Who Should I Bring Wedding Dress Shopping?
Gather your dream team and let the magic happen! We break down who to invite wedding dress shopping in this blog post.
Planning to shop for a bridal gown can be overwhelming. After all, there's a ton of bridal boutiques to filter through, not to mention coordinating schedules with your people and booking those bridal appointments. You might also be wondering who you should invite wedding dress shopping - that dream team who will help you say 'Yes to the Dress!'
Rounding up the right crew to go wedding dress shopping with you is important, which is why we always recommend choosing your dream team wisely! Not only because you might want and maybe need the help of a few of your favorite people to be with you on this journey, but also because you truly value their opinion and feedback.
From who should come gown shopping with you to what to wear, this post answers all of your pressing questions!
Who should you invite wedding dress shopping? Share the experience with your biggest cheerleaders!
How many people should I bring wedding dress shopping?
Let's just get the answer of how many people to bring wedding dress shopping out of the way.
You definitely don't want too many people at your bridal appointment with you, because too many voices around you can be a tad chaotic for this one decision! That's why the sweet spot here is to invite 2-4 people wedding dress shopping with you - individuals that you love and trust.
Your standard bridal shop typically accepts 2-4 guests to go along with the bride-to-be for their appointment. Our boutique fits 4 guests comfortably (plus the bride and the bridal stylist). If you need to squeeze in another person however, please let us know when booking your appointment if you require any extra seating.
We're also just gonna put it out there that some brides choose to do their wedding dress shopping alone as well. It's up to you! And with the help of a professional bridal stylist, you'll never really be alone in making this important decision. A good stylist is someone who will be your biggest cheerleader along the way. At Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, we truly believe that wedding dress shopping is an experience that you should cherish, rather than be completely stressed out by.
Who should come to my bridal appointment?
Before we get to the checklist, we're going to preface it with some qualifications that your potential 'Say Yes to the Dress' crew should have. Just ask yourself:
Does this person listen to me?
Does this person make me feel like my best self when I'm around them?
Would I let this person come shopping with me on any other occasion?
Do I truly value their input?
Once you've pondered this over a little, make a list and narrow it down to 2-3 people who fit these requirements. That said, here's a look of who brides-to-be tend to invite with them gown shopping:
Your Mom
Most brides-to-be bring along Mom or that mother figure in their life. Mom's usually the first on the invite list for obvious reasons, but it's also the reality that Mom's opinion is the one that ends up being the deal-breaker. Whether that's a good or less-than-ideal thing in your world, it's something to be aware of!
Mother-in-law
Inviting your future mother-in-law to your bridal appointment is your choice. It really depends on the relationship that you have with them, and it's also worth noting whether or not they have a close with the other few people you are bringing to your bridal appointment. Remember, you can't invite everyone, so you'll have to be a little picky here.
Maid of Honor
Lots of places will recommend bringing your Maid of Honor dress shopping with you and they aren't wrong. Your Maid of Honor is often one of the first on your invite list! The only thing that might be an issue is if she lives out of town or there's some other logistics issues, but in general the Maid of Honor is one of the more obvious choices to invite wedding dress shopping.
Bridesmaids
If you have the space, bringing along any of your other bridesmaids would be the next choice after Mother figures and Maid of Honors. This is when referring to the list above will come in handy - who of your I Do Crew is the best listener? Your best lifter. upper? Your fun-loving cheerleader? By all means, invite this gal wedding dress shopping!
Dad
If you're wondering 'Can I take my Dad wedding dress shopping?' You're definitely not alone! While it's not necessarily the norm, know that we do curate our bridal appointments for each individual bride, so Dad is of course welcome. The best course of action here is to mention it at the bridal boutiques you plan to make appointments with and see what they say.
Feeling bad about leaving an important person out for wedding dress shopping, or have someone in your life with a keen eye for detail? Don't fret, because you can always invite them to the pick up and fitting to make the most of their skills.
What to wear wedding dress shopping as a guest
If you're one of the lucky guests for this momentous occasion for the bride-to-be, you're probably wondering what you should wear! Our answer is to keep it simple, while looking nice and photo-ready. Finding the perfect wedding dress is an amazing milestone for any bride-to-be, so this is an occasion you’ll definitely want to celebrate and photograph!
And make sure to wear some layers if you’ll be wedding dress shopping for the day. Whatever the season, you'll be going from hot outside to cool inside or vice versa. A light sweater or something like a jean jacket will come in handy no matter the time of year.
So basically, wear an outfit that is in between not looking like you just rolled off the couch and primed and prepped for the wedding rehearsal dinner. You want to look nice for this fun day out. And when you're comfortable and happy, all of that natural beauty will shine through. Which means looking great in those pictures you'll end up taking once the bride says Yes to the Dress!
For all the brides-to-be reading this, we put together an entire blog post on what to bring and wear wedding dress shopping, so be sure to check it out and get that checklist.
How to make wedding dress shopping special for the bride
On another note, we want you to know that your support squad is out there, you may just have to guide them a little. Don't be shy to shine a little during this exciting time, and your crew can help you do just that.
They can ask you how you want their support and you can tell them. They can also read these tips - all of this is possible. Be sure to slide these tips over to your wedding dress shopping crew.
Support her
Remind her that her body is her buddy
Let her share her feelings first about a wedding dress before speaking up
Treat her to lunch after she's found 'The One'
And remember to have a great time. This is an opportunity for the bride-to-be, so let her enjoy it all! And she'll love you even more when you enjoy these moments with her along the way.
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
Our small-town bridal boutique operating in Downtown Hammonton since 2022 is your go-to shop for stylish, preowned designer bridal wear. We’ve matched hundreds of brides-to-be with the wedding dress of their dreams, because we believe that every person deserves to feel like a million bucks on their big day.
When you book an appointment with us, know that our professional and passionate bridal stylists will be your biggest cheerleader when shopping for your wedding dream dress!
Sustainably Yours,
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
xoxo