How far in advance should i buy my wedding dress?

Question

I'm getting married on 26/07/09 (a year today woo hoo!!!) and am unsure how much time i will need to buy my wedding dress. I am intending to go in the October half term holidays so it will be about 9 months before the wedding. Will this be enough time, i will also need to get bridesmaids dresses after this? Or should i start shopping sooner?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I planned my wedding six months in advance and had no trouble at all getting the dresses. Nine months will be plenty of time.

Answer 2

I got my dress a year before my wedding!

Actually, I got the dress the same week we booked the date

Answer 3

If you need to order it, you need to do so 8 months in advance.  This will ensure enough time for it to come in, and do all the necessary alterations on the dress.  If you find one in a store that fits, you should allow at least 4 months..

I would start shoppping ASAP though, because you want to know what's out there so when it comes time to buy it, you know you have the best one out there.

Here's mine by the way.http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?...

Answer 4

it depends how many people are attending and whether you will want to have a dress customised a lot.

i got married within a month of proposing and my wife purchased it the last couple of weeks but then we only had a very small wedding with no bridesmaids etc.

Answer 5

its never too early to start looking. im getting married in dec of 09 and already have a lot finished already. i know that the closer i get to the big day the more stressed im going to be, so the more that is done the less stress to deal with. plus you do back for fittings the closer you get to make sure that everything fits good. good luck!

Answer 6

I am getting married 6th June next year and plan to get my wedding dress in Oct/Nov. After christmas I will concentrate on the bridesmaids but right now I am looking at headdresses and tiaras and bouquets.

I dont want to be stressed out and I want at least a month in front of my wedding day to just chill out and do NOTHING, cant believe its moving so quickly.

Good luck to everyone next year on their big day !!!!!!

Answer 7

start window shopping now but do not order a dress until six months before and bridesmaid dresses do not get them yet because you have to worry about fittin your bridesmaids in nine months and new collections come out in about febuary

Answer 8

In Australia it takes 6 months to order a dress. If you buy floor stock, you get it heavily discounted and can take it home with you straightaway. But it is recommended you get a size that is no bigger than 2 sizes above your actual size. Also it might take you a few weeks to actually find a dress that you like and according to your budget. Then you need to allow time for alterations (there are many fittings). Alterations could take 1~2 months. Then if you need to have it dry-cleaned or steamed, allow 2~4 weeks for that. Also you might need to have your spare fabric or so dry cleaned so you could take it to match your groom's tie or clothing, so allow time for that. Bridesmaid's dresses can be shopped for anytime after you've bought your own dress (just allow time for alterations).

So October isn't too early. It is recommended though you don't get your dress altered too early in case your body shape changes, but by all means, get your dress early so it is one more thing out of the way.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

Depends on whether you want off the rack or custom.  Also depends on whether you can maintain your current weight.  I could go today and buy a dress off the rack in most sizes.  I could save some money if I could wait for a sale.  However, I'm making my own dress, and that is in process now for December wedding.

Answer 10

I was told by quite a few local wedding dress shops to get it 11 months before the wedding, which in my case was early February this year.  I agonised over choosing THE ONE, took ages looking, and chose one late February.  It was ordered then, and it came early May, waaaaaaaaaay too early, I could have left it till quite a bit later without the panic!  I am pleased with my dress though, and am glad I've got it now, but I needn't have worried.  9 months before the wedding would have been more than enough time!  Good luck with choosing your dress!

Answer 11

That is perfect timing. I bought my dress about 9 months before the wedding. Make sure you try on a lot before making a final decision! I think I finally picked bridesmaides dresses about 5-6 months before the wedding. That was the hardest part for me. Congrats and have fun!

Answer 12

Well my wedding is next october 9, and I bought mine yesterday. It was exactly what I wanted, and they probably won't be selling it anymore by then. Plus, they had one year no interest payments, so it gave my mom time to pay on it each month, rather then all at once toward the end. But I know my size won't be changing, and if that is a problem for you then maybe you should wait, but to me too soon is never too soon lol

Answer 13

I agree with much of what Lilliana says. I think you have plenty of time to get it from October. You can however be on the lookout for some and get an idea of styles and prices etc. No harm. I intend either hiring mine or buying it second hand for the day. we are having a small wedding and a small budget and I just don't believe in spending thousands on a dress for one day. We will only start arranging things about 7 months in advance. We have friends who can do some things for us as favours, e.g. photography, rings, discount on reception. I intend asking my sister to choose and get her own bridesmaid dress, to her liking. I will tell her the colour and suggest a style, but respect her choice. She can then bill me. That way, she can have something she likes and can wear again and a bit of the pressure will be off me. Have fun with your arrangements.