Television and movies would make you believe that you can't find your wedding dress without visiting every single store in the city! Trust us when we say that is NOT the case in real life.
We talk to brides in all stages of their bridal gown shopping journey and one thing is very clear: Over-Shopping is a very dangerous thing. Before you try on 100's of dresses in search of "The One," take a look below at 4 very real Dangers of Over-Shopping.
1. It Gets MORE Confusing
Many brides think that the more stores they go to, the more confident they will be in their final decision. It's often too late before they realize that the opposite is true.
Brides usually end up having a "favorite" at every store. The problem is that if you have 7 favorites at 7 different stores, by the time you get to the 7th Favorite, it's hard to remember what you even liked about the first (or second, or third). Plus, those dresses are never going to be in the same room, making them nearly impossible to compare.
2. It Stalls the Rest of Your Planning
Brides who are shoppers in their normal life see Bridal Shopping as the pinnacle shopping experience. For this reason, they can be hesitant to say "Yes" to the dress because they don't want the shopping to end.
There are so many aspects of your wedding that can't even get started until you know for sure what you are wearing, including (but not limited to) your hair, makeup, shoes, accessories, jewelry, bridesmaids dresses, groom's look, etc. Taking several months to shop for a gown gives you less time on these equally important decisions.
3. It Stops Being Fun
We can spot an Over-Shopper a mile away. She comes in with a much different attitude than someone who has kept the planning process simple. To be honest, she comes in having a lot less fun.
Bridal shopping can get overwhelming very quickly. Every store has dozens of beautiful dresses, and it can become a chore to try to find something wrong (or something right) about the 90th wedding dress of the day. Even friends and family get burnt out from giving their opinions, which makes decision making even more confusing for the bride.
4. It Takes Away The Moment
Finding your wedding gown should be an emotional decision, not an analytical one. There are many examples of times we have seen brides fall in love with a gown...and then talk themselves out of liking it because they "haven't shopped enough." It ruins the magical moment they could have had, and leaves them chasing that feeling.
Just think about your fiancé proposing to you. If you would have said "I'll need a few days to think about my options" it would have ruined the beautiful moment. Think of dress shopping the same way - if you find one you love, don't be afraid to say "YES!"
