Here at Lovella Bridal we love sharing our expert insight into wedding dress shopping and tips for bridal styling on wedding day. Today, we are pivoting to the other side of wedding dress shopping and giving our advice to bridal consultants. If you have ever been curious about how to get started in the bridal fashion world or what it would be like to work in a bridal store, we are going to be giving our best tips and advice on what to expect as a new bridal stylist working at a wedding dress store.
At first glance, working in a bridal boutique might seem like a dream. Gorgeous gowns, emotional yes-to-the-dress moments, and the excitement of helping brides find the one. For many fashion lovers, the idea of becoming a bridal stylist is enchanting but what is it really like when you’re just starting out? We are going to pull back the curtain a bit to share the truth about what it means to be a stylist in the world of wedding gowns. Whether you're just exploring the idea or preparing to step into your first day, here’s what you can expect as a new bridal stylist.
Video: What To Expect As A New Bridal Stylist Working In A Bridal Store
If you are interested in becoming a bridal stylist or are just curious about what it would be like working on the other side of the wedding dress shopping experience, don't miss our latest advice video sharing what to expect as a new bridal stylist working in a bridal store.
It's Not Just Dress Up
It's easy to romanticize working in a wedding dress store, surrounded by beautiful gowns and all the joy of helping brides find their dream bridal gown. While all of that is true, working as a bridal stylist is not just playing dress up all day long. Yes, you will get to help brides try on beautiful dresses and have an impact on their wedding planinng process. Those moments that brides find their dream gown and experience all those emotions can feel magical. But there is a lot of real work that goes into being a bridal stylist and there can be a steep learning curve when you are just starting out.
When you’re just starting out, expect to spend the first few months learning the ins and outs of the designers carried in-store. You'll be learning what each designer offers, what can be customized, and what can’t. Some designers allow changes to color or design; others don’t. Having a general idea of the price range each designer offers. Knowing these details is essential to guide a bride with confidence and accuracy. A bridal store will likely have hundreds of sample dresses in their inventory so it will take time to get familiar with each collection and how each designer operates.
Product Knowledge Is Essential
In addition to learning the store's inventory and the intricacies of each designer, there is basic knowledge to learn about bride's bodies and sizing and how to correctly take measurements. Knowing how to correctly take a bride's measurements is essential in guiding you to help place their correct wedding dress order. Knowing how their measurements translate to the individual designer size charts is important.
In addition to understanding how bridal sizing works, understanding of the wedding dress alterations process is key when a bride is deciding on her wedding gown. Understanding what is possible in the alterations process with a particular style of dress is invaluable knowledge you can share with your brides. For instance, if a bride tries on a long, unhemmed dress with no volume at the bottom and loves it on the pedestal, you’ll need to help her visualize how that dress will look once it's hemmed to floor length because there is a good chance her shoes will show on wedding day and this is a common disappointment among brides. Becoming a good bridal stylist is a time investment to learn everything there is to know about the process from first trying on wedding gowns to that final fitting. You want to guide your brides in the proper way best for their needs and ensure you aren't selling them a dress that they aren't going to be happy with when the product is fully finished and altered to them.
Let's Get Physical
In addition to all of the mental work you will be doing learning the designers, the store's inventory, how bridal sizing works and how fabrics fit on bodies, you will also be doing physical work. You might not think that helping brides try on wedding dresses will be hard work but it can be a bit of a workout. Wedding gowns are heavy. You’ll be moving, lifting, clamping, unzipping, and constantly on your feet. It’s not unusual for new hires to feel overwhelmed by the physical side of the job. It’s important to assess whether this is a fit for your energy level and lifestyle.
On top of the physical labor, there’s the emotional component as well. Brides often arrive with a full entourage of family or friends and not everyone in the room agrees on the vision. Tensions can arise. Emotions can run high. As a stylist, you must remain calm, clear-headed, and focused on one thing: serving the bride.
It’s About Her, Not You
A great bridal stylist knows that this job isn’t about imposing your taste, it’s about elevating hers. You’re not choosing what you love; you’re helping her discover what makes her feel radiant. This requires empathy, intuition, and sharp observation skills.
With each appointment typically lasting an hour, you’ll need to become a quick study in personality and style. Through strategic questions and close observation of body language, your goal is to gather enough information to piece together a complete vision of her ideal wedding day look. As you gain more experience, you'll become able to tell when a bride is loving a certain dress or not feeling it. There is a shift in the energy and the way the bride is feeling that can clue you in on which dresses are right for her style and personality.
No Job Is Too Small
Working as a bridal stylist is not just about chatting with brides and helping them try on pretty dresses all day long. Working as part of a bridal store team means you have to put in the work to prepare for each appointment. So that means making sure the store is clean and aesthetically pleasing for each bride. While styling brides is the fun part of the job, it's important each bride is greeted with an inviting environment. Bridal shops attract so much dust moving dresses around. Mirrors easily get smudged. You want to make sure any stray pins or clamps are put away after each appointment and that gowns are returned and straightened on the racks so the showroom is beautiful for the next bride's appointment.
You Must Truly Love It
At the end of the day, to make it as a bridal stylist, you must truly love it. It's takes time and dedication and commitment to succeed as a bridal stylist. This isn’t a “maybe” kind of job. You either love being a bridal stylist or you quickly realize it’s not for you. There’s no in-between. It's truly a labor of love. You need high energy, a love for people, and a deep desire to help women feel beautiful and confident in the most important outfit they’ll ever wear.
Even if bridal styling isn’t your forever career, the experience you gain - sales skills, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, communication - is invaluable in any field. At its core, this is a people job. And if you’re ready to learn, grow, and give your all, it can be one of the most rewarding journeys you'll ever take.
More Helpful Bridal Styling Advice
We hope you have found this advice helpful when it comes to understanding what it takes to be a bridal stylist and what to expect working as a new bridal stylist. For even more helpful advice when it comes to bridal styling and the wedding dress shopping experience, be sure to check out our past posts:
- Why Every Bride Needs a Bridal Stylist While Wedding Dress Shopping
- What Brides Need To Know to Prepare for Wedding Dress Alterations
- How To Become A Bridal Stylist Or Consultant
- How To Be Confident When Styling Brides
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!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
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.
