The 101 on Wedding Dress Shopping Etiquette (2024)

FAQs

The 101 on Wedding Dress Shopping Etiquette? ›

So do you have to invite her along on your wedding dress search? The choice is really up to you. If you'd rather share this time with just your mom and, say, your sister, then do it. You can have a private moment with your fiancé's mom at the wedding if you want, before the ceremony begins.

So do you have to invite her along on your wedding dress search? The choice is really up to you. If you'd rather share this time with just your mom and, say, your sister, then do it. You can have a private moment with your fiancé's mom at the wedding if you want, before the ceremony begins.

Traditionally, the mother of the bride, sisters, and the closest friend (or friends) are involved in the dress hunt. Your future mother-in-law can be invited, too, if you're tight with her and you want her to take part.

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. Now that we know how many people you should bring, let's talk about who!

You can absolutely go wedding dress shopping alone, and some brides actually find the whole appointment more enjoyable that way. For certain people, they want to do their first rounds alone and then bring in their nearest and dearest once they've decided on a top few gowns to help them make a final decision.

If the invite states formal or black tie attire, do not show up in a casual dress, and vice versa. You will also want to avoid wearing a look that is too formal, as it could potentially upstage the bride.

Mother of the Bride & Groom

Both the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom are expected to pay for their own wedding attire. Typically, these gowns do not need to match the bridesmaid dresses, however, some brides prefer for the gowns to coordinate in some way.

Typically, we suggest making your bridal dress appointments 9-12 months prior to your wedding date. This date is suggested with the goal of picking out and ordering a dress 8-9 months before the wedding. This gives you plenty of time to shop around and find the dress of your dreams.

Short answer: Yes, you sure can! Just like any other type of clothing, wedding dresses can be tried on even if you don't have the intention to buy one just yet. Whether you choose to go to a bridal boutique or try on wedding dresses at home, it is possible to shop around without the pressure to buy.

Helping in wedding dress shopping is arguably one of the best maids of honor responsibilities. However, while most brides ask their maids of honor to be present for this, some don't. If your bride asks for your presence, you ought to show.

What should a maid of honor do for wedding dress shopping? ›

As the maid of honor, etiquette dictates you accompany the bride-to-be to shop for dresses, if possible, and put the finishing touches on the bride's look for her wedding day. You've known the bride for a long time and can offer the best second-opinion when it comes to her unique style and layout for her wedding.

One rule of thumb suggests that brides allocate ten percent of their total wedding budget to their wedding dress. So, if you're planning to spend $10,000 or less on your big day, wedding dresses under $1000 fit that budget quite nicely (and maybe even leaves you extra for the honeymoon!).

Take our advice and avoid shopping burn out, stress and so much more! BOOKING TOO MANY APPOINTMENTS OR OVERSHOPPING: This quickly leads to dress burn out - everything starts to look the same, nothing feels special, it's mentally and physically exhausting trying on wedding dresses and it's just not fun anymore.

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.

Should I shave before wedding dress shopping? This is a question that we sometimes get, and honestly, there is no criteria that would require you to shave any part of your body before your appointment. Our honest answer to this is what makes you feel confident and comfortable is paramount.

Traditionally speaking, the mother of the groom is responsible for planning and hosting the rehearsal dinner with the grooms' father (typically) the night before the wedding. This is one of the biggest mother of the groom responsibilities, so make sure you start planning the dinner about six months in advance.

The mother of the groom expresses her affection and welcomes the bride by giving her beautiful, thoughtful presents. Finding the ideal bridal gifts can be quite challenging. That being said, you need to consider a plethora of factors to make the right purchase.

Offer the Mother of the Groom a Role in the Event

"One thing to consider is offering the mother of the groom one major role or contribution for the shower," Tombs recommends. For example, perhaps she provides the flowers for the lunch or maybe she oversees the invite list or catering.

Bottom Line: It's Your Choice. At the end of the day, the choice is yours. There are no hard rules when it comes to who can accompany you on your dress expedition.