Kelly Gill
Kelly Gill 7 Oct 2019

Dress shopping

How many months before your wedding did you go wedding dress shopping? I don't get married until April 2022 and was thinking that 9 to 6 months before would my wedding would be OK.

94 Comments
Carlie Goodge
Carlie Goodge 8 Oct 2019

I'm planning to give myself 9 months to find THE dress ( if i can wait that long ... its super exciting).
hoping that's plenty of time to get alterations aswell.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I'm getting married June next year and bought my dress May this year

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I planned my wedding over the space of 2 years, I sorted the venue then went dress shopping. Unless your planning on buying a sample or ex sample dress, it can take up to 6 months for your dress to get to the store your Buying it from. So I would say go dress shopping when your ready

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

12 months I’d say xx

beverley summerhill
beverley summerhill 8 Oct 2019

I gave myself a year and had a nitemare 2 weeks before because my body shape changed and my dress didn't fit. 9 month is more than enough time

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I get married october 10th 2020 and brought my dress April this year x

Rach Sherratt
Rach Sherratt 8 Oct 2019

I wouldn't say 6 months is enough as that's how long they take to be delivered usually (can sometimes be up to a year). You need to give yourself enough time for alterations as well

Jo Ransley
Jo Ransley 8 Oct 2019

ive bought mine 18 months in advance because i found one i fell in love with

Nicole Ainsworth
Nicole Ainsworth 8 Oct 2019

I don't get married until August 2021 and I bought my dress last month 😂🤦‍♀️
Only went for an inital look but I fell in love with one so ended up buying it

Carla Gray
Carla Gray 8 Oct 2019

I've recently got my dress for March 2020. And I gave 6months, I thought that was plenty of time but apparently the shops get very worried they wont be able to get it ontime I was say 9 plus months!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Give yourself at least a year. Alot of dresses take 9momths to come in and then possibly need alterations. I'm still patiently waiting on mine 9 months later

Emma Louise Bennett
Emma Louise Bennett 8 Oct 2019

I bought my dress last November and I'm getting married August 2020. When you know you know xx

sharon finestone
sharon finestone 8 Oct 2019

It can take 6 months for some dresses to arrive at your bridal store once ordered. Allow yourself time so you can get your dress or you could miss out 😊

Clare Dickson
Clare Dickson 8 Oct 2019

I went 2 yrs before x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Mine took 5 months to come so just be careful you aren’t leaving yourself with limited time! Mine wasn’t anything really fancy- a Stella York one!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Takes 6 months to make and deliver most dresses.. Then I've been told give 3 months for all the fittings and alterations. So leave yourself 9months at least

Gilly Carey
Gilly Carey 8 Oct 2019

2 years lol! Honestly x

Kim Fox
Kim Fox 8 Oct 2019

I think it depends where you are getting your dress from, I’m looking at wed2b and I don’t think you have to wait too long for the dress. I’m on a health and fitness plan atm and I’m getting married August 2020 and don’t plan on going dress shopping until March/April xxx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I get married 2nd June 2020 and I bought my dress yesterday

Amber Wassell
Amber Wassell 8 Oct 2019

I got mine just under 2 years before, fell in love so went for it

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Fiancé has just got hers and was told ideally 12 months before but depending on what you want.

Lisette Van dam
Lisette Van dam 8 Oct 2019

I brought mine end of June and getting married May 2020. My dress is due in January 2020 for dress fitting

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Dresses can take 9 months to come in from the designer, and you need to allow time for alterations. Go earlier!

Alexandra Lawton
Alexandra Lawton 8 Oct 2019

I get married the end of march 2021 and I bought my dress a few months ago 🤷‍♀️😂first fitting in December

Ashley Power
Ashley Power 8 Oct 2019

I get married Feb 2020 and went dress shopping and picked my dress in July... (I pick it up end of November) Need about 8 months in between ideally to order it or if its off the rack (like mine) just in case it needs alterations or fixing etc xx

Charlotte Palmer
Charlotte Palmer 8 Oct 2019

I get married october 2021 and my dress is already hidden away in a friend’s wardrobe xxx

Stephanie Wood
Stephanie Wood 8 Oct 2019

It depends where you are planning on looking. If you are buying off the peg then you can go later. If you are going to a bridal boutique dresses tend to be made to order and some can take 6 months to make. Mine took 5. You also need to allow time for shopping for dresses as you might not find the one straight away and then also time for alterations. I would recommend around a year before you get married as your wedding date is a few years away. If you leave it too late you could be limiting yourself choice wise. Watch Say Yes to the Dress. It’s good for getting ideas regarding the process for ordering dresses as well as for ideas.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I bought mine in the October before my wedding in August and it only just came in time for alterations! Be careful ️

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

5 weeks lol planned the whole wedding in 10 weeks

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I would say 12 months before. It could take a few times to decide the right dress and some designers can take 4-6 months delivery time then you have to have fittings etc so I shopped about 12 months before

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I ordered mine this morning! Get married july next year!

Francine Quartey
Francine Quartey 8 Oct 2019

I bought my dress in may this year. My wedding is July 1st 2020

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

1 year!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I get married may 2021 and dress was bought July 2019!

