Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress - 5 Tips From Cara of Story Of My Dress Bridal

I mean, if I was ever a bride, getting my dress would be the thing I would be most freaking excited about!! 

There are some dresses I see as a photographer that just make me go wow! And the thing that I began to notice was that a lot of them tended to come from Story of my Dress Bridal in West Malling, Kent. 

So, I asked Cara, the founder of Story of My Dress if she'd have a bit of time to share some of her best tips on finding the wedding dress of your dreams and she said yes!

Thanks Cara!!

Tip 1 - Do Your Research

Most of us have a Pinterest board the second we get engaged, researching our dream bridal look!! A really important thing to do before you actually start visiting any shops is to do your research. Research where those styles you love are from. Find those designers website, check out their stockists, are there any that are local to you? If yes, check that the bridal boutiques collections are aligned with your style & the vision you have.

If you're totally unsure as to what you're looking for then check out your local boutiques designers, are they traditional, untraditional, are they going to fit your style. Don't just book and turn up only to find the dresses are nothing like what you're looking for, you risk wasting time and leaving disappointed.

Tip 2 - Give Yourself Time

Most bridal boutiques will need a minimum 6 months to turn a dress around. However, due to Brexit & covid, that timeframe has been extended for a lot of designers. If you have time on your hands it's a good idea to start looking a year or so before and be prepared to order your dress a good 6-8 months before your wedding date. The more time you give yourself means less stress for both you and the boutique and a more enjoyable experience overall, after all this is supposed to be fun! Also, giving yourself time means you won't feel pressured into buying a dress you're not totally, 100% in love with!

Tip 3 - Know Your Budget

It is always a good idea to know your budget and to keep that in mind when searching for bridal stores. The dresses we make and the designers dresses we stock are all handmade in small studios with a focus on sustainably. We have done our best at Story of my Dress to source dresses that give a broad range of prices on our rails and suit as many brides as we can. Contact the stores and ask for specific prices, payment structures and if they are a bit out of your budget, do they have any sample sales coming up? We offer a payment plan to help spread the costs as do many other bridal shops.

Tip 4 - What's The Vibe Like in The Shop?

It's really important to get a good feel from a bridal store and their stylist. You're going to be spending time there, finding your dress, having it fitted and collecting it. Not to mention spending your hard earned money!

Make sure you're treated kindly, no pushy sales techniques. You want to have a happy, relaxed dress journey that you look back on fondly! If you find a dress you love, you can always find another store for alterations & accessories. We have a studio upstairs where we can do just that for you!

Tip 5 - Remember, It's Your Day, Your Body, Your Dress

Think carefully about who you take with you!!

We've also been part of some magical moments, but wow, we've seen it all here! I would always say remember, it's your day, your body and your dress.

Don't be persuaded into something that isn't really you just because someone in your bridal party says they would wear it!!

Don't buy a dress just because it makes your mum cry, but deep down it's not quite what you had in mind. We always offer a free second appointment where you can come back & try your favourites on again and make the decision for yourself.

We love to see women uplifting and empowering each other here!

Dress for yourself only, not the venue, not your mum, not your sister!!

It's your day!

Tip 6 - Have Fun!

Last and definitely not least, have fun! Remember, these memories will last a lifetime so make sure to take it all in and enjoy the process : )

Thank you so much to Cara for taking the time to share these great tips.

If you're just starting out in your search for your wedding dress, I'd really recommend taking a look at Story of My Dress! I'll be sharing lots more posts from cool people, suppliers and vendors in the Kent wedding industry really soon so stay tuned for that. In the meantime why not take a look at some of these planning tips articles : )