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.

While this may sound great in theory, it's difficult to make happen and can potentially add stress to your decision making process. 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.

According to tradition, the mother of the bride is responsible for providing support during wedding dress shopping, wrangling bridesmaids, assisting with the guest list, and helping the bride get ready on the big day.

No shoes, barefoot or just socks

Having additional padding on top of the padding built into the dress, will alter the way the dress is supposed to fit your body. Wearing no bra or pasties is the best option. If you aren't comfortable with that, wearing a nude sticky bra with light padding is second best.

Plan Ahead and Communicate Your Choice

What's more, since it's customary for the mother of the bride to buy her dress first, and then share her choice with the mother of the groom, planning ahead will ensure that everyone has time to coordinate their looks.

Supportive Family and Friends

Generally, moms are the first person that brides choose to include in their wedding dress shopping trip; however, sisters and grandmothers are also commonly included. More recently, some brides have started including their soon-to-be mothers-in-law to join them.

The Best Colors for Mothers of the Groom to Consider

In general, jewel tones and earthy hues, like emerald green and burgundy, work well, in addition to universally flattering colors like black and navy. Valiente also adds, "Wear a flattering color that compliments the color palette of the wedding."

Does the mother of the groom come wedding dress shopping? ›

While you may decide to keep dress shopping a strictly mother-daughter event, inviting the groom's mother to your fitting is a fun moment to share, and it means you'll have one more person who knows how to work your bustle if you do plan on donning a dress.

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.

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.

While it may sound a little unorthodox, our consultants actually recommend it! “Shopping alone is not for everyone, but for those who know what they want, or for a bride that's more mature, shopping by yourself can be a more effective and efficient way of making a decision,” says seasoned Kleinfeld consultant, Lisa.

You'll attend dress fittings and help the bride coordinate her shoes and undergarments to match her personal style. The bride will rely on you as maid of honor, to give your honest feedback during fittings.

There are plenty of stunning wedding dresses under $1000 in every style, so you can find the perfect dress and still have money left in your budget for the shoes, jewelry, and other bridal accessories to complete your look.

Don't go just to try dresses on.

Now, on a slow day this doesn't matter so much, which may lead you to believe that you could always schedule to come in on a weekday without it being a problem. But even if it's not inconvenient for the boutique, it's not a good idea for you. Wedding dress shopping is a special time.

Check With Your Store

You should always check with your bridal store before your appointment to see what rules there may be that you need to follow. A lot of stores do not allow beverages as it puts the dresses at risk.