Exactly Who Should Go With You to Shop for Your Wedding Gown!
It’s official, you’re engaged–yay! Now it’s time to start shopping for your wedding gown! Before you start scheduling your appointments, you should decide who you want to bring with you. Going gown shopping is super exciting and it can be tempting to share that experience with everyone on your side of the bridal party. While this may sound great in theory, it’s difficult to execute and can potentially add more stress to an already stressful, albeit happy, time. We recommend limiting your gown shopping entourage to three people max.
Stephanie Brauer
Now that you know how many to bring, let’s talk who. If you’re going to invite anyone from your bridal party, the first obvious choice is your MOH. She’s the best of your besties and she probably knows your style better than anyone else.
1. Maid of Honor
Now that you know how many to bring, let’s talk who. If you’re going to invite anyone from your bridal party, the first obvious choice is your MOH. She’s the best of your besties and she probably knows your style better than anyone else.
Ashley Boyan Photography
Chances are your parents have been dreaming of your wedding for a while now–maybe even longer than you have. There is no doubt that they're an obvious choice to bring with you to go gown shopping; and yes, they are probably expecting an invite–especially the MOB. While you want to make your parents happy, sometimes our closest relationships are the most tumultuous. If you and your parents argue a lot or if they have a tendency to push all of your buttons, they might not be the ideal shopping partners for this part of the wedding planning process…and that’s okay! If you decide not to bring your parents or any other close family members gown shopping, try to select a different activity (one that’s a little less fraught with emotional landmines) that you all can do together so they feel included.
2. Parents or Close Family Members
Chances are your parents have been dreaming of your wedding for a while now–maybe even longer than you have. There is no doubt that they're an obvious choice to bring with you to go gown shopping; and yes, they are probably expecting an invite–especially the MOB. While you want to make your parents happy, sometimes our closest relationships are the most tumultuous. If you and your parents argue a lot or if they have a tendency to push all of your buttons, they might not be the ideal shopping partners for this part of the wedding planning process…and that’s okay! If you decide not to bring your parents or any other close family members gown shopping, try to select a different activity (one that’s a little less fraught with emotional landmines) that you all can do together so they feel included.
Sposto Photography
If you have a traditional bridal party, your bridesmaids are the next natural choice. This is where things get a little tricky–it really depends on how many bridesmaids you have and where they live. If you have a large bridal party, we recommend shying away from inviting everyone to go gown shopping. That being said, you don’t want anyone feeling left out if they don’t get an invite. If one or two of your bridesmaids lives in your town, then it’s safe to invite them, but try to avoid posting a ton of pics on social media. You want to have fun, but you don’t want to alienate any of your other bridesmaids in the process. Also, try to be mindful of the fact that your bridal party will likely be traveling a lot for your wedding. If you do want your bridesmaids to go gown shopping with you, maybe schedule your appointments for the same weekend as your bridal shower or bachelorette party to save them a trip.
3. Bridesmaids
If you have a traditional bridal party, your bridesmaids are the next natural choice. This is where things get a little tricky–it really depends on how many bridesmaids you have and where they live. If you have a large bridal party, we recommend shying away from inviting everyone to go gown shopping. That being said, you don’t want anyone feeling left out if they don’t get an invite. If one or two of your bridesmaids lives in your town, then it’s safe to invite them, but try to avoid posting a ton of pics on social media. You want to have fun, but you don’t want to alienate any of your other bridesmaids in the process. Also, try to be mindful of the fact that your bridal party will likely be traveling a lot for your wedding. If you do want your bridesmaids to go gown shopping with you, maybe schedule your appointments for the same weekend as your bridal shower or bachelorette party to save them a trip.
Brett Hickman Photographers
These days, it’s not uncommon for each of your bridesmaids to live in a different state…maybe even a different country. If your bridesmaids aren’t local and you feel uncomfortable asking them to travel just to go shopping, consider your local friends. Is there a friend (preferably a friend who is invited to the wedding) that you regularly go shopping with? Invite them!
4. Local Friends
These days, it’s not uncommon for each of your bridesmaids to live in a different state…maybe even a different country. If your bridesmaids aren’t local and you feel uncomfortable asking them to travel just to go shopping, consider your local friends. Is there a friend (preferably a friend who is invited to the wedding) that you regularly go shopping with? Invite them!
Luna de Mare Photography
It’s also totally okay to go shopping alone if that’s what makes you the most comfortable! Though shopping for your wedding gown is quite different than your average stroll through the mall, we recommend doing what you usually do. When it comes to shopping, do you hunt in a pack with your friends, or do you fly solo? Some brides feel guilty about not sharing the experience with friends or family–don’t! They will understand. If anyone is bummed that they didn’t get to go shopping with you, you can always invite them to your gown pick up appointment or fitting!
5. It’s Okay to Fly Solo
It’s also totally okay to go shopping alone if that’s what makes you the most comfortable! Though shopping for your wedding gown is quite different than your average stroll through the mall, we recommend doing what you usually do. When it comes to shopping, do you hunt in a pack with your friends, or do you fly solo? Some brides feel guilty about not sharing the experience with friends or family–don’t! They will understand. If anyone is bummed that they didn’t get to go shopping with you, you can always invite them to your gown pick up appointment or fitting!
Les Anagnou Photographers
Whoever you decide to bring, make sure that they are supportive and not overly opinionated. It’s great to have honest opinions if you need help deciding, but at the end of the day, what you think and what you like are the only things that matter. We’ve all heard those cringe-worthy stories where the friend or relative makes the appointment all about them. Shopping for a wedding gown can bring up a lot of emotions, good and bad. You want someone that can help you stay focused and bring you up if you feel yourself getting down–someone that’s on your side!
Whoever you decide to bring, make sure that they are supportive and not overly opinionated. It’s great to have honest opinions if you need help deciding, but at the end of the day, what you think and what you like are the only things that matter. We’ve all heard those cringe-worthy stories where the friend or relative makes the appointment all about them. Shopping for a wedding gown can bring up a lot of emotions, good and bad. You want someone that can help you stay focused and bring you up if you feel yourself getting down–someone that’s on your side!