Hi SMP’ers! Nicole of Sorella Muse here to talk wedding dress shopping. There is so much pressure to say YES to the dress, and things get even more complicated if you’ve decided to spend LESS on the dress, or take a non-traditional route towards a colorful gown. Raise your hand if you’re hoping to find something affordable and minimalist that still feels special, or you’re looking for something unique and stunning which you have a feeling you won’t find amid the taffeta and satin of a bridal shop!
I’ve seen my fair share of dresses as a wedding photographer and I adore a gorgeous gown with exquisite detailing, but after thinking carefully about our wedding budget priorities (i.e. throwing a memorable weekend-long party in Tuscany) and my own personal style (simple refined bohemian), I knew I wanted to approach wedding dress shopping differently. I don’t want to feel like a princess in heaps of tulle on my wedding day, I want to feel like myself. I set out looking for a dress that would be free-spirited and unfussy but still chic. Luckily there is a growing trend of affordable and non-traditional wedding dresses, as my first stop at Reformation showed me, where the whole eco-friendly bridal line is under $500. But it’s still a trickier process to navigate than taking the standard bridal salon route, so hopefully these tips help you in your search!
Non-Traditional Dress Shopping for the Minimalist Bride
When to shop
You may not need the traditional 6-9 months you would for a made to measure gown, but still plan to start shopping earlier rather than later. While off the rack options are great if you’re planning a wedding on a tighter timeline or want to skip the bridal salon, keep in mind that you may still want to have slight alterations done. Also remember to shop during the right season! If you’re getting married in the fall and want an off the rack formal dress, looking for long dresses during summer can be tough because everything in stock will be short or in lighter, breezier fabrics. Or if you want a relaxed maxi dress for a beach elopement, trying to shop mid-winter will limit your options.
Listen to your heart
It’s so important to decide what your priorities are, and not feel pressured by the messages you may receive from well-meaning friends, bridesmaids, family, or the wedding industry about how you should plan your wedding. Some might question your decision to spend less or wear blush instead of ivory, but try to hold on to your own priorities of budget and style. But also keep checking in with yourself as you try on dresses because you may find that while you liked the idea of a floral gown, you are only having that oh my gosh bride feeling in ivory.
Where to look
The list of brands offering alternative and affordable wedding dresses is growing ever longer these days! I found myself browsing J.Crew, BCBG, and BHLDN most frequently, as well as Free People and Reformation. There are so many beautiful bridesmaid dresses that could be ordered in ivory or cream for a less formal wedding, which you can browse online at high-end department stores. Or take a peek at the designer gowns on sale at Gilt or Net-a-Porter, if you want something that’s high impact but not traditionally bridal. And have you noticed that Rent the Runway has launched a bridal-specific section?
Embrace color
If you are able to see yourself walking down the aisle in a dress that isn’t ivory, a whole world of options just opened before you! You can dip your toes in the alternative pool by going with something in blush, wade in a little farther with a floral print, or be totally daring in a bright red or black dress! White wedding dresses only became the standard in bridal fashions when Queen Victoria wore white on her wedding day in 1840. Yellow, blue, and red were more common choices for brides back then. And if you’re worried about your dress standing the test of time, just think about those 80’s brides in huge puffy sleeves, take a deep breath, and let go of the hope to predict the future of fashion! Wear whatever makes you feel happiest right now.
Choose accessories thoughtfully
Whether you’re opting for an affordable gown or a colorful wedding dress, choosing accessories becomes even more important. You may want to dress up an inexpensive frock with an elaborate veil, show-stopping shoes, a delicate sash, or pretty hair adornments. Maybe it’s the Carrie Bradshaw in me, but if you spent less on the dress, doesn’t that give you full license to splurge on Manolo Blahniks? Or if athleisure is your thing, wear white sneakers! Why not, it’s your day. A colorful dress can be styled with classic simplicity, since the big statement is the non-traditional color.
I can hardly believe my own wedding is less than three months away now. And after a weekend of dress shopping with my mom and sister, I found the one I’ll be wearing when I say I do!
xoxo, Nicole
Photography: For the Love of It | Wedding Dress : Reformation | Blogger Bride: Sorella Muse
© Style Me Pretty, 2016. |
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Post tags: Blogger Bride, Dress Deals, Dress Shopping, Off the rack wedding gown, Sample Sale, Shopping Tips, wedding dress, Wedding Gown
Post categories: Blogger Bride, The Blog, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Fashion, Wedding Resources, Wedding Style
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