If you are a recently engaged bride, you are probably experiencing all sorts of emotions and feelings. You are excited and happy to be in this moment of love but you might also be feeling nervous and overwhelmed by all the tasks that go into planning a wedding. Maybe you have dreamed of trying on wedding dresses since you were little or maybe the thought of wedding dress shopping gives you anxiety.
Here at Lovella Bridal, we’ve had the honor of dressing thousands of brides, and if there’s one thing we want you to know before you step into your bridal appointment, it’s this: feeling nervous is completely normal. The excitement, the pressure, the Pinterest boards, the expectations, it’s a lot. And while bridal gown shopping is often portrayed as a magical, tear-filled moment, the reality is that for many brides, it can feel overwhelming, even stressful.
We’re going to share our best tips for handing those nervous feelings about the wedding dress shopping and try-on experience, and how to prevent buyer's remorse leading up to wedding day.
Video: How To Handle Feeling Nervous About The Wedding Dress Shopping Process
Shopping for your wedding dress is bound to bring up a lot of feelings and emotions and that is totally okay. If you are feeling anxious about trying on wedding dresses or find yourself questioning if you made the right decision on your bridal gown, you won’t want to miss this week’s wedding dress and bridal fashion advice video. We’re talking about how to handle feeling nervous about the wedding dress shopping process and you won’t want to miss these helpful tips leading up to your wedding day.
Start When You're in the Right Headspace
Your wedding dress appointment is not something to force on a day when everything feels off. If you’re emotionally drained or physically exhausted, it’s okay to reschedule. Give yourself permission to go shopping when you’re feeling emotionally steady and mentally open, when your energy is aligned with excitement, not anxiety.
That doesn’t mean waiting until you’re at your “goal weight” or perfectly confident in your body. In fact, that mindset can delay or even disrupt your ability to find the dress. Instead, think about when you feel your best, maybe that’s a certain point in your monthly cycle when bloating is minimal, or after a good night’s rest. You don’t need to be at your most fit or flawless. You just need to be at your most present. You should be in the best frame of mind so that you can be as excited about the process as possible. If you find a dress that makes you feel beautiful and confident, even if you are not at your most fit or ideal weight, then that dress is going to make you feel even better on wedding day when the whole bridal look is put together.
Let Go of the "Supposed To" Feelings
You have probably heard that wedding planning is such a magical time in your life and while it is exciting to be marrying your person, that is also a misconception. You are planning this huge life event while also managing everything else in life, from work to family time and other commitments you already had before adding this big to-do list on top of it. It’s okay to feel stressed and overwhelmed at times during the wedding planning process.
Many brides walk into bridal stores thinking they’re supposed to cry when they find “the one.” Truthfully, that moment looks different for everyone. Most of our brides at Lovella don’t cry when they find their dress. And that’s okay. This process is deeply personal and emotional, but it doesn’t have to follow a script.
Maybe you light up when you look in the mirror. Maybe you can’t stop smiling. Maybe you do a little happy dance, Maybe you feel an inner peace. Trust your version of “this is it”, no tears required. So be gentle and be kind with yourself, even if you don’t feel those magical fairy tale moments.
Communicate Honestly With Your Stylist
This next tip is one that we can never share enough: communicate openly and honestly with your bridal stylist. Your stylist is your biggest ally, but we’re only as good as the information you share with us. If you’re feeling nervous, overwhelmed, or even self-conscious, tell us. We're here to make you feel supported and comfortable, not just dressed. Whether you’re worried about body image, family dynamics, or the pressure of the moment, let us carry some of that weight with you. That’s what we’re here for, and trust us, we have seen and heard it all!
This is a vulnerable experience, trying on gowns in front of others, often in little more than your undergarments. It’s completely normal to feel uneasy at first. But every stylist wants to make sure their brides feel confident and cared for. So if you are feeling nervous or worried about something in particular, communicate that so we can work on a solution to make your wedding dress shopping experience a positive and productive one. Sometimes all you need is to take a quiet moment and take a deep breath to work through the nervous energy to recognize you are just excited and feeling all the feels.
Remember Why You Said 'Yes'
Once you’ve chosen your wedding dress, the post-purchase nerves can creep in fast. Did I make the right decision? What if I change my mind? Why don’t I feel that magical, overwhelming certainty? The second guessing can happen quickly and for some these thoughts can be hard to manage as you wait for your wedding dress to arrive after ordering it.
Let us reassure you that this is totally normal as well, but trust that you made the right choice. Buying a wedding dress is one of the only major purchases you’ll make that you don’t get to take home right away. You say yes, you order it, and then you wait for about 6 to 8 months, depending on production time and shipping timelines. During that time, you may only have imperfect photos or faded memories to rely on. It’s natural for doubt to creep in. But that doesn’t mean you chose the wrong dress.
When that self-doubt hits, visualize a stop sign. Remind yourself of how you felt in the dress, not how it looked on your camera roll. When you find “the one”, take a few moments to really soak in how you feel in the dress and how confident the dress makes you feel. You want to hold onto that feeling for when the moments of buyer’s remorse might start to creep in.
Don’t allow your brain and all those doubts to take over what you know in your heart. You said yes to that dress for a reason. But if you just can’t shake that feeling, call your bridal store and go back in to try on the sample dress. Sometimes, all it takes is stepping back into the gown to remember exactly why you fell in love with it.
Go With Your Heart, Not Your Head
Bridal gown shopping is not a logical decision, it’s an emotional one. Of course it makes sense to compare prices and consider practicality, but the truth is: this is not the time to be overly rational. We’ve seen countless brides choose the less expensive dress they “like” rather than the one they love, only to come back months later, still thinking about the one that got away.
Your wedding dress should be the one that makes you feel the most beautiful and the most confident. That feeling is priceless. So if your heart is speaking louder than your budget spreadsheet, listen closely. You’ll thank yourself later.
In the end, trust yourself and the process. It’s okay to feel nervous. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that this moment is about you, your heart, and the way you want to feel walking down that aisle.
More Helpful Wedding Dress Shopping Advice
We hope you have found this advice helpful when it comes to knowing how to manage nervous feelings around the wedding dress shopping process. For even more helpful advice when it comes to shopping for your dream wedding dress, be sure to check out our past posts:
- Top Reasons Why Brides Second Guess Their Wedding Dress Decision
- How To Avoid Wedding Dress Doubts
- How to Avoid & Handle Wedding Dress Buyer's Remorse
- Why Every Bride Needs a Bridal Stylist While Wedding Dress Shopping
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.
