From The Straits Times    |


Photo: Her World Brides June 2015. Dress: Digio Bridal. Photography: Jasper Yu, assisted by Angela Guo. Styling: Michelle Lee, assisted by Cheryl Ong. Hair & makeup: Joseph Ng Makeup / HP 8139-0582, using Laura Mercier. Model: Brianna Garcia/Mannequin. Location: Orchid Villa at One Farrer Hotel & Spa.

Shopping for your wedding dress can be a fun experience, but it can also get stressful, depending on what you do.

One of the first things to note, is to shop with as little people as possible. Think a team of about two to three trusted advisors who know your taste and style, and will know what you look best in. If you’re confident about picking the right dress on your own, here are other reasons why shopping alone might be the best option for you.

But I digress. 

Here are a list of items to bring to your first bridal appointment and subsequent fittings. Trust us, these will make your dress shopping experience as quick and painless as possible.

1. Tear sheets or examples
If you’ve read our real brides’ dress shopping tips, you’ll know that bringing examples to your first appointment is really important.

Not only will this give your consultant a much clearer idea on what you hope your dress will look like, it’ll help him or her pick the right dresses (which means you won’t waste time trying styles you don’t like), or advice you on whether it’ll work for your body shape or not. Also, tear sheets are a great way to show what you mean quickly. You don’t even need to literally tear pages out of magazines (although you can do so if you want to). With most mobile phones having camera functions these days, you really have no excuse, especially when it’s so easy to snap pictures in magazines, save pins from Pinterest, or even take pictures from bridal storefronts you happened to come across.

 

2. Nude or seamless underwear
Whether your eventual dress comes padded or not, it’s always a good idea to bring underwear you may wear on your big day. This will help you better envision your final look, and to determine whether the dress really fits or not. (See our tips on shopping for your bridal lingerie). 

Some salons may provide seamless underwear for you to try on, but if you’re uncomfortable with that, it’s best to bring your own.

 

3. Shoes
You don’t have to decide on your wedding shoes early on, but it’s good to bring a pair that has a similar height to what you have in mind, to the fitting. This again, will help you envision the final look, and once you’ve decided on your dress, it’s easier for your consultant or seamstress to know how much fabric to take off for the final length.

See also: 9 HELPFUL TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING SHOES

 

4. A few close friends or family members
As mentioned above, we’d recommend you shop with a small team of people who you trust, just so you get a second opinion (or third). But do remember: the more people you bring, the more confused (and upset) you may get, as everyone will have an opinion about how your dress should be. If you can’t take that stress, it might be better to shop alone, or head to your first appointment alone, and ask your bridesmaids or relatives to join you during the subsequent sessions.

 

5. A hair tie or clip
Make changing dresses that much easier by tying your hair up. You’ll want to see the details and neckline of your dress clearly as well. If you want to see how you look with your hair down, you can easily remove the tie anyway.

See also: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CELEBRITY WEDDING DRESSES OF 2018