#237 Wedding Dress Shopping Do's and Don'ts

You have been asking for an episode like this for a while and we finally did it! This is EVERYTHING you need to know when going wedding dress shopping. Who to bring, who NOT to bring. How to choose a boutique. What to expect from a sales person at the boutique and and how everyone’s experience is deeply personal and unique. Our guest Maya Holihan has been a wedding dress expert since 2004.

Maya Holihan has spent nearly the entirety of her 25-year career in the luxury goods industry, which began with Gianni Versace and then Vera Wang, before purchasing her first bridal shop in 2004. Prior to founding EWedded she was the proprietor of multiple bridal businesses. She’s the author of a new book for brides-to-be titled Happily Altered After and hosts a podcast with the same name and converses with industry experts about wedding trends and the nuances of the planning process.

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Big Takeaways

Don’t try on dresses until you are ready to buy a dress! You might fall in love, so be ready to spend the money when you go in.

Be honest with yourself. Understand what environment will make the best experience for you. Do the research about budget, size range, etc. Check out the website of each store. Call the store.

Great service at a bridal salon should absolutely include preparation, listening, and transparency.

When it comes to dress sizes, the salon is buying sizes in the most common sizes (8-16) for trying on. They are not trying to discriminate. This is yet another reason why shopping somewhere with caring, knowledgable staff is important. They can and want to work with you to make an incredible experience. Make sure that alterations are part of your budget and planning time.

If you have particular gowns made by a designer you want to try on, call and see if the store can get them in for you to try on.

The more people you bring, the less the shopping experience is about you. Bring the people that you love and know will give you the best advice. Toxicity doesn’t disappear just because you are getting married. Maya says 4 is the ABSOLUTE max, but ultimately believes a bride should go by herself in the first meeting/try-on.

Extend yourself and others grace. Be flexible with your ultimate goal in mind.

Links We Referenced

The Big Wedding Planning Master Class

White Ink Calligraphy

ewedded.com

Happily Altered After on Instagram

Happily Altered After on Facebook

Quotes

“We’re there to advocate for you.” - Maya

“Stand firm and don’t appease people.” - Maya

“You have the power... You have license to take it back at any time.” - Maya

Get In Touch: 

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics 

On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention!

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Special Guest: Maya Holihan.

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