How many dresses did you try on before you found THE ONE?

[mintve]

I have a feeling I will drive my mom and friends nuts w/ the dress shopping and will likely hit every shop in the greater ATL area before its all said and done.

I have a few questions:

1. How many shops did you visit?

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

 

[Cleopatra]

1. How many shops did you visit?
I visited two shops

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?
My "the one" was the 2nd dress I tried on - I probably tried on another 20 dresses and compared each one to that 2nd dress!

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?
My mom and MOH (best friend) came with me - only spent one day shopping - and probably MAX 3 hours....And I still, to this day, haven''t felt the need to even SEE another dress - good sign eh?

 

[sarahmills]

1. How many shops did you visit? I shopped at 5 different places total.

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one? I ended up ordering my dress this past weekend after the third time I tried it on. I actually tried it on for the first time at the very first place I went to try on gowns. So, I probably tried on about 10 or so before I found it, and then another 30 - 40 before actually going back to buy it! I compared all 30-40 of those gowns to my first favorite one!

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own? I always went with others - I liked to have other people there to give their opinoins on dresses. The first weekend I went with my mom, grandmother, and furture MIL. The second time I went with my mom, grandmother, and MOH, and I was with my mom, grandmother, and a bridesmaid when I bought my dress on Saturday.

hope this helps, have a blast shopping for your dress, i really enjoyed it. it will probably be my favorite part of the whole wedding planning process!! i''m sad now that i''ve ordered my dress that i have to stop shopping!!

 

[Sarah@GOG]

The first place i went to.. i walked into the bridal gown section and it was like glowing (the one) it was literally the first dress i actually noticed. I knew it was the one. The sales lady told me to try on one more that i liked just because. I did but it didn''t compare to how much i liked the other one. You will definitely know when you have found the perfect dress for you.

I think it is fine if you go by yourself, it is just always more fun to bring someone with you.

 

[blissfulbride]

I''ve been shopping alone, and I was fine with it. It was relaxing, and it''s still fine because you have a consultant. I really knew my gown was the one when I cried, and then called my fiance thanking him for proposing to me, and giving me this opportunity. It was pretty cheesy, but I was overwelmed with emotions.

 

[Sarah@GOG]

Date: 5/14/2008 11:47:20 AM
Author: blissfulbride
I''ve been shopping alone, and I was fine with it. It was relaxing, and it''s still fine because you have a consultant. I really knew my gown was the one when I cried, and then called my fiance thanking him for proposing to me, and giving me this opportunity. It was pretty cheesy, but I was overwelmed with emotions.

awww you are sweet. that is not cheesy. that is good that you can appreciate the oppurtunity you have. getting married RULES. at least it should..

 

[Pandora II]

1. How many shops did you visit?

None

1. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?

None

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

I would have been more likely to have gone just for fun if I'd had someone to go with. My mother is very ill and has trouble walking so I opted out of the dress trying-on saga.

I'm also a wuss and didn't want to attempt the wedding dress shop harpies on my own!

I do actually have a dress, well a calico one at the moment - fabric should be ready this week! I do actually rather like it in calico, a much underestimated fabric IMO.

FI came up with the concept and I designed it together with my sweet and wonderful dressmaker, who is 26 and an expert in historical corsetry. My BFF's husband is head of design at Roberto Cavalli and has designed and had my fabrics woven. The whole thing is costing me about half what I would pay for a silk dress on the high-street.

FI has had a lot of input on the dress - he won't get to see me in it until the day though!

 

[blissfulbride]

Yeah I feel very blessed! I''m the first one out of all my friends to be getting married, and they are all single looking for the right man. It''s really hard out there to snag a good one. Dating is so hard !

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I tried about 50 gowns in 5 shops as well as hours spent online. As a former seemstress, I knew exactly what woud and wouldn''t look good and what I wanted so I ended up having one store order a sample for me to try on that I loved online. I did order it, but to get the look I want, I will have to have some work done on it. For me, I knew all the details I wanted, ie poet sleeves, v-neck, basque waist, etc and I knew I wasn''t going to find a dress with everything so I found something close that I will have altered to suit me.

