Your wedding dress:

It's THE dress that you have probably been dreaming of since you were proposed to...

Firstly, consider who you'd like to bring to your appointment. It can be tempting to bring lots of your friends and family with you, whether it's to make them feel included, or because they're part of your wedding party. But just bring a couple, because it's YOUR dress and choose people you trust. Bringing the tribe you may not be able to hear yourself think! If your bride squad want to get involved why not bring them along to a dress fitting AFTER you have found the perfect one to help choose a veil and accessories.

Next, wear the right lingerie.

Now is not the time to wear the pants from the bottom of your drawer where the elastic has gone on. Make sure your underwear is as close to the undies you’ll be wearing on the big day as possible, as this will affect how a dress sits on top. Neon lingerie and black underwear are a bad idea! Think neutral and, if you’d feel more confident, shape supporting. If you’re not wearing a strapless bra, you might want to take one with you just in case the dress you fall in love with needs more invisible support.

Finally, think about your wedding location.

Where and when are you getting married? How long are you wearing your dress for? Will you be in a mixture of environments or just staying in one place? All of these things will influence the dress you need - do you need to walk over grass and get muddy, are you wanting to dance, so you need to be able to move freely? Will you need help to go to the bathroom if the train is long?

Delivery: Wedding dresses can typically take between 4 and 9 months to arrive in store once ordered due to Brexit, consider a month or so for any alterations you need.

So, start wedding dress shopping nice and early., even if you know you'll be quick to make a decision make sure you get that order in on time as you don't want to be disappointed!

Types of dresses:

Ball Gown:

The most distinguishing trait of a ballgown wedding dress is its very full skirt. The silhouette also has a fitted bodice and is cinched at the natural waist. Best for brides with boyish figures as the fullness of the dress will make you look curvier.

Sheath:

This form-fitting style follows the body’s natural line and does not flare out. Ideal for petite women as the slim shape adds length. This silhouette looks great on brides with sleek figures.

Which style do you prefer?

Keep an Open Mind! You may have a specific idea of what you want in a dress, but be willing to try on different styles. You may be surprised by how much you like a gown that's outside of your comfort zone.

Don't hesitate to ask for help. The sales staff at your favourite bridal store will be more than happy to offer their expert opinion.

There's no rule that says you have to wear heels to a wedding! But if you are a heels kind of bride make sure you take a pair with a similar heel height with you when you go dress shopping.

-This is so you are able to see how your dress will hang and have an accurate idea of how much the dress will need altering. Of course, if you know you'll want flats, there's no need to take a pair of shoes but let your assistant know so that they are able to advise on any alterations that will need to be made to your dress length.

-If you want to go for flats on your wedding day, choose a bedazzled pair that glitters and still looks fancy and dressed up for a night.

Hiring your wedding outfits:
You can save money by hiring out your outfit, especially if you are not going to wear it again!

-it's important to get the measurements at least 2 months before your wedding day and then a final fitting 1-2 weeks before your wedding.

-Get a member of the bridal party to gather the outfits after the wedding and make sure that everything is all in order, that they are washed and pockets are empty!

-As children grow so rapidly, they may need measuring one month prior to your wedding day.

With so much focus on the dress, the venue and the flowers, choosing the groom’s suit can perhaps get forgotten in the wedding planning process! It may appear a simple task but there’s a lot of things to consider, plus the wedding suits will be a major feature in your pictures so it’s important to get it right!

Make sure you do your research. Take a look at Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram – they are great places to start when thinking about your wedding suit. Also, don’t forget to check out your venue and photographers on social media for inspiration. Make sure whatever you choose compliments the bridesmaid’s dresses whether it's the suit colour or keeping a pop of colour to the chosen neckwear and pocket square.

-If you’re planning on hiring your wedding suits, we’d suggest starting the process 12 to 6 months before your wedding date. A lot of advice online suggests to start planning suits around the 3 months before the date mark. However, this doesn't leave a lot of time to find your chosen suit company and with a lot of lockdown wedding rearrangements to consider - it's best to book early and secure your date.

-For those of you planning to buy your suit, we’d suggest that you start this as early as possible. A suit can be designed and delivered in 4 months, but we’d advise having your first appointment at least 6 months before so that you are able to fully enjoy the experience.

I hope that these tips help you.

Victoria Fenix.