessarily suit you. Try, try and try again, and trust the shop staff’s judgement to ensure you’re 100 per cent satisfied! Once you’re in the shop, there are actually a few ‘things’ you’ll need to bring with you.

Find your dress

10 things you might not have thought of, and which you need to bring with you:

1. SHOES with the same heel height as the bridal shoes you plan to wear at the wedding.
2. A BRA with no shoulder straps, or with removable ones.
3. UNDERWEAR that you’re happy to be seen in. Leave the thong at home.
4. SHAPEWEAR (for a slimming effect and a figure without ‘creases’).
5. CLEAN-SHAVED underarms and legs (you’ll be working ‘closely’ with the shop staff).
6. MAKE-UP and freshly washed hair, so you feel beautiful and fresh.
7. HAIR TIE – if you’re planning to wear your hair up at the wedding, you’ll need to see the neckline of the dresses clearly.
8. PICTURES of dresses you like that you’ve found in magazines and online.
9. YOUR MUM and a bridesmaid, or a couple of friends, to give you advice.
10. A DIGITAL CAMERA or smartphone so you can take photos of yourself in the different dresses and browse through the photos at home later (but ask the shop first to make sure it’s OK to take photos). Otherwise, a notepad works well too for noting down details about the shop, brands and prices.

Dressing tips for curvy brides

Before you book a fitting appointment, ring the shop and ask how many dresses in larger sizes they have in stock – that way, you’ll avoid being disappointed when you get there and find your size isn’t available. Save time and energy by focusing on the bridal shops with the widest selection.

Are you on a tight budget?

Buying a wedding dress online or second-hand on a buy-and-sell website is one way to cut costs, but if the dress doesn’t fit, you may end up having to spend twice as much on alterations by a dressmaker. In such cases, it may be worth trying on and buying in-store so you know the dress really does fit you and what the final cost will be – in other words, no unpleasant surprises.
If you’re thinking of buying a dress from, say, China, you’ll have to pay customs duty, which usually comes to over 1,000 kr. If you then don’t like it, you’ll have to return it, which will cost you postage, and then you’ll have to make sure you get your money back.