 

[sumbride]

I went to two shops and tried on about 12 dresses, but as soon as I put on my dress, I was done. I didn''t go back and try anything else. When I saw the tears in my mom''s eyes, that was it.

The first time I went, I went by myself. Logistically, I suggest you take someone with you, particularly if you go on the weekend, which I did. The dresses are heavy and awkward to get in and out of, and it''s really better just to have someone to lift it for you, dress you, etc... The shop assistants will help if they can, but are often helping multiple people, and sometimes it''s just better to not have them seeing you in your skivies.

 

[Aloros]

I have a few questions:

1. How many shops did you visit?
Just one.
2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?
Technically, just one. I bought my dress on ebay, sight unseen, and was lucky enough that I LOVED it and it fit me perfectly! I went to a bridal salon later to just double-check that I made the right choice, and none of the salon dresses looked as good.

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?
I took my sister and my best friend. It would have felt weird for me to go on my own, and I wanted an unbiased second opinion and someone to take photos for me.

 

[angielea]

I went to about 10 shops, and tried on more than 100 dresses. I did most with others in tow, but by the end, I was getting frustrated, and just wanted to go by myself to see if it would be less confusing that way.

When i found my dress, I knew. I tried on 10 more after that, but I got the shakes when I tried on my dress, and just knew.

 

[Laurenj915]

1. How many shops did you visit?
* I went to 4 different shops and I looked everywhere online for a month before that.

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?
* about 16 dresses

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

* I went on my own to the very first shop because I needed to see what style looked good on my and my intention was not to buy a dress. I brought my mom the rest of the time.

I did not know that my dress was the one in the store though. I took pictures of all the dresses I liked (I would totally recommend this) and then ruled a few out from the pics. I posted my 3 favs here on the boards and asked which one. Everyone picked the same dress and it was not the one I would have picked. I am glad I asked here, sometimes other people have a less biased view of your body shape and can be more objective about what looks good on you than you can. I wouldn''t have picked a dress I didn''t like based on other people but I was totally undecided between three.

 

[calidaisy]

i feel like the anomaly here.

i visited 10+ shops and tried on maybe 100+ dresses. i also went by myself the whole time because i had a very flexible schedule and usually went on weekday mornings and avoided weekends at all cost. so it was impossible coordinating anything with friends and my mom was in a different time zone. it didn''t feel weird but it may have taken me longer to find "the one" and i did feel frustrated in the beginning not getting objective opinion from someone who cared about it.

however, being by yourself is a great excuse to make a graceful exit at shops you don''t get along with ... or even the ones you like because none of the bridal consultants expected me to make a decision then and there, thus did not push me to purchase, and told me come back with someone.

i think the number of dresses you try on depends on your personality too. i''m kind of picky and had to learn what was important to me--what i wanted vs. what flattered me. when i found my dress, i didn''t have an emotional moment ... but it was more like a rational decision knowing that it''d work for me cuz it had EVERYTHING i was looking for.

 

[espressa]

I went to two shops. My dress was actually the very first dress that I tried on at the first shop. I loved it, but since it was the first dress I wasn''t sure if it was really the one because I hadn''t tried on any others yet. The second, third, and fourth dresses didn''t compare to it at all, so I just put the first dress back on again and then I knew.

I went to another shop though because I was worried that since I had only tried on about 5 dresses, maybe I was wrong and there was something better out there. The second shop also had the dress I loved, and this time it was in the color I had planned to order, so I tried it on there, loved it even more, tried on about 10 more dresses, and then decided I was buying the first one. I didn''t want to take it off, and I felt so beautiful in it.

I went with my mom both times, which was helpful because I liked having someone else''s opinion, and she helped me with trying on dresses in the first shop. At the second shop, I let the assistant help me because I felt comfortable around her and I was having trouble getting into a lot of the dresses. All of the samples were a size 8 or 10, and I couldn''t get most of them to fit over my hips by stepping into them so we had to put them over my head and get in and out that way. It would have been much more difficult with my mom helping instead.

