If you’re a bride-to-be shopping for a wedding dress in Southern California or Los Angeles, knowing what to bring to your bridal dress try on appointment can make the entire experience feel smoother and far less stressful. A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to feeling comfortable, confident, and ready to make decisions during wedding dress shopping.
At Lovella Bridal, we love sharing guidance like this because bridal appointments are not just about trying on wedding dresses. They are emotional, personal, and often nerve-wracking experiences, especially if it is your first time. This checklist walks you through exactly what to bring, what to skip, and what actually matters most.
Lovella Bridal is a top luxury bridal boutique in Glendale and the Los Angeles area, and our bridal stylists have helped thousands of brides prepare for wedding dress shopping with ease and confidence.
Watch the Video: Checklist of Items to Bring With You to Your Bridal Dress Try On Appointment
If you prefer to watch instead of read, we are embedding the video in this post. Our Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri, walks through each item to bring with you to your wedding dress shopping appointment in detail and explains why these small choices can have a big impact on your bridal appointment experience.
Bring a Positive and Open Mindset
The most important thing to bring to your bridal dress try on appointment is a positive, open mindset. Wedding dress shopping can feel exciting, intimidating, emotional, and vulnerable all at once, especially when you are undressing in front of someone new and stepping into unfamiliar silhouettes.
Allow yourself to be open to the experience. Anxiety, nerves, and anticipation are all normal, but approaching the appointment with curiosity instead of fear sets the tone for a much better experience.
Shapewear and Nude Undergarments
If wearing shapewear makes you feel more comfortable and less exposed, bring it with you. Shapewear is not required, but it can help some brides feel more secure during the try on process. Nude underwear is a must.
You should always wear underwear when trying on wedding dresses. Nude is best because it disappears under white and ivory bridal gowns. Many brides are surprised by this reminder, but it matters more than you think.
Skip the Strapless Bra and Be Prepared to Go Braless
You do not need to bring a strapless bra to your bridal appointment. Strapless bras usually show with wedding dresses and are not worn under most bridal gowns.
If you are shy or want a little coverage, pasties are a great option. Otherwise, be prepared to go braless during your wedding dress try on appointment. Bridal gowns are designed to provide structure and support on their own.
Do Not Worry About Shoes
You do not need to bring shoes to your bridal dress appointment. Most brides try on wedding dresses barefoot, and bridal boutiques typically have shoes available for height reference if needed.
There is a separate conversation about wedding day shoes, and that is best handled once you have chosen your wedding dress.
Avoid Bringing Food, Champagne, or Drinks
While it can feel festive to bring champagne or snacks, it is not recommended to bring food or drinks into a bridal boutique. Wedding dresses are white, and spills or stains can permanently damage gowns.
If you want to celebrate, plan something after your appointment. Many brides enjoy stepping outside for a toast or heading to a nearby restaurant once the appointment is over.
Bouquets Are Optional But Not Necessary
Some brides love bringing a bouquet to help visualize the full wedding day look. If you want that experience, you can bring one, but it is not required.
Many bridal boutiques have sample bouquets available to help you picture the complete look if you ask.
Hair Ties, Clips, and Bobby Pins
Bring hair ties, hair clips, or bobby pins with you. Even if you plan to wear your hair down on your wedding day, it is helpful to see wedding dresses with your hair styled in different ways during the appointment.
Some boutiques have hair ties on hand, but it is always better to be prepared.
Inspiration Photos Are Essential
Inspiration photos are one of the most important things to bring to your bridal appointment. Photos help your bridal stylist understand what you are drawn to visually, even when your words might mean something different.
Terms like ballgown, sparkle, or simple can mean different things to different people. Images remove confusion and give your stylist a clear starting point. Showing photos of wedding dresses you love or even dresses you disliked is incredibly helpful.
Look at Photos While You Are Still in the Wedding Dress
When photos are taken during your appointment, look at them while you are still wearing the wedding dress. Compare what you see in the mirror with how the dress photographs.
Photos alone do not capture how you feel in a wedding dress. Reviewing them in the moment helps you remember your body language, your reaction, and how confident you felt.
Makeup That Makes You Feel Like Yourself
Wear makeup if it helps you feel confident, but do not dramatically change your routine just for wedding dress shopping. If you do not usually wear makeup, this is not the day to experiment.
Avoid heavy makeup, fresh self-tanner, or anything that could transfer onto the wedding dresses. If you wear makeup, step into the dress rather than pulling it over your head whenever possible.
Avoid Fresh Tans or Self Tanner
Do not arrive at your bridal appointment with a fresh spray tan or self tanner. Any product that rubs off can stain wedding dresses.
If you do tan, make sure it has fully developed and does not transfer before your appointment.
Be in the Right Headspace and Reschedule if Needed
If you are sick, exhausted, having a terrible day, or feeling emotionally off, it is okay to reschedule your appointment. Bridal boutiques understand and want you to have a positive, productive experience.
Wedding dress shopping should feel supportive and exciting, not forced.
Come Even If You Feel Insecure About Your Body
Do not wait to shop for a wedding dress until you feel perfect. In fact, finding a wedding dress you love when you feel insecure is often the best sign that you have found the right one.
If a bridal gown makes you feel beautiful on a hard day, it will feel even better on your wedding day.
Choose Your Bridal Appointment Guests Carefully
Be thoughtful about who you bring to your bridal appointment. Keep your guest list small and supportive. Too many opinions can create confusion and overwhelm.
The people you bring should understand your style, respect your feelings, and want you to feel confident.
Avoid Showing Photos to People Who Were Not There
Try not to show photos or videos of wedding dresses to people who were not part of the appointment. They did not experience your reactions, your movement, or your excitement in the dress.
Outside opinions often lack context and can unintentionally derail your decision-making process.
Checklist of Items to Bring With You to Your Bridal Dress Try On Appointment
Preparing for your bridal dress try on appointment is about more than packing a bag. It is about mindset, intention, and setting yourself up for a positive experience. Nude undergarments, inspiration photos, hair accessories, and an open heart matter far more than shoes or champagne.
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips from Lovella Bridal Los Angeles
If this checklist helped you feel more prepared for wedding dress shopping, Lovella Bridal has many more expert resources to guide you through every step of the bridal journey. Explore these related posts next:
- Top Must-Know Things Before You Begin Wedding Dress Shopping
- What to Wear When Going Wedding Dress Shopping
- Will Spray Tans or Self Tanners Sabotage Your Wedding Dress Fitting?
- 4 Things Brides Need To Know About The Price Of Wedding Dresses
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
Meet Lovella’s Wedding Fashion Expert in Los Angeles
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
