dress shopping 101

The wedding dress is a big factor in a girl's wedding. Back in Manila, when a bride is preparing for her wedding, she usually starts by browsing at wedding sites and magazines for the gown inspiration. She then search for a couturier which fits the budget and her style. An appointment is set with the couturier, they exchange ideas on how she want to look on her BIG day, then the couturier starts sketching. They make some changes, consult with the bride and the start creating the dress. There are more or less 2-3 fittings before the final dress is made.

Here in the US, there are several options on how and where to buy the wedding dress. I got this article from BRIDES magazine, July-August 2009 issue and thought it can help someone as it did help me.

Full Service Salons

Pros. The classic place to find the perfect frock, a full service salon offers a comprehensive experience that includes a consultation to determine what styles you like, a bridal pro choosing gowns for you to try, and at least two fittings. Bonus: All alterations are done in-house. Your dress will arrive on time, in pristine condition and fits perfectly. Be sure to call ahead, since most salons take customers by appointment only.
Cons. Dresses come in sample sizes; you may have to judge how a gown looks on you without seeing it zipped in back. And you'll wait several months for delivery.
Keep in Mind. Shopping for your wedding dress at a salon and having it fitted to your body is a magical experience, so if you can, embrace the VIP treatment
My Take. There is a show in TLC, "Say Yes To The Dress" wherein they show what happens inside Kleinfeld, a prestigious bridal salon in NYC. It shows viewers the bridal pros and the brides and how they search for the one perfect dress. It's a fun and informative show, letting on inside the world of wedding madness.

Mass Market RetailerPros. These bridal emporiums (including national chains like David's Bridal) have all sizes, styles and price point below $1, 200 hanging from their racks. No appointment necessary, and you won't have to wait for delivery - you can walk in and walk out with your dream dress the same day. Most have alteration departments.
Cons. Brides who are in the market for a one-of-a-kind design will be disappointed. Ready-to-wear dresses are machine-made and mass-produced.
Keep in Mind. Even though these outposts take walk-ins, making an appointment is the best way to ensure that you'll get personalized service.
My Take. I'll definitely go to a David's Bridal shop and try on dresses. I've already found dresses that I love (previous posts) and since we're getting married in Manila, they will still be considered as one-of-a-kind! :)

Online
Pros. For fuss-free girls looking for something simple, ordering online may be the way to go. Some sites, like J. Crew, have amazing customer service, so it's easy to click your way to a wonderful gown.
Cons. Unless you're prepared to pay for multiple gowns - and then fork our more cash to mail back the ones you're not crazy about - chances are you'll try on only one dress. Where's the fun in that? And if you don't like that dress, you'll have to start the process all over again.
Keep in Mind. We've heard about Web sites that offer "factory-direct designer dresses" at greatly reduced prices. Be careful: They could be scams, and you could end up with a gown of inferior fabric and faulty designs. Look for the words "authorized dealer" on a Web site to increase your chances of getting an authentic dress.
My Take. This absolutely take the fun and excitement of finding the wedding dress. One of the wedding preparations experience that I look forward to is choosing dresses, trying them on and choosing The One dress.

Trunk Show

Pros. These fashion events are usually held to a department store or at a bridal salon. Here's your chance to see a designer's entire collection and try on the styles afterward. A representative from the line (or the designer herself) is often on hand to answer questions.
Cons. Trunk shows move from city to city, and the scheduling can be unpredictable; they also travel light, with only one sample size of each dress.
Keep in Mind. Always check designer's Web site or your local department store.
My Take. Designer dresses are those that usually do Trunk shows. Mighty expensive dresses!! Some dresses costs the same as our whole wedding budget! Unbelievable.