Wedding Dress Shopping Timeline - 2024 & 2025 Brides
Just engaged? Congratulations! The earliest stages of wedding planning are undoubtedly one of the most exciting times of the planning process. Creating mood boards for your wedding aesthetic, Pinterest searching for wedding rituals to make your day more personal, and - of course - the wedding dress. This time spent dreaming up your wedding day - whether it’s a low key and personal affair, or a grand celebration - is a time to be treasured and enjoyed to the fullest. It’s also a great time to begin leisurely browsing and bookmark ideas for your aesthetic. Your wedding gown is not only a piece of clothing, but a symbol of your love story, your individuality, and represents the beginning of your forever chapter.
Whilst I strongly believe that this time is for dreaming and creativity, many bridal designers and boutiques have a lead time that allows for all the love and care that you would expect goes into creating your dream wedding outfit. A timeline for this experience gives you the opportunity to keep dreaming whilst designers and boutiques work to make those dreams a reality in plenty of time for your wedding day!
Tips before you start shopping
Dare to Dream
Wedding Dress shopping is an exciting time that can be filled with emotion and anticipation. 12-18 months before your wedding date is a great time to begin browsing styles and aesthetic that best reflect your personality. There are absolutely no rules, so go with what draws you and create a collection of ideas to work with at your fitting or appointment. If you are having a gown designed & created for you, these ideas are a great way to start the creative process for an immersive experience.
Set a pricing point
Have a clear price in mind so that your boutique or designer can cater to your vision. Allocate some of this pricing for accessories and any alterations or bespoke additions you may wish to add.
Bring a friend
Whilst some brides love to shop alone and have their appointment entirely to themselves, friends & family are welcome! Select a friend or family member (or a few) who are going to make the appointment even more special.
Book appointments in advance
Book your first appointment in plenty of time wherever possible to ensure there’s availability to shop for your dream dress.
Lead Time Guide
10-12 months
This is a great time to book your appointment and start discussing ideas. Couture brides can expect sketches and embroidery design to begin at this stage, and brides shopping from the Made to Order collections can begin exploring styles.
6-8 months:
This is a recommended window to make a decision on bridal from our Made to Order collections. This lead time allows for gowns to be made to measure and room to make any personalisations such as embroidered initials, tweaks to designs or additional bespoke accessories. Need more time? Contact us here to discuss options.
2-3 months:
This time in the lead up to your wedding date will be scheduled for fittings and styling appointments. Regardless of time frames, individuality and sustainability remain at the heart of our atelier’s ethos, so we have plenty of options available for brides with a wedding date in the near future. For brides shopping for a gown in this window, consider our Heirloom collection; a selection of carefully restored and re-imagined vintage wedding gowns that can be fully personalised and are one-of-a-kind. Sample gowns or rush fee options for selected styles in our Made to Order collection may also be a possible.
FAQs
What if my wedding is sooner than the lead time?
Many brides that we have worked with have had a shorter timeframe than usual. Rush fees for bespoke and made to order gowns are available, and Ready to Wear collections are always a great way to avoid stress and anxiety if you need a wedding outfit without the lead time. For brides seeking a gown without the wait, you can read more about our Heirloom collection HERE.
I’m undecided between dress styles - what should I do?
If you have not yet tried gowns on in person, go and see how the styles feel when trying on. If you’ve already had your first fitting and are stuck deciding between styles, take a couple of weeks to regroup and book another appointment. For this appointment, wear your hair in a similar style to how it would be on your wedding day and where possible bring along shoes and accessories. Sometimes, returning after a week or two with accessories can help make that decision.
I feel overwhelmed after searching online at styles
With so much choice and an ever-changing selection on social platforms, it’s impossible to steer clear of wedding inspiration when planning a wedding. Seeing gowns in person and looking closely at fabric, cut and having that tactile in-person appointment can help settle the search and put brides at ease.
I want a gown that I can wear again, or style differently at the reception. Which collection do I choose?
All of our gowns are interchangeable, with a series of accessories and removable elements to give longevity and plenty of styling choice. Couture options are able to be designed with detachable and interchangeable skirts, sleeves or veils, whereas our Made to Order and Heirloom collections have less scope for this, but can still be tweaked or re-imagined after your wedding date for future wear.
Photos: Elina Davies Photography
