Shopping for a wedding dress

Just like shopping for a prom dress, this is something every mother has looked forward to since she found out she was having a girl!   You are hoping for the perfect mother / daughter shopping day.  Here are some suggestions:

1.    Beware that she will invite some bridesmaids, friends, etc.  Do not fret, this will take some of the stress off you.  The pressure to answer the question, “What do you think” will now be a shared answer.

2.     Make sure the dress shop and your daughter know what your budget is.  This will avoid the dress shop personnel from putting her in a $10,000 wedding gown.  There is a big difference in the quality of wedding dresses.

3.    Watch her face when she comes out of the dressing room and stands in front of the mirror.  If she is glowing, tell her “You look beautiful”.  If her face shows lack of interest then say “What do you think”.  Never, ever give your gut reaction before you hear her feelings on the dress.

4.    If you see something you do not like, maybe you could say “What do you think of the way the dress ties in the back”.  It will make her look there and maybe see the dilemma.  Again, never tell her “The back of the dress is awful”.

5.     My daughter’s gown has taken almost 5 months to come in.  Make sure you shop early.

6.     This is one of the most personal decisions your daughter is ever going to make.  Let her make it.  Even it you wanted her to have the Cinderella gown (I kind of did), she may want the traditional look or something very plain.  

7.     And “Remember whose day it is…………..”

PS:  Last of all, just a piece of “owner of a wedding business” advice.  Always check how the dress bustles.  French bustling holds up better than American bustling (they tend to break).  She will spend more time in a bustled gown than not.   Make sure  she can move around easily, dance, sit in the dress, and head to the ladies room without major dress adjustment.