So it is exactly two months to our big day and I am really starting to get excited. It finally feels real. I previously blogged about wedding make up and tips for skin prep.Today I decided to write about my experience for buying my dress. FYI ladies, this is a long one so grab a cuppa! 

  

things can get stressful

I always imagined this would be the most exciting day, but if I am being honest, it was very overwhelming at times and a tad stressful.  I was purchasing my dress in Sydney so I had no family with me. I always imagined I would buy this dress with my mom and sisters. I was so lucky to have two amazing friends who are like an extension to my fam. I couldn’t have asked for a better duo as I knew they would be honest with me and they know my style. I was also very lucky in that my mom and sisters were constantly at the other end of there phones waking up to pictures I sent them. They were really involved and were sending pictures of styles they thought would suit me too and gave their honest opinions, so I had the best of both worlds.

This is what I recommend:

  • Go with people who know you inside out and that will focus on what you like. Keep it tight because too many opinions will drive you insane.
  • Do some research-In Sydney we were given a 40 mins time frame to try dresses on. Seriously! This added to the stress. I have asked around and most places in Ireland allow an hour to 1.5 hours. All the same, it’s good to go in with a few styles you are drawn to. Have a look at the brands the shop stocks and go online and look them up.
  • Try to go mid week when it is quieter 
  • If you cant see anything you like be open to suggestions. The assistants do this every day and will often see a dress you may never have opted for.
  • Only go to a few bridal boutiques, otherwise you will make the job extremely difficult. 
  • Go with your gut. I know we want others opinions, but if you feel it is the one, go with it and forget about everyone else.

  
I went to three shops in total. Two in one day and another store a few weeks later. In my first shop I wasn’t having much luck and with ten mins to go I stared to panic. I was asked to pick 5 dresses and they weren’t doing it for me. I had seen a dress online but didnt put it on the list. In a mad dash attempt to try a few more before our time was up I got my friend to grab it. I tried it on and I started to get all giddy. This is the dress I eventually purchased.
We then went on to the second shop. Here I was asked to pick 3-4 dresses again and they were all a size 6-8 (which I am not!) I had to put a piece of foam down the back of each dress so I wasn’t exposing my ass to the busy shop! We all thankfully have a sense of humor and saw the funny side, but I could imagine this would be upsetting for some people. I left it a few weeks and went to one more shop on a quiet day. Here I had all the time I wanted and tried every style. I still couldn’t get the other dress out of my head. After that I waited a few weeks, went back to shop one and made the purchase. It just shows the more shops you go to the more confusion you add, so keep it to one or two.
I took my dress home with me on my last trip and purchased my accessories from Finesse in Listowel, Co. Kerry. I wasnt sure what would go with the style and knew the girls here would help me out. Two of my sisters found their dresses here and I have lost count how many friends have been there. The girls are the best and they dont rush you. I think I was longer picking out my accesories here then I was trying on dresses. They make it a real experince and everyone should have that. I will always be grateful to them for making that happen and I got to experience it with my family too. I think they knew I had missed this and made it extra special for me .
  
I can see why people get stressed out but it should be fun. Keep an open mind and just roll with it and enjoy the experience. I treated it like a dress up and trust me, you will know when you try it on. Something just clicks and trust yourself.

Good luck 

Jessie X