Let's be real — wedding dress shopping is always stressful. Even if you know exactly what you want, there is so much pressure surrounding finding THE dress that the stress can often take away from the excitement of the day itself. Every bride deserves an incredible dress shopping experience, and if you're the Maid of Honor, bridesmaid or emotional support friend there are so many ways to make your bride-to-be feel special on this day. With a little extra planning, you can make her day full of magic and share a great memory for years to come. Give your bride her Say Yes to the Dress moment with these six ideas.
1. Invite a special guest.
Is the bride close to a sister who lives a few hours away? Does she rarely get the chance to have quality time with her mom? Do you share a mutual friend who youknow the bride would love to share the day with, but who doesn’t get a lot of time away from the office? Reach out as soon as you have the bridal appointments booked to see if you might be able to work your magic and bring a special loved one to the occasion as a surprise.
2. Surprise her with a new outfit.
Sneak a peek at your bestie’s closet and take note of her up-to-date sizes, then buy her the perfect outfit for dress shopping — preferably something she would never splurge on herself! A new jumpsuit, cool top, or an awesome pair of heels will give her an extra boost of confidence when she walks into the bridal salon in search of the dream gown.
3. Treat her to a morning of glam.
Hook your bride up with a blowout appointment or session with a makeup artist before the shopping expedition begins. She’ll feel extra-special, and a glam sesh will give her a great preview of what the wedding day will be like.
4. Plan the perfect meal.
Don’t wait until the day-of to stumble on the ideal lunch spot for the group or rely on luck to get a table at your favorite place. Now is not the time to play it by ear. Make a reservation somewhere along your shopping route so you won’t have to wait in line or ask the bride to make a decision on the spot about where the group should eat.
5. Put your phone away.
Chances are that your bride is a little nervous about the possibility of a photo of her in a dress she’s not loving — or, worse yet, the dress she’ll eventually settle on for the big day — circulating via text or on social media. Eliminate this anxiety by keeping your phone in your pocket. You can always grab it again if she asks you to snap a pic. Stashing your screen will also help ensure that your attention remains 100 percent on the bride herself.
6. Let the good times roll.
Who says the fun has to stop just because your pal has said yes to the dress? Last time we checked, the answer is no one. Keep the fun going with a special dinner, a Champagne toast or a cozy night of watching wedding-themed movies (we love Bride Wars) together at home!
What does your dream day of dress shopping look like? Tweet us @BritandCo.
This post has been updated.
Photo courtesy of Lovely Bride.
Alli Hoff Kosik
Alli Hoff Kosik is a freelance writer who is passionate about reading, running, rainbow sprinkles, her lipstick collection, watching embarrassing reality TV, and drinking pink wine. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and (in her dreams, at least) three golden retriever puppies. Listen to her talk books on The SSR Podcast.
FAQs
For example, rather than saying “I pulled a mermaid dress for you to try on just for fun!”, ask her, “Have you considered trying on a mermaid dress to be sure that isn't what you want?” This shows the bride that you are interested in helping her find the right wedding dress with an open mind rather than overwhelming ...
How to make wedding dress shopping special for a friend? ›
5 Tips For Wedding Dress Shopping As a Friend
- Help her gather inspiration. Before you accompany her to her appointment, help the bride gather inspiration. ...
- Take photos & videos. ...
- Give advice when needed. ...
- Be available for other appointments. ...
- Be supportive.
For example, rather than saying “I pulled a mermaid dress for you to try on just for fun!”, ask her, “Have you considered trying on a mermaid dress to be sure that isn't what you want?” This shows the bride that you are interested in helping her find the right wedding dress with an open mind rather than overwhelming ...
How to make wedding dress shopping special as maid of honor? ›
Dress Shopping:
- Provide bride with supportive, honest (delivered kindly) feedback about wedding dresses.
- Take photos so the bride will remember the dresses she tried on and the dress she decided on (make sure she keeps them in a hidden spot away from wandering groom eyes)
- Assist with selecting bridesmaid dresses.
Bring only 2 to 4 people that you know will be honest, understanding of your personality and style and has good taste. If you want to bring a small group, but don't want to hurt feelings, tell them the store you're visiting has a guest limit. Often this is true anyways, especially for weekend appointments!
How can I make wedding dress shopping more fun? ›
Scope out stores prior to visiting by checking online reviews, photos, and testimonials to choose the one or two stores you most want to visit. Visiting too many bridal salons can be confusing, and is definitely exhausting. Focus on quality over quantity! Bring your biggest fans.
How do you compliment a bride's dress? ›
Reward all that hard work with a good, hearty, genuine compliment about how that gown could not be more perfect. Whether it's the beading, the silhouette, the fabric, or some other lovely detail, you can't go wrong if you gush about how stunning the wedding dress is.
How do you answer a wedding dress code? ›
“The wedding is casual, so please feel free to wear whatever you'd feel best in!” “The wedding is semi-formal, so we encourage you to wear co*cktail attire [for evening events] / Sunday best [for daytime events].” “The wedding is formal, so we encourage you to wear black tie attire.
What should the mother of the bride wear when wedding dress shopping? ›
You might be prepared for me to advise you with a few traditional social cues, like 1) don't upstage the bride, 2) never wear white, 3) the mother of the bride chooses her dress first and 4) then the mother of the groom gets to find her dress.
How many people should you take wedding dress shopping with you? ›
We recommend limiting your gown shopping entourage to about three people at most. This will help make your experience the best it can be with the very most important people by your side.
Give your bride her Say Yes to the Dress moment with these six ideas.
- 1. Invite a special guest. ...
- Surprise her with a new outfit. ...
- Treat her to a morning of glam. ...
- Plan the perfect meal. ...
- Put your phone away. ...
- Let the good times roll.
opt for a dramatic veil
wearing a dramatic wedding veil is an easy way to make a statement on your wedding day. with a variety of wedding veil options that include intricate lacework, beading, embroidery, and more, there is no shortage of unique wedding veils to spice up a simple wedding dress.
Can you go wedding dress shopping just for fun? ›
Don't go just to try dresses on.
Bridal shops only have a set number of appointments available, so if you have no serious intention of purchasing a wedding dress, you may be taking up a spot that would otherwise go to a paying customer.
Who is supposed to go dress shopping with the bride? ›
Who should you invite when shopping for your wedding dress?
- Maid of Honor – Of course, your number one gal should be there with you to help you pick your gown. ...
- Parents or Close Family – Chances are your mom has been dreaming of your wedding for a while –maybe even longer than you have.