 

[Amandine]

1. How many shops did you visit?
In Michigan, probably about five. In Atlanta, well, we talked about that already!

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?
Easily over a hundred. But, after working as a designer and in a bridal shop, I wasn''t a lingerer. I think I even surprised some of the consultants who worked with me in how fast I would be done with a gown. If I didn''t like it, if nothing made me go "WOW!!" then off it came! And it was forgotten. I didn''t let the ones I didn''t like or only sorta liked bog me down.
3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?
I first went in October with my Mom and Grandma, because they are in Michigan and I didn''t know if we would have any other chance to do it together. Later, with my Mom in Atlanta in December, and a few times with some friends.

I had narrowed it down to two dresses, one at Formally Yours and one at Bride Beautiful. I loved the style of the one at BB, but felt the one at FY was more flattering (and I fit into a 6!! miracles do happen!). I thought I would try the Brides for Breast Caner sale in February. I did find one, an Anne Barge, that I loved. I had brought a friend with, and she thought it was gorgeous, too. I went home that Friday not certain between the BB dress and the Anne Barge. My staff convinced me that Saturday that I should go try the dresses on, one after the other. Well...I work in Buckhead, BB is in Sandy Springs, and the Anne Barge was in Buckhead, too. Quite a little road trip it was! I finally decided on the San Patrick at BB because I knew it fit the wedding in my head best, and it was what I compared all other dresses to. So I bought it, off the rack. Its downstairs right now!!

 

[sunnygirl]

1. Two salons. I had looked at a TON of dresses online already and knew what type of dress I wanted and had a couple in mind.

2. I tried on about 6-8 dresses at the first salon and liked one a lot but it wasnt quite perfect. Then I went to another salon on another day and I tried on about 6-8 dresses there including one that I knew I liked from magazines. I liked it in person so I bought it! I have a weird schedule and not a lot of time to go shopping and I just wanted to be done with it. I was suprised I chose my dress after only two salon visits because I am normally so picky. Calidaisy, I thought I would be more like you!

3. My mom came with me on both visits. But I can see how it would be relaxing to go alone and pick out some faves and then maybe have someone else along to look at the final options if you feel like you need opinions.

Good luck!

 

[Elmorton]

1. Four or five - visited a couple more than that, but some places didn''t try anything on.

2. I tried on about a dozen, no more than 20. I found "the one" but still tried on a few more styles just to make sure.

3. I went with just my mom once, just one friend a couple of other times, but never completely on my own. Honestly, the times I went casually with just one friend, we didn''t get a lot of attention from consultants. If I took mom (or mom plus a friend), it would border on too much attention.

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 5/14/2008 10:46:18 AM
Author:mintve
I have a feeling I will drive my mom and friends nuts w/ the dress shopping and will likely hit every shop in the greater ATL area before its all said and done.

I have a few questions:

1. How many shops did you visit?

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

1. I visited 7 I think, but some I visited more than once... so maybe 12 trips total.
2. I probably tried on 30 or more
3. I went on my own a few times. I don''t think its weird at all. I could try on EXACTLY what I wated and not feel pressured one way or the other. I brought my mom once and it was totally unproductive. I brought a bridesmaid a couple of times, and FI went with me 3 times and was with me when I finally decided on one.

 

[Independent Gal]

I visited about 8 shops. I must have tried on about 50 dresses. I never felt like I found "THE DRESS" but I did find 2 dresses that were just fine. Which was just fine with me. And I went to about half the shops by myself, the other half either with my cousin or with a local friend. My close family and close friends all live in other countries, and I didn't want to impose on these two too much, particularly since my local cousin is 87!

It was not even a LITTLE weird to shop on my own for dresses. It's not high school! It's OK to be seen by yourself!

So don't be shy.

Date: 5/14/2008 11:47:20 AM
Author: blissfulbride
I really knew my gown was the one when I cried, and then called my fiance thanking him for proposing to me, and giving me this opportunity.

OK, blissfulbride, please don't be offended, but do you think your fiance's feeling might have been a little hurt? If my FI had considered our engagement an 'opportunity' to get to go wedding dress shopping and find a pretty dress, I'd be totally weirded out and upset! Probably just misunderstanding you, though.

