If you are anything like us, you have an entire pinterest board of wedding gowns that has been accumulating for months if not years but when do you take the plunge and say I do to that perfect dress?

Every bride is different but typically a bride chooses her wedding gown about 10 months before a wedding, that being said start looking early! For some brides deciding between the two best contenders could take weeks, and you don’t need the added pressure of a timeline to affect your decision. 

We always say if you are ordering a gown that has to be shipped, plan for as early as possible. On average a dress can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to be delivered and much longer if it is a custom gown. So give yourself plenty of time and always add 40 days to the expected delivery date, just in case. Then when the gown arrives early it is a great surprise! If you are worried about cutting it close to your alteration date spring for overnight or three day shipping, this is also a great way to be confident that your dress doesn’t get damaged in shipping and processing. Most urgent delivery services are done by plane and temperature controlled vehicles which is always better for your gown. 

Selecting a dress is hard enough but envisioning it altered can be a whole different story. Make sure you leave plenty of time to find that perfect fit. 3 to 4 months is a great lead time for dress alteration and gives you enough time for a second fitting to make tweaks. Make sure you plan for this in your budget as well, always get an estimate before you make the big purchase to ensure you will be on budget. Some seamstress will charge you a flat rate while others are by service. If you plan to shop around for the perfect seamstress give yourself another month, this way you will have enough cushion time to find the perfect person and a consultation time. 

No matter what dress you choose confidence is always in style! Rock it bride to be, we will see you on the aisle.