When Should I Start Shopping For A Wedding Dress?

The Short Answer

You don't need to be wearing a certain dress to get married, in truth, you can walk into a shop today and buy a white dress (or any kind of dress!), and get married in it tomorrow. That said, if you want to have as many options open to you as possible, and the full, 'classic wedding dress shopping experience' without feeling rushed into a decision, you should start wedding dress shopping at least eight months before your wedding with a view to ordering at least six months out. That will give you plenty of time for research, making appointments, making a final decision, manufacturing, shipping and alterations.

The Long Answer

Custom or Made To Order Dresses

A custom wedding dress (designed specifically for you or adapted to your requirements) or a made to order dress (one you try in the boutique and they order in) are the most common kinds of wedding dress. These tend to require a three to six month lead time (even longer for some designers). This is because many wedding dresses are hand-finished, they often need to be shipped from overseas, and you need to allow time for alterations. Pair that with factoring in waiting for boutique appointments, or trying on lots of dresses before you find 'The One'; it's advised you start shopping seven to nine months out from your big day. Many boutiques can make a rush order, but this will come at an additional fee.

Sample Wedding Dresses

Wedding Dresses or Off-the-Rack

If you're getting married within a few months, a sample wedding dress or off

the-rack style is probably your best option as you can buy them and take them home in the same day. Always ask a boutique if they have any sample or off-the-rack styles, keep an eye out for sample sales, or check out your favorite brands or designers to see if they have any stock available. You'll likely still want to make alterations though, so it's wise to leave at least a month or six weeks to do those.