by Elizabeth Mitchell, BRIDES
Photo: Courtesy of CNP Montrose
Just because you don't cry definitely doesn't mean you shouldn't buy, but there are some other pretty important reasons for why you may want to walk away from that wedding gown you're thinking about to purchasing. From feeling the pressure of friends and family to cutting it way too close to your actual budget, here are six signs you shouldn't say yes to the dress.
1. It's at the top of your budget.
Kleinfeld Fashion Director Terry Hall says he sees a lot of brides come into the salon with a budget that isn't exactly realistic. "They forget a lot of other costs that go along with the dress, such as taxes and alterations, which can eat up a significant chunk of their budget depending on how extensive they are." If there's something you'd like to change about a particular dress, it's best to do your homework and find out how much those alterations will cost first.
2. It requires major changes.
And you know you're not the type who can easily visualize what those changes will look like via an in-store mock up and/or photos. "Major alterations are always a little risky because the image you have in your mind may not completely match up with the one in the consultant's," explains Hall. With that said, some brides are comfortable with visualizing and everything turns out fine. If you just can't picture it though, then it's definitely not something you want to chance.
3. Everyone else is pressuring you to buy it.
But do you? This is the question you have to ask yourself. "If it doesn't feel like you, you're uncomfortable in it or a person is pressuring you to purchase it, walk away," urges Hall. Take at least 24 hours to mull it over and then make your final decision.
4. It's on sale for a great price.
You know what they say: if you wouldn't buy it full price, don't buy it on sale. While getting a great deal on a wedding dress may make you feel good in the moment, it could cost you more money (and heartache) than it's really worth down the line, warns Hall. "I constantly have brides coming in that bought a dress on sale but eventually realized it's not what they want for their wedding so now they have to buy a second one," he tells us.
5. It's the wrong size.
Don't count on losing weight to squeeze into a wedding dress (or any dress for that matter)! "The entire engagement period is a very emotional and unique experience, and the bride will be in unfamiliar territory so her weight may fluctuate," notes Hall. Now, if a dress is only an inch or so off in either direction, you're safe, he says. "Consider silhouette and fabrication, however, and remember that it's always easier to take a dress in than it is out."
6. It isn't weather appropriate.
Hall highly recommends dressing for the climate you'll be getting married in. For example, a beautiful linen ball gown, while unconventional for a beach wedding, would work in a warm climate. A heavy satin one, on the other hand? Not so much.
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