When to buy?

Hi Everyone,

Just got engaged and decided on Feb 2013 for the DW. I am living in a Northern Alberta town in the heart of the oilsands (read not too many wedding dress shops near by)

Is it too late to order a gown? Do i have to make appointments to go look at dresses if i go down to a larger city? I am totally clueless here and could use some help!

I am a little nervous about buying something now as well because  i am planning (Hoping!!) to lose quite a bit of weight before the ceremony...

Suggestions?

thanks in advance!

Quackdoc,

Congrats on the engagement and upcoming wedding.

I can't speak for whether or not the salons you plan on going to need an appointment or not as I'm not from there, but from my dress shopping experience, most do.. but not all. They usually will say online whether or not they will require an appointment, if not you could always call. Weekends are busier for obvious reasons. I booked appointments on weekdays (took the day off) and the salons where pretty empty but apparently there weekends are nuts.

As for dresses, you better start looking. My dress will only take 4 months to get in, but some where 6 or even 8 months. Other then that, you will need to purchase a sample (off the rack) dress.

As for weight loss. You can always order a size smaller, but honestly, be sure you will loose the weight, its much easier to take a dress in then let a dress out, and you can generally alter a dress in a few sizes. I ordered a dress assuming I will need to take it in a bit. I was border sizes, and ordered the larger one just to be safe. The lady in the salon said more then not, brides think they will loose a lot of weight, order dresses smaller, and then aren't able to fit into the dress they way they want.. so be careful.

Thanks for the advice Kassi22!

I have booked at a few salons now, and am actually going for my first appointment tonight!

Awesome!! Good Luck!

I live in Edmonton. Most places either required an appointment, or gave you priority if you had an appointment (more attention, had a dress room reserved for you etc). 

I got my dress at Delica Bridal in Edmonton. They had very nice stuff, but only a few racks of it. A bit more expensive, most dresses around $2000 ish. 

I also went to the Bridal House (Bridal & Tuxedo House), and found that I didn't really like anything there, but they had a huge selection. It just wasn't right for my body type. It was also one of the cheapest places to get a dress. most dresses $1000 ish.

I also went to Pure Bridal. I thought it had much nicer stuff than Bridal House, also at lower prices, around $1400 ish. 

Hope that helps! 

Many places said it could take a few months to order the dress in, depending on the line. Let them know your deadline and they may knwo what lines are faster to order than others. 

Good luck! 

Thanks for the tips!!

I made appointments pretty much everywhere in Edmonton this weekend... hopefully I will find something the is wonderful and fits in my budget!
 

First appointment was actually more successful than I thought it could be-- I am a bigger girl but still the majority of the samples fit fairly well!

Didn't get the "ah this is the one" moment with any of them but definitely was able to narrow down my styles -- mermaid and trumpet dresses here i come!

Originally Posted by quackdoc 

 

First appointment was actually more successful than I thought it could be-- I am a bigger girl but still the majority of the samples fit fairly well!

Didn't get the "ah this is the one" moment with any of them but definitely was able to narrow down my styles -- mermaid and trumpet dresses here i come!

that makes me feel a lot better.  I consider myself to be bigger so nervous about trying on dresses I think that's why I keep avoiding it.  Really need to get on the ball keep telling myself I will go when I lose some pounds

I was the same way; not happy with my physique combined with a less than feminine fashion sense make for nervous wedding gown shopping!

I found lace up backs the easiest to try on because they allow for a lot more variation in the sizes.

Also a seamstress told me the lace up styles are a lot easier (and cheaper) to alter if (read hopefully) I lose some weight.

Happy dress hunting!
 

I like the way you phrase that, "less than feminine". 

I have a 'less than feminine" personality which is why I'm dreading photos on the day of the wedding. The thought of feigning 'sexy' or 'angelic' is not something I'm entirely comfortable with.