The WEDDING DRESS.

A piece of clothing that will most likely be one of the most expensive, stress producing purchasing experience anyone will ever have. Every insecurity, ever little thing you hate about your body will be on display. YET, it is the a piece of clothing that DREAMS are made of. So many little girls and some boys, fantasize about the day they will get to wear this dress. So much meaning has been given to this. The color, the tradition, the old, the new. The Wedding Dress is an iconic element in the culture of weddings, in our hearts and our drams. Where do you start? Here goes…

5 Robust Tips to Keeping Your Sanity and Feeling Your Princess Moment!

After weeks of being stopped by fear, recently a Platinum client of mine took my coaching and made her dress appointment. For her, it was a challenging moment. She’s a beautiful full figured women who happens to be one of the brightest, talented, life grabbing people I know.

Here’s the thing; she was petrified. She dreaded the idea of going to a bridal show room, putting on dresses that she couldn’t fasten up – with all the skinny girls looking at her and giving looks. If that is where my head was, I would be terrified too. The reality of dress shopping is quite different from what we see on Bravo and on the Silver Screen. Yes the big display with everyone watching and advising you is one option BUT know it doesn’t have to be that way for you. By making the appointment, my client unstuck herself from the hellacious visions she had created in her mind. She moved forward and conquered it! And SHE LOOKS HOT in her new dress! She found it the first day in the first showroom!

Tip 1: As with everything I recommend, determine your budget.

There is the PERFECT dress for you at any budget. I promise. I’ve seen $300 dollar dresses that are perfect and on the flip side, I’ve seen 15 thousand dollar dresses that are so ill-fitting that the bride would have been better off in a garbage bag. It would at least have made a rebel statement! YOUR Budget Drives EVERYTHING!

Tip 2: GOOGLE IT and PIN PIN AWAY!

Start looking at dresses on-line. Look for women who have a similar body type to you (this can be easier said than done). See how the dresses fit them. See what appeals to you. Look for elements that are attractive to you. What elements of dresses do you not like. Start creating a private Pinterest Board that you can play with. Give yourself a total of 3 HOURS over a 3 day period. NO MORE! You will start to make yourself insane and cluttering your brain. We want to maintain balance in all stages of the planning process. Happy Mind – Happy Bride!

Tip 3: BOOK IT.

Put together a list of bridal boutiques in your area that are in different price points. If you don’t know then ask them. When my sister and I did her dress shopping in Los Angeles we went from total Ghetto Boutiques to Rodeo Drive. We still talk about the experience to this day! Many bridal salons will require an appointment ahead of time, some months in advance, some not all. Call ahead and ask. If they don’t ask you what your budget is, clarify the prices ranges of the designers they offer. Wasted energy and time on something that is out of your budget is a waste of brain power, emotions and time.

If you are at all uncomfortable with the “modeling” process or of having too many people around, my suggestion is to take the day off midweek and make a day of it, with Champagne Breaks in between! Take your most trusted advisor, someone who will tell you “YES” or “HELL NO” , and venture on. No more than three fittings in a day. Too much input only confuses the mind and we want a chill bride-to-be! Bring a pair of heels and undergarments that you plan on wearing. If not the exact ones, something similar. Any accessories that you already have would also be helpful, especially a vail. You will most likely have multiple fittings but a good pair of SPANX can transform the fit and feel of a dress! Throw in that LITTLE BO PEEP dress to keep things fun and silly.

Tip 4: Love it!

Throughout the Wedding Dress Journey you will go through multiple dresses. Some will work. Some will be images that nightmares are made of. Make sure to document each and ever dress just in case it comes down to one or two from different salons. That said.. what will most likely happen is THE MOMENT. You will put it on. You will look in the mirror. You will walk out in the room and BAMMO .. THAT’S IT! Your eyes will well up and you both will know THIS IS IT! This might happen the first day, it might not. If it doesn’t, take some time off. Reflect on what worked, what didn’t and what to look for next time and start looking again. Once you have had that PRINCESS MOMENT, don’t forget to order it. Set up your fittings if you plan on the salon doing them and never be afraid to ask for a discount or “When will your next sale be?”. Many salons have commissioned sales people so … if you don’t ask .. you won’t get ! Retail Prices = Failure in my book! LOL.. Seriously ask. It never hurts to ask and you could save hundreds or even get some free alterations.

Tip 5: Tech IT!

One way that I coach my clients virtually is for them to upload the photos of themselves in the various dresses as they are trying them on, to their Private Facebook page. This allows for me and for the rest of the bridal party to chime in! It also give you the option of choosing what to share and what not to share. This is especially helpful when Brides Maids are scattered all over or are not able to make your midweek fitting!

Now sit back and relish a job well done!

The Wedding Dress experience can be one to celebrate! Remember that this is your journey.This is day that you will always remember. Do what is right for you. Be nice about it and venture forward. The right dress will come into your life. Stay open. Stay Positive and trust those that love you.

These high level tips are all discussed in Wedding Planning Unzipped. Within the course we go into much greater detail to help make the process even smoother as well as way we can provide support based on you wedding planning needs. If you haven’t check it out yet, click here and see if it might be a good fit for you.

Happy Smart Planning to you my Zachettes!!

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