Wedding dress shopping should feel exciting, meaningful, and joyful—but without the right preparation, it can quickly become overwhelming. At Dearly Beloved Bridal Boutique, we’ve guided many brides through this special experience, and we often see the same mistakes come up.
Knowing what not to do can make all the difference. Here are the five most common wedding dress shopping mistakes—and how to avoid them.
Waiting Too Long to Buy the Dress
Many brides don’t realize that wedding dresses aren’t simply “ready to ship.” Most gowns are made to order, meaning they are produced specifically for you after purchase. This process alone can take several months, and that’s before alterations even begin.
Waiting too long can limit your designer options, require expensive rush fees, or force you to settle for a dress that wasn’t your first choice. It can also add unnecessary stress during an already busy time.
✔ Avoid it:
Plan to buy your wedding dress 9–12 months before your wedding.
This allows time for production, shipping, and alterations—without rush fees or limited options.
Bringing Too Many Opinions
It’s natural to want your loved ones involved, but too many opinions can make it difficult to focus on how you feel in the dress. Conflicting feedback can cause doubt, confusion, or pressure to please others instead of trusting your own instincts.
The most important reaction in the room is yours. The right dress should make you feel confident, beautiful, and like yourself.
✔ Avoid it:
Bring 1–3 trusted guests who understand your style and will support your vision.
Choosing a Dress Only Because It’s Trendy
Trends can be inspiring, but they aren’t always timeless—or right for every bride. A gown that’s popular on social media may not reflect your personal style, venue, or comfort preferences.
Years from now, you want to look back at your wedding photos and still love your dress—not feel like it was chosen because it was “in” at the time.
✔ Avoid it: Choose a gown that feels like you, not just what’s popular right now. Timeless styles often age the best.
Our stylists at Dearly Beloved Bridal Boutique help brides balance modern trends with lasting elegance.
Forgetting About Comfort
It’s easy to fall in love with how a dress looks in the mirror—but comfort matters just as much. You’ll be wearing your gown for hours: walking, standing, sitting, hugging, dancing, and celebrating.
If a dress feels restrictive, heavy, or uncomfortable during your appointment, those feelings will only be amplified on your wedding day.
✔ Avoid it:
Sit, walk, and move during your appointment. Comfort is key to feeling confident from ceremony to reception.
Pro Tip: You can always opt for a reception dress if you fall in love with a gown that feels like something you’d have a hard time wearing all day! See our collection of minis here!
Not Budgeting for Alterations & Accessories
Many brides focus solely on the price of the dress and forget about additional costs. Alterations are almost always needed, and accessories like veils, shoes, and jewelry complete your look.
Not planning for these extras can cause budget stress later in the process.
If your budget includes alterations and accessories, make sure you let your bridal stylist know!
✔ Avoid it:
Plan for:
Alterations
Veils or headpieces
Shoes and jewelry
We pride ourselves on transparency, so there are no surprises. We often tell brides that bridal alterations start around $500 and go up from there! The cost of alterations is something most brides are surprised by. How much your alterations will cost will depend on what and how much you need done. Don’t worry - we have a list of recommendations that we give to you when you purchase.
When brides plan ahead and shop with intention, wedding dress shopping becomes one of the most joyful parts of the engagement.
✨ Ready for a stress-free bridal experience?✨
Schedule your appointment at Dearly Beloved Bridal Boutique and let us take care of the details.