How to Decide Between Two Wedding Dresses
by Elizabeth Mitchell, BRIDES
Photo: Getty Images
Before you embarked on any wedding-dress shopping adventure your biggest fear was being able to find “the one.” So what do you do when you find two (yes, two!) wedding dresses you’re totally head over heels for and that are both within your budget? Aside from asking mom and a few friends to weigh in (which definitely isn’t a bad idea), here are some other strategies you may not have considered, courtesy of Weddington WayCEO Ilana Stern, that’ll help you make up your mind.
1. Take some pictures
And not just to see how hot you look in each dress! Instead, put the photos side by side and take a peek at your face, suggests Stern. “Are you smiling? Which dress do you look more excited to be in? Which dress do you look genuinely happy in? You may not realize it as you are trying it on, but in pictures your face and body language is often very telling of the dress that you love the most,” she says.
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2. Leave your crew at home
While it’s great to get your loved ones’ opinions, sometimes they can do more harm than good when it comes to making the final decision. To avoid caving in to peer pressure and getting talked into a dress you may ultimately wind up regretting, Stern recommends making a solo visit to the bridal boutique to try on your favorite two one last time. “No outside influences, no opinions, just you and the dress of your dreams.” Then, ask yourself which one you like the best.
3. Consider your husband-to-be
Of course you want to buy your dream dress, not his, however, if you’re stuck between two fab options, then a good deciding factor could be thinking about your hubby-to-be and the one he’d really like, offers Stern. His jaw would drop if you wore either gown (naturally), but is there one that you think takes the cake? “This is a special time for the both of you, so while he may not be directly involved in this particular decision, keep him in mind as you’re making it,” she advises.
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4. Ask yourself which one is more you
"A lot of times, it’s easy to get caught up in going for a certain ‘look’ that you’ve seen on your favorite celebrities or on Pinterest," warns Stern. You want to feel like yourself on your big day — not someone else.
5. Think about the full vision
If you’re planning on having a low-key bohemian affair or a beach wedding, a princess ball gown, no matter how gorgeous it is, may not be the right choice for you. To help you decide, think about the full vision, from the veil to the jewelry to what the bridal party will wear to the overall theme and event itself, suggests Stern.
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