What to Expect Wedding Series: Finding Your Dream Dress!
So, you’ve said yes to the man or woman of your dreams. Congratulations! The best years of your life are about to begin. Whether you decide to plan your wedding for a few years down the road or a few months away, one of the first stops along your wedding journey will likely be a bridal shop. We completely understand if the idea of shopping for your dream wedding dress fills you with as much anxiety as it does joy, but we want you to know, sweet bride, that we’re always going to try our best to make sure you have the best day EVER (before your actual wedding day, that is).
Ivory & Beau Bride Mary Kate (Photography by Izzy Hudgins)
Step 1: Setting up your bridal appointment.
While we’ll never turn away a bride at the door (the more, the merrier!), the very best way to guarantee that you’ll get the full Ivory & Beau experience is to schedule your bridal appointment ahead of time. Give us a ring at (912) 200-4794 or fill out our appointment request form online to get the ball rolling.
Let us know what drinks you prefer-- champagne, sweet tea, water, or lemonade-- and we’ll have them waiting for you at the door. We do ask that you show up no earlier than five minutes before your appointment, but it’s not because we don’t want to see your beautiful face! Our expert bridal stylists want to give each and every one of our brides the attention they deserve, and this means not rushing between one appointment and the next.
Ivory & Beau Bride Amy (Photography by Mackensey Alexander)
Step 2: Preparing for your bridal appointment.
Time to get excited! Once we’ve reached out to you to confirm your appointment, you may want to take a few moments to go over what you need to feel your best on the day of. If coming in a full face of makeup will help you to get a better idea of what you’ll look like on your wedding day, we say GO FOR IT! If you have a special something you’d like to wear-- like an heirloom veil or piece of jewelry-- bring it along so you can compare it to each dress you try on.
Ivory & Beau Bride Kate (Photography by Christine Hall Photography)
If you plan on wearing any shape wear, we highly recommend that you bring it along to get an idea of how it will lay beneath the fabric of each gown. (PS: it’s totally okay to ditch the bra for your appointment. A lot of dresses have built in cups-- or you can have them sewn in during alterations!)
Step 3: Time to get started!
Once you’ve arrived and gotten settled, our bridal stylist will sit down with you to discuss all the deets about your wedding and your vision for your dream dress. We love it when our brides share pictures and inspiration with us, so feel free to flash us your Pinterest board-- and while you’re at it, check out our designers online, too, just to get an idea of what we have in store!
Now that we have a better idea of your budget and taste, we’ll give you a walkthrough of the shop so that you can start browsing our selection. While you and your entourage are taking a peek, we’ll pull gowns that we think you may like, but remember: you’re always free to tell us you don’t like something!
Step 4: Trying on gowns.
Eep! The most exciting part of the appointment is upon us. We usually try to start things off slowly with five or six dresses at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed, but remember, we’ve got all the time in the world for you to try on the styles you love! If this is your first time trying on dresses, we’ll try to get you in a variety of different gowns, just to see which style you like best-- you could surprise yourself.
Ivory & Beau Bride Selena (Photography by Ashley Smith Photography)
We’ll hang onto your top picks and eliminate the rest. It’s kind of like being an American Idol judge, but more fun. Our bridal stylists will also keep you well informed about your options for customization. You’d be surprised at the different customizations you can make when ordering your gown.
Step 5: Saying “YES!” to the dress!
Found the one? It’s time to ring the bell! We’ll celebrate with a glass of champagne and lots of cheering when the moment finally comes. There’s no rush to slip out of the perfect dress. We’ll give you plenty of time to take pictures, video chat with loved ones, and (best of all) to admire yourself in the mirror. We’ll handle all of the hard stuff-- like getting your measurements and ordering your gown-- and let you relax. After all, one of the biggest “to-do’s” on your list has just been checked off in the best way possible!
Ivory & Beau Bride Alyse (Photography by Studio J Photography)
If you’re still not sure, don’t worry. There’s no pressure for you to say yes at your first appointment. Believe it or not, plenty of Ivory & Beau brides need to schedule a second appointment so they have some time to think it over. We don’t blame you! Here at Ivory & Beau, we believe that you should never feel rushed to make one of the biggest decisions of your life. We’ll write down all the information about your favorite gowns on a card for you and reschedule at your convenience.
Ready to have your own Ivory & Beau experience? Click the button below to schedule your appointment or give us a call at (912) 200-4794.
Ivory & Beau Bride Allie (Photography by Bud Johnson)