There’s no right or wrong answer to that question, but there are some things you need to think about.
THERE’S A DRESS TO SUIT EVERYONE, BUT THE ONE IN THE PICTURE MAY NOT LOOK LIKE THAT ON YOU (SORRY!)
There will be a dress that makes you look amazing – but for many brides each year it’s not the one you expect it to be. In fact, over the years I estimate that well over half, if not three quarters, of all my customers have chosen a dress that isn’t the one they thought they wanted from looking at photos.
Why? Three reasons.
Those models are usually very tall. They are usually exceptionally thin. And the pictures are sometimes airbrushed and photoshopped. Even the brands that use plus-size models may be enhancing those photos. So even the models sometimes don’t look like that in the dresses!
The worst culprits tend to be fit and flare or fishtail dresses. Yes, they look amazing on the model in the photo (especially when they’ve been changed to give those stick thin models some curve) – but if you aren’t keen on you hips, tummy or thighs, then you probably won’t like it on you.
BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULDN’T LOOK AT ADVERTISING PHOTOS AT ALL AND BRING EXAMPLES WITH YOU
As long as you stay open-minded to trying a variety of styles, pictures can help the shop understand what you are most drawn to in terms of fabric and details such as straps, sleeves, sparkle etc. Just try and see them as a starting point for exploring your options.
Photos can also be really useful when it comes to customising your dress – so you’ve chosen the dress based on it being the right shape, fabric and colour for you, but you want straps or sparkle added, and worry that you won’t be able to explain to the seamstress what you want? Take photos of the kind of straps and details that you like, that will help get the process started with the seamstress.
There will be a wedding dress you will love – you may just have to be open-minded to a variety of styles to find it!