A bride’s appointment to pick out her wedding dress is full of excitement, fun, and, in the best cases, happy tears!
It’s so sweet to see each bride feel supported, loved, and encouraged by their entourage by giving all the “oh”s and “ah”s to each dress the bride puts on - making her feel like a million bucks, no matter what dress she chooses.
However, whether you are apart of a big, excited entourage or you are flying solo as a supportive mother or friend - there are some ground rules EVERYONE should follow. While we aim to make every bridal appointment a magical experience, all our efforts can certainly be thwarted by a family member or friend who does not follow the bridal appointment entourage rules.
1) Remember, it's her day!
This is the golden rule of being in a bridal entourage. This may seem obvious, but the bride should bring along a couple of friends or family members whose opinions they trust to their appointments (those people make great dress-shopping companions).
Leave the Debbie Downers at home, even if they happen to be related to you. And don't feel badly about it! Many salons limit the number of guests you can bring, which could be a good excuse for not inviting someone along.
It’s very disheartening to see members of the entourage trying to take the spotlight off the bride, share their unwanted opinions, or be anything but kind and encouraging to the bride.
To be fair, most friends or family members have no idea they are causing a problem or making the appointment difficult for the bride. So, here's a few tricks that will keep you from the embarrassment of tripping into the bride’s spotlight:
Share your opinion sparingly. When sharing your opinion, be honest, but kind. There is a kind way to say everything, so think before you speak.
Ask the bride questions about how she feels in a dress.
AND lastly... do not ask to try on a dress yourself. You think I’m kidding but this happens.
2) Make the appointment fun for the bride!
This is the real reason why the bride invited you to her appointment - to make this a memorable experience and help the bride find her dream dress. There is no reason to overthink your role. It is not your responsibility to find the perfect dress, that is the bride’s decision.
Here are a few ways you can make wedding dress shopping more fun for the bride:
Ensure the bride is fed. Shopping can be torture, especially if you are hungry. Bring little snacks and water with you just in case the bride starts to get hangry [irritable as a result of hunger].
Take photos! We encourage the bride tribe to capture all the moments of a bridal appointment. Photos can be used as a great way for brides to compare dresses and make a decision.
This is a special experience for the bride, so strike a pose and don't forget to tag us in your photos for us to see ;)
Encourage the bride. Your bride may feel a bit self-conscious about being the center of attention, so be sure to give her lots of affirmation. We relate the feeling the bride can sometimes get when she stands on the stage to everyone singing 'Happy Birthday' to the bride - an uncomfortable moment when all eyes on the bride.
Pop the champagne! We offer a complimentary champagne toast when our brides say “𝐢 𝐝𝐨... 𝐢 𝐝𝐨...” to their dream dress because finding a wedding dress is certainly a special occasion worthy of a glass of bubbly! Make sure to raise a toast to the bride and celebrate with her when she says YES to her DRESS!
3) Ask the bride questions.
Instead of sharing your own opinion right out of the dressing room, help the bride determine her own opinion of each dress by asking her questions such as:
“How do you feel in this dress?”
“Which dress did you feel most beautiful in?”
“What would you rate this dress on a scale of 1-10?”
“Could you see this dress at your venue / in your wedding day setting?”
“Does this dress make you feel comfortable?”
“How would you feel seeing this dress in your wedding photos?”
“Could you see yourself getting married in this dress?”
3) HAVE FUN, she's getting married!
As long as you follow these rules, you and your bride are going to have the best bridal appointment ever! Take the pressure off and just enjoy the time with your best friend, daughter, sister, or whatever the bride may be to you. This is an exciting season and we hope that each bride and her tribe soak up every second of it!