Wedding Dresses and Making Plans: The Timeline Every Bride Needs!

When to start wedding dress shopping in Cornwall?

Hi ladies! Congratulations on your recent engagement! If this is your first time visiting the Bridal Gossip blog, you’re probably itching to get started with your wedding dress journey. But you’re maybe a little overwhelmed thinking about where to start?

Timing can be essential when it comes to wedding dress shopping, especially in Cornwall which is one of the UK’s most popular wedding destinations and busy with plans,, venues and dress shopping the whole year round. So, how do you know where to start? When do you find out how long dresses take to come in, when to buy your wedding dress, or where to start your search. So many questions, and we haven’t even thought what happens during the bridal appointment itself.

Shopping for a wedding dress is one of the most fun wedding planning to-dos on the list, but it’s not uncommon for brides to get a little overwhelmed by the process. Well, consider all your worrying over – from your first bridal boutique appointment to your final dress alteration, here's everything you need to know about how and when to start wedding dress shopping in Cornwall.

12 Months to Go

Set Your Wedding Dress Budget

After setting the budget for your wedding, decide how much of that will be spent on your wedding dress. In addition to the cost of the dress, make sure you allow for on alterations and any bespoke details you’re hoping for. Talk about these costs during your fitting appointments when you’re searching for your dress and if you need to do a rush order then leave a little extra if that's chargeable. Don't forget to set aside part of that budget for accessories like your shoes, veil, and jewellery.

Do Your Research

Before you start wedding dress shopping, think about what style you're looking for or what you are not! If you have chosen your venue it can be super-helpful in narrowing down your ideal look before you look for a wedding dress. If you're having a coastal wedding in Cornwall or another beautiful destination, you will probably want a soft, unfussy gown. Getting married at a private estate? A formal ball gown could be the dress style for you. City-break weddings are showing up more and more in our fitting-room conversations, so you may want to check out some of the chic separates that match this vibe really well.

Also, find out what best suits your body shape. Spend time looking through pictures of wedding dresses online, on Instagram, Pinterest, and in magazines, and save your favourite styles. While plenty of research can help narrow down your options, keep an open mind. An experienced bridal consultant will help you find the right dress for your budget and body type – and the style of dress you end up loving might even surprise you by being far away from your first ideas.

Choose Your Shopping Buddies!

Deciding who to bring with you can be a tricky decision. Bring your trusted family and friends when you’re shopping for your wedding dress shopping in Cornwall, but limit your entourage to two or three people. Too many opinions can make your dress shopping experience unnecessarily confusing. 

Start Dress Shopping

There’s a reason for starting wedding dress shopping early: You’re not actually buying off the rack, so your wedding dress is essentially custom-made for you. This means it can take months of work to create and a series of alterations to fit your body perfectly. Schedule your appointments early since bridal boutiques in Cornwall can get booked up fast. Before you go wedding dress shopping, find photos of wedding dresses in Cornwall you like so the boutique will be better equipped to help you when you arrive for your appointment. 

8 Months to Go

Buy Your Wedding Dress

Now timelines can vary between brides so use this guide how you wish, however, the 8-month mark is a good time to make a final decision and place the order. You’ll know it’s “the one” when you don’t want to take it off! When you buy your wedding dress, you’ll have to sign a contract and put down a deposit, which is usually about 50 percent of the price of the gown. This is because your one-of-a-kind dress takes manpower to create, so designers need a down payment to start production. Before you sign the contract, make sure all the information is correct. Ask at the bridal boutique when they expect your gown to arrive. On average it’s 12 to 20 weeks from the day you place your order.

5 Months to Go

Shop for Your Undergarments

Get your under-the-dress essentials before your first fitting. Whether you’re planning on wearing a strapless bra, slipping into a body-slimming shaper, or going braless, the slightest switch in your undergarments can change the fit of your dress.

Choose Your Accessories

It’s also time to find your accessories so you can plan your entire look, from head to toe, when you have your wedding dress fitting. Take the height of your heel into consideration. You’ll be on your feet for most of the day, so make sure your toes can handle it. If you’re looking for fun alternatives to traditional wedding heels, look for classic flats or modern sneakers.

3 Months to Go

Have Your First Fitting

You'll most likely have three fittings to get your dress altered to fit you perfectly. It’s important to get the timing of each alteration appointment right. Have your fittings too early and you may end up with a dress that doesn’t fit properly – you may lose or gain weight after your wedding dress is altered. Bring your gown in too late and you won’t have enough time to make all the alterations. 

Most wedding dresses will need at least some sort of alteration, and while some boutiques charge a fixed price, others charge per item or work with an independent seamstress. The costs can range from £120 for a simple hem to more for major adjustments and bespoke designs. And remember: Don’t bring just your gown – you’ll need your undergarments, shoes, and accessories as well. Your undergarments and shoes will help determine the fit and length of your gown, and trying on your hair accessories or veil with your dress will give you an idea of how you’ll look on the actual day. If you don’t have the exact shoe you’ll be wearing, bring something similar in height. Remember: Your dress should just barely sweep the floor – any longer and you risk tripping on the fabric.

6 to 8 Weeks to Go

Decide on Your “Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue”

If you want to include these sweet traditions, you may want to have them before your final fitting. For instance, if you’re planning to sew a blue ribbon or keepsake pocket to the inside of your dress, you can ask your seamstress to do it while she’s making your other alterations.

Have Your Second Fitting

The second fitting is your chance to make smaller tweaks to your wedding dress, like taking in the bodice a bit of perfecting the hem length. During this fitting, you’ll also want to make sure there’s no obvious wrinkling, bunching, or pulling anywhere. Move around the boutique in your gown and practice some dance moves in your shoes! This will help you test that the fit is right and comfortable so you can easily get around (and breathe without feeling like you may split a seam). You’ll be wearing your dress for 8 to 12 hours on your wedding day, so it has to feel good.

2 to 3 Weeks to Go

Practice Walking in Your Shoes

There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable in your shoes! Strut around in your wedding shoes at home to make sure they aren’t too high or too stiff. This way, you’ll have enough time to break them in or change them.

Have Your Final Fitting

You may want to have a box of tissues on hand for this final trip to the seamstress. This is where you’ll get to see your dress as it will look when you walk down the aisle. Bring at least one family member or friend to share this special moment with, and so you have someone there to learn how to create the atmosphere. Once your gown is ready, you’ll need to find a place to store it where your fiancé can’t sneak a peek!

1 Day to Go

Be prepared

Make sure you have all of the parts of your outfit in one place. Everything from your gown and veil to your jewellery and shoes should go together, especially if you’re switching venues after your makeup and hair are done.

Happy Wedding Day!

Have a Blast! Make sure you enjoy every minute of feeling utterly gorgeous! 

There you have it, ladies! Your Wedding Dress Shopping in Cornwall, The 12 month Timeline Every Bride Should Know! I hope this helps and guides you through your wedding dress journey. For more information on wedding dress shopping head the blog and read https://www.bridalgossip.co.uk/blog/top-tips-for-wedding-dress-shopping 

Remember to enjoy this experience! I promise you are going to love it!