Image credits: Photography: Mike Semple / Styling: PS. I Love you / Hair and Makeup: Diane Robertson / Gown: Georgia Young Couture
For most brides, choosing a wedding dress is one of the most important parts of the entire wedding planning process. Lets be honest, you have most likely been envisaging your wedding dress for years prior to even getting engaged (secret Pinterest boards, anyone?!) but actually choosing that dress is a whole new experience. We are so lucky to be surrounded by an abundance of amazing dress designers these days, but it does mean it has become pretty overwhelming when it comes to finding that dream dress. We recently spoke to our talented friend Georgia from one of our favourite labels Georgia Young Couture for some insider knowledge and wise words of advice when it comes to the top 5 tips for choosing the perfect wedding dress!
Leaving your dress until just a few months before the day doesn’t give you much room for error with things like wait times and alterations. But choosing a dress too far in advance can leave a lot of time for your tastes to change and for those doubts to start creeping up closer to the day. So what’s the magic number?
Georgia: ‘It’s best to start looking 12 months out from your wedding. The 12 months notice is so we can organise all fabrics and make sure they are ordered well before the process starts. At this stage we only offer custom made Couture gowns, so there’s a lot more involved than just selecting a ready made gown. There’s also a limit to how many gowns we can do each season, so leaving it later may result in being turned away. Some people don’t have the luxury of this time frame and that’s okay, but this is what we prefer to work with’
Image credits: Photography: Mel Carrero / Hair and Makeup: Luciana Rose / Model: Shannikah Doherty / Gown: Georgia Young Couture
Make the decision process much easier by doing your research and collating inspiration prior to booking an appointment at a boutique. Having at least some ideas or a vision in mind of the kind of dress style you are searching for will be so helpful for dress designers or boutique consultants to make recommendations for you. Even if you don’t have an exact look in mind, think about some adjectives that can help describe the style you are envisaging – for example, a relaxed and bohemian look, or something more glamorous and modern.
Many wedding vendors have their own Pinterest board dedicated purely to wedding gowns and bridal looks which can be a great starting point – and make the most of social media by browsing different designer accounts.
Georgia: ‘ For a consult, sometimes it helps if people can tell me a little about their wedding and their current ideas for the gown. It helps create a visual and points me in the right direction. As a consumer looking for inspiration I would recommend getting onto Instagram. @ivorytribe @andthebridewore @whitemagazine are some of my favourites for lots of fabulous wedding inspiration!’
Image credits: Photography: Mike Semple / Styling: PS. I Love you / Hair and Makeup: Diane Robertson / Gown: Georgia Young Couture
Try not to get a particular dress stuck in your mind as the chosen one before you have had a chance to explore any other options. By keeping an open mind and visiting a few different places, you can feel extra confident that you have made the right decision when you do find that perfect gown.
Georgia: ‘Book an appointment at a few bridal shops and pick designers that you love and like their style. Try on a lot of gowns, you will start to narrow down ideas straight away. Don’t expect to find something overnight, allow yourself some time to think it all over before booking.’
And as for current trends to look out for – ‘Strong white is back in and I’m loving the freshness of it. It’s not the best colour choice for everyone, but when your colouring is right, it looks phenomenal. Larger structural skirts are coming back in too!’
Image credits: Photography: Mel Carrero / Hair and Makeup: Luciana Rose / Model: Shannikah Doherty / Gown: Georgia Young Couture
If you have a set budget in mind for your dress from the beginning you can narrow down designers pretty quickly by only contacting those who you know your budget will allow for. When it comes to your budget, don’t forget about the costs of any accessories you want to include too like a veil. If you are unsure about how much to allow for extras such as alterations or fittings, just ask your designer. As a guide, Georgia’s prices start at $4,100 including all fittings, labour, fabrics and GST.
Image credits: Photography: Mike Semple / Styling: PS. I Love you / Hair and Makeup: Diane Robertson / Gown: Georgia Young Couture
Finally and most importantly – be true to yourself! Throughout the process of choosing your wedding dress there will be countless suggestions and opinions thrown at you by family and friends – although they are coming from a good place, don’t forget that this is your wedding and you should be completely true to yourself and your own style. Choose a dress that makes you feel beautiful and don’t worry if it doesn’t get the tick of approval from others.
A huge thank you to Georgia for her valuable insight! You can view Georgia’s latest collection here.
Let’s dive right into the heart of making your next corporate event a standout – picking the perfect theme! Think of it as setting the
Let’s be honest – planning a wedding can feel pretty overwhelming. From choosing the perfect venue to creating your guest list and managing your budget,
Wedding Venues Gold Coast Currently hunting for the perfect Gold Coast wedding venue? From lush hinterland homes to unique beachfront settings, there are endless beautiful
