I partnered up with Bustle Gowns in Homewood to bring this blog post to you! Written by Alyssa Hall, photography by Eleanor Stenner.

You’ve just said “YES” to the man of your dreams, now it’s time to find the perfect gown. If you’ve ever seen “Say Yes To The Dress,” you’ve seen some super stressed brides and gown shopping horrors. Here are a few quick tips to keep your day stress-free.

1. Make an appointment

Making an appointment with a wedding gown salon is just as important as scheduling an appointment with your doctor – you would never just pop-in on your dermatologist, right?

Setting an appointment allows the salon to prepare for you. They’ll be expecting you on the decided date and time and your consultant will be able to focus entirely on you. Without an appointment, there may not be anyone available to show you a single dress – yikes!

Okay, so you’ve made an appointment. Don’t get caught up in the moment and make 3 appointments for the same day. If you don’t find your dress at the first salon, then go ahead and make a second appointment. Decision exhaustion is real – your brain can’t handle looking at too many dresses in one day!

2. Know your budget

Knowing the dress budget before the first appointment will relieve so much stress. I PROMISE.
If you are paying for the gown, do some research and come up with a number both you and your fiancée are comfortable with.
If someone else is paying, have a conversation before your appointment. This may be uncomfortable initially, but totally worth it in the end. If you know the budget is $2,500, you won’t need to wonder if you should try the $5,000 gown in the window!
Consider accessories and alterations. Make sure you have some wiggle room; don’t max out your budget on the gown alone.

3. Limit your entourage

The great Andy Warhol once said, “One’s company, two’s a crowd, and three’s a party.”

However, I think it’s best to leave the party for the wedding day. Too many opinions during the appointment can be overwhelming and confusing. You’ll be the one wearing the gown when you say “I do” so it’s important to bring only those whose opinions you trust and who encourage you to find the dress that makes you feel the most beautiful. Oh, and be sure to bring along the person with the purse.

4. Have an open mind

So, you’ve probably been adding photos to your wedding dress Pinterest board for the last 6 years. That’s ok! In fact, you should do some research on different styles and fabrics before your first appointment. However, it’s equally as important that you go into each appointment with an open mind. It’s not uncommon to fall in love with a dress that you never imagined even trying on!

5. Don’t be afraid to say “yes!”

There’s a good chance you’ll be able to find a dress you love at every bridal salon you waltz into. That being said, it’s okay to find “the one” at your very first appointment! Don’t think you need to try on every gown in the city before you can decide. It’s actually pretty common for brides to purchase one of the first dresses they try on when working with an experienced bridal consultant.

So, when you find a gown you love, stop looking and say, “YES!”

Alyssa Hall is the Social Media Manager for Bustle. Bustle is a bridal salon nestled in Homewood, Alabama providing a high-end shopping experience to style-savvy brides on a budget. Bustle specializes in designer sample wedding gowns straight off the rack. Visit Bustle’s website to learn more!

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