 

[Rhea]

I visited about 12-15 shops and tried on well over 100 dresses. I went with my DH about half the time, my mother twice, and the rest on my own. It''s not weird to go on your own at all.

 

[ladyciel]

Hmmm, I''d say 6 or so shops, 30-40 dresses, and my dress was one of the very very last that I tried on. I''m so glad I kept looking! I did go out on my own once, which was fun. However, I did enjoy it more when I had somebody with me.

 

[MoonWater]

1. How many shops did you visit? None, I went online.

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one? None, I saw what I liked online. Bought it, tried it on, decided I wanted it and I''m having it altered next month so that it fits properly.

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own? I don''t think it would be weird to go on your own. But I like doing things independently sometimes so that I can work at my own pace. However, it''s always nice to get the opinion of someone close to you.

 

[musey]

1. How many shops did you visit?

Five or six, I forget!

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?

Probably 20-25... again, not exactly sure. I tried on 4-7 at each shop, but some were repeats between shops. I don't have a lot of patience for trying on clothing, so the amount I tried was REALLY pushing it for me!

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

I happened to always have my mom, because she came to visit for about a week and we were on a MISSION to find a gown during that time.

As long as you're happy to go on your own, it's not weird

It's just a matter of whether you think it would be more fun to have someone with you. In all honesty, I didn't feel like my mom was all that 'useful' in choosing a gown (come on, now!).


ETA: "The one" was the sixth or seventh dress I tried, for what it's worth. I just didn't decide it was the one I wanted until after a few more shops and many more dresses!

 

[modernsparkler]

Date: 5/14/2008 10:46:18 AM
Author:mintve
I have a feeling I will drive my mom and friends nuts w/ the dress shopping and will likely hit every shop in the greater ATL area before its all said and done.

I have a few questions:

1. How many shops did you visit?

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

1. I went to 3 shops, but I found two of "the one" dresses at stores 1 and 2 so the last shop was just to confirm that I had already found two that I loved.

2. I think I tried on maybe 30-40 dresses. The actual "one" was at store #2, maybe dress 12/15 and I loved it. However, I decided to sleep on it and make sure and I am glad I did because I have no regrets.

3. I had quite the entourage- for the first viewing I had my mom, MOH, and one other bridesmaid. For the final decision I had the original group, my dad, and another bridesmaid. It was actually my dad''s reaction that helped me choose my gown between the 2 I had in mind. I would not have guessed it beforehand but I was SO glad to have him along.

 

[anchor31]

Date: 5/14/2008 10:46:18 AM
Author:mintve
I have a feeling I will drive my mom and friends nuts w/ the dress shopping and will likely hit every shop in the greater ATL area before its all said and done.

I have a few questions:

1. How many shops did you visit?

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

1. How many shops did you visit? Around 15.

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one? At least 75.

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own? I went once with a roommate, once with my MOH and mom and three times on my own. So no, I don't think it's weird to go alone. I found my dress when I was on my own.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 5/14/2008 10:46:18 AM
Author:mintve
I have a feeling I will drive my mom and friends nuts w/ the dress shopping and will likely hit every shop in the greater ATL area before its all said and done.

I have a few questions:

1. How many shops did you visit?

2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?

3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

1. 2 shops, the first was David''s, the second was an indie boutique

2. 13

3. Brought my mom and my MOH, and that was it.

I KNEW when I tried on my dress that that was it...most of the other gowns were "wearing me" instead of me wearing them...

 

[julabean]

Date: 5/14/2008 10:46:18 AM
Author:mintve

I have a few questions:

1. How many shops did you visit?


2. How many dresses do you think you actually tried on before you found the one?


3. Did you ever venture out to the gown shopping on your own, or did you always bring a family member or friend? Is it weird to go on my own?

I went to one shop, tried on probably 6 dresses, and my dress was the 4th one I tried on. I really liked the first one I tried on, though, however,I was right in between sizes and I would have paid a lot in alternations if I had gone with that dress. Ultimately I decided it had too much "stuff." I went with my mom and two best friends, but I''d been into David''s Bridal a couple times to look around by myself.