Wedding Dress Shopping Alone

Are you a bride who is ready to shop for their wedding dress but feeling a bit overwhelmed about the whole process? Are you someone who is shy or not very fond of being the center of attention? When it comes to wedding dress shopping, there’s a lot of pressure to make the “perfect” choice. Whether you're a newly engaged bride-to-be or are deep in the midst of your wedding planning, one question we at Lovella Bridal get asked frequently is: Is it a bad idea to go wedding dress shopping alone?

The short answer? Absolutely not! In fact, for many brides, shopping alone can be a liberating experience that leads to a more clear and confident decision. But, as with anything wedding-related, it’s all about what works best for your. Here's a closer look at why shopping alone might be the best choice and some helpful tips to make the process a smooth and enjoyable one.

VIDEO: Is It Bad To Go Wedding Dress Shopping Alone?

If you are a bride who is feeling confused about wedding dress shopping or is worried about too many opinions causing confusion about this important decision, you might be considering wedding dress shopping alone. We are sharing valuable tips and all the do's and don'ts when it comes to wedding dress shopping with loved ones or alone. How you ultimately decide to wedding dress shop is a personal decision and out latest bridal fashion advice video dives into if it is bad to go wedding dress shopping alone.

You Know Your People

When brides schedule an appointment to shop with us, they often want to know how the process works and how many people can come with them. Many brides ask if it’s a bad idea to come in alone at first. There are no cut and dry rules for wedding dress shopping. It’s a very personal decision. You know yourself and your people best so you have to decide what is right for you. You know who in your entourage is going to have a positive impact on your decision-making and who might be offended if they are not invited wedding dress shopping with you.

Before making any decisions, think about what is right for you. Will other people’s voices help you and create clarity? Or will those outside opinions confuse you? You need to be able to trust your instincts when wedding dress shopping. If you’re the type of person who feels overwhelmed or confused by other people's opinions, going solo could be the best choice for you. We know there are many people pleasing brides out there and shopping for your wedding dress is not the time to be worried about other people’s feelings, but there is a way to handle it so that will benefit everyone involved.

The Bride’s Secret

If these thoughts are resonating with you and the idea of wedding dress shopping alone sounds like it might be right for you, we want to share with you what we like to call "the bride’s secret". Traditionally, a bride’s wedding dress is a surprise for her fiancé until wedding day. One option if you want to shop for your dress alone is to decide to surprise everyone on wedding day with what your dress looks like. This is an easy excuse brides can use when asked about their wedding dress or to avoid hurting feelings when it comes to bridal appointments and who can attend. This can be a beautiful reveal that adds an extra layer of excitement to your special day. Plus, you won’t have to worry about pleasing anyone else.

Another option is to shop solo and then bring guests with you to your dress fitting and have a gown reveal appointment. That way you can still share in those special moments with loved ones without having to wade through outside opinions.

Be Careful With Photos

Once you say yes to the dress, we know you will be excited and likely want to share the news. Once folks know you are wedding planning or have bought your dress, you will likely be asked by many what you are wearing and what your dress looks like. Perhaps you want to share photos with someone who could not be there with you shopping for your bridal dress. We want to share a word of caution about sending photos of your dress to people who were not on the shopping journey with you.

When you are wedding dress shopping, each gown you try on leads to the next one. You might try on a particular dress and decide you don’t like that style of lace or love that silhouette but want different details and so you move on to the next and the next until you land on the ideal dress. If you start sending photos to people who didn’t experience everything that lead up to the dress you ultimately choose, they are going to be lacking all of the context. The person you send a photo to didn’t experience your feelings and emotions that you felt in that dress. It’s a sample dress you are trying on so it’s not going to fit your body perfectly and things don’t always translate as well in person versus in a photo. It could be a bad photo of the dress. So you are potentially opening up a can of worms of outside opinions from people who don’t know what else you tried on, how you arrived at the final dress, and how that dress makes you feel beautiful and confident. If you want someone’s opinion, and you're going to value their opinion, and that opinion is going to impact your decision, they need to be with you every step of the way and they need to see all the dresses.

Shopping With Some Involvement

Another option for brides who want to shop alone but also have involvement from loved ones is to plan on two separate appointments. Schedule your first appointment to shop alone and find a few favorite dresses. You can even at that point have your mom or best friend pick a couple of dresses for you to try on from the bridal store’s social media or website.

At your second appointment, bring your entourage with you and then try on the gowns they selected, along with the ones you narrowed down from your first appointment when you shopped alone. You’ve taken the pressure off by already selecting a few favorite gowns and now you can involved your loved ones in finalizing the decision with those opinions you value and can trust. You can try on the dresses they think work for you and then end with the ones you selected and clue them in to the journey you have already taken to land on the right dress for you. This approach helps create excitement while still giving you the space to make the decision that’s right for you.

Ultimately, the decision to go wedding dress shopping alone or with others is entirely up to you. You know yourself best, and only you can decide how many opinions you want involved in such a personal decision. If you prefer to shop solo, embrace it! You’ll be able to focus on what you love, not on what anyone else thinks. And remember, if you choose to share the experience with others later on, that’s just as special.

More Helpful Wedding Dress Shopping Advice

We hope you have found this advice helpful when it comes to knowing if shopping for your wedding dress alone is right for you. For even more helpful advice when it comes to shopping for your dream wedding dress, be sure to check out our past posts:

About Lovella

If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!

About Wedding Fashion Expert

Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.

Is It Bad To Go Wedding Dress Shopping Alone?