It’s time to shop!

Choosing your dress is one of the best things about being engaged, says Helen Webster — so here’s how to start finding ‘the one’!

You’re engaged, which means only one thing — it’s time to start looking at dresses! With hundreds of designers to choose from this is the ultimate girly shopping experience — but it can be tricky to know where to start. Do you want lace or satin, a full skirt or a slinky number? Well, the good news is by picking up this magazine you’ve found the right place to start, as newly-married Perfect Wedding reader Jessica Prophet found when starting the search for her dress: “As soon as I got engaged, I went out and I bought a lot of magazines just to look at designs I liked. I then went on the internet to find stockists so I could book trials.”
Many girls find it helps to create a scrapbook to take with them to boutiques too — just tear out pics of styles you like (and don’t worry if they all seem completely different!) as this will give the shops you visit an idea of themes and trends you like.

Splurge or save?

The second thing to bear in mind is your budget. It might not be the most romantic thing to think about, but being realistic there’s no point falling in love with a £3,000 couture dress when your budget is £1,000, so don’t be afraid to ask shops which price points they stock! Owner of the Chanticleer boutique and label in Cheltenham Tracey Middleton-Salt says: “Manufactured gowns will cost significantly less than designer ones and some boutiques — like us — may have a broad price range, while others may only stock designers within one price range.”
The boutique you visit should be a place you feel comfortable and where you get the best treatment. Try and visit on a weekday, as the shop will be less busy. “Prepare a list of questions,” says Tracey “and have confidence in the sales consultants — they are trained to identify what shapes will suit different figures.”
Body size is something that causes many brides-to-be concern with dress fittings. But remember, wedding dresses aren’t bought off the peg, so not many girls will try on a dress that fits perfectly! Jessica was worried initially but soon found there had been no need: “My first fitting was the most stressful. I was worried about the assistants seeing me in my underwear; but after that I loved trying on different styles, laughing at the ones that looked ridiculous, trying on ones I thought would look ridiculous but actually looked good and I loved being fussed over and being made to feel special.” So here goes — time to book some appointments and be prepared to be dressed (and treated!) like a princess!

Photo: Gavin Roberts