What should I bring to a wedding dress appointment?

Seamless skin-tone underwear, a strapless bra, shoes at your planned heel height, your inspiration photos, and a clear maximum budget. If you go with company, keep it to one or two trusted opinions.

What questions should I ask at a bridal salon?

Ask the real production lead time for the designer, the typical cost of alterations there, the deposit and cancellation policy, what happens if your body changes, and when the gown will physically arrive. Ask for the important answers in writing.

What are red flags when buying a wedding dress?

Pressure to sign the same day, discounts that expire when you leave, no written range for alterations, fees that only appear at the end, and any refusal to put the arrival date in the contract.

Should I buy a wedding dress at my first appointment?

Only if you are certain and the numbers are in writing. A fair salon will hold a quote for a few days, so sleeping on it for 48 hours and comparing your notes cold costs you nothing.

Free wedding planning tool

Dress Shopping Checklist

Tell us where you are in the search. We build a personalised checklist for your salon appointments: what to prepare, what to ask, the red flags to watch, and what to check once you are home.