Nicola Brown
Nicola Brown 8 Oct 2019

Im getting married in june 2020 went and got my dress in sept first fittin in april x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I got married june this year and did wedding dress shopping last October had final dress fitting 3 weeks before my wedding and collected it the day before cutting it fine but it worked out for the best and I didn't have to worry about storing it anywhere x

Anna Clarke
Anna Clarke 8 Oct 2019

I got married in september and ordered last December, it arrived in July and die to alterations wasnt ready for me until the day before my wedding. Definatly give yourself more time, the seamstress may not just have your dress to alter xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Mine took 6 months to come into the bridal shop when I ordered mine x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I bought my dress 8 months before. First shop I tried on 7, second shop I tried on 6 and it was the second dress in the second shop that I fell in love with x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I paid for my dress 15 months before our wedding...the shop stored it for me for just over a year! I didn’t need any alterations (luckily) then my sister hid it at hers until the big day! However, I’ve had friends not been so lucky...stressing a couple of days before because the alterations still weren’t done!! I’d give it more time if you can, just to be on the safe side

Charlotte Stück
Charlotte Stück 8 Oct 2019

Bought it 6 months before. Third dress I tried on xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I would give yourself 12 months minimum so start shopping 15 months before, therefore allowing 9 months for delivery of said dress and 3 months for fittings

Shell Hallsworth
Shell Hallsworth 8 Oct 2019

I get married in Aug 2020, im sorting mine out January after xmas.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I'd say give yourself 9 to 12 months, it may take you a while to find your dress and you need to allow for the time it takes to be made, delivered and altered

Kayleigh E Alman
Kayleigh E Alman 8 Oct 2019

We did it about 18 months before and then decided to change the date and had to re plan our wedding within 8 weeks so had about 2/3 weeks to find a dress and found the one within an hour of looking x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Got the dress about a year before the wedding - they advise you not to leave it too late because of all alterations and making the dress etc

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I get married August 2020 brought mine 2 months ago went to one shop and as soon as tried it on knew it was the one

Clare Mayfield
Clare Mayfield 8 Oct 2019

I went in Feb this year, getting married June 2020 xx

Keyleigh-Louise Wade
Keyleigh-Louise Wade 8 Oct 2019

They suggest having a dress finalised before the last 6 months on the run up to the big day so it’ll really be a judgement call by you on how long it’ll take you to find one you like

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I tell all my brides perfect time is 12-15months before the wedding for a new made to order dress

Anna Harding
Anna Harding 8 Oct 2019

I bought my dress 12 months before my wedding, then went back the following May 3 months before the wedding to change my dress!! So glad I did cos the 2nd dress looked so much better than the 1st dress i picked 😊

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Got mine last month wedding may 2020 glad it's sorted so can budget for other wedding essentials!

Amber Neat
Amber Neat 8 Oct 2019

I'd recommend 12 months ahead

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

My dress took 6 months to arrive, I went shopping 18month before

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I just went to get my dress last month which was 10 months before the wedding. They were concerned that it takes 6 months to order in and 6-8 weeks to do alterations so I would have preferred to go sooner! Thankfully I found my dress so should be here in time and sorted. Xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I ordered mine in April 2019 and get married in August 2020. Took several weeks of shopping too to be sure I'd found the right dress so started early march.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I get married june 2021 and already found my dress x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

If the dress has to be ordered they can take 6 months

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I bought my dress beginning of january this year and married late august. I had fittings in june and july that I arranged with a local seamstress. I waited until closer to the wedding for fittings to be sure of the weight etc x

Sarah Solway
Sarah Solway 8 Oct 2019

I got min in 2018 and I get married next year

April Wild
April Wild 8 Oct 2019

15 months before the wedding I bought it :)

Emma Jane
Emma Jane 8 Oct 2019

I get married next June and going this Saturday to begin the hunt sooooo excited 🙂🙃🙂

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I started looking in May this year and I get married July 2020 so 1 year 2 months in advance. Found my dress 20th May

Courtney Bartlett
Courtney Bartlett 8 Oct 2019

12 months before, but it's up to you and the store 😊

Leanne Evenson
Leanne Evenson 8 Oct 2019

I did it about 18 months before x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I got mine in March & I get married in December. It arrived in the shop in July xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Start looking at least 12 months before to allow you time to find "the one". It takes up to 9 months for the dress to be made and you may need 3/4 fitting appointments which many bridal shops will only do mid-week.

Sarah Foley
Sarah Foley 8 Oct 2019

We planned ours in 4 months, so 8 got mine with 3 and a half months to go lol. However, the later you leave it the smaller choice you have, I got mine off the rail in a sale, £1299, reduced to £799, and further reduced to my budget of £500 xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I picked my dress in September this year and getting married march 2021.. first dress I ever tried on and I knew this is my dress.. but wanted to try other styles for my mum and sister so I tried other 15 dresses after this one but went for the first one. As soon as I tried it on I knew this dress was made for me 🥰xx

Emily Mash
Emily Mash 8 Oct 2019

A year before. It can take 9m for alterations and appointments

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

I started looking at wedding dress styles as soon as I got engaged but actually started shopping 11 months before the wedding and bought 'the' dress 9 months before the wedding.

Joanne Woods
Joanne Woods 8 Oct 2019

I’m starting 1 year beforehand

Zara Garman
Zara Garman 8 Oct 2019

I ordered my dress last October and am getting married July 2020 x I wasn’t really looking but just found the one at a wedding fair xx

Robyn Gregg
Robyn Gregg 8 Oct 2019

I would go about a year before, leaves plenty of time for it to arrive plus alterations

Kayleigh Dunsby
Kayleigh Dunsby 8 Oct 2019

I got engaged Christmas Day 2018 and found my dress in March .. and just picked it up 😁😍🥰 so I have plenty of time for adulterations id look sooner rather than later x

Lauren Carter
Lauren Carter 8 Oct 2019

I brought mine in September I don’t get married until September 2021. I saw it online and knew it was the one and so had to go try it. And yes I tried it on and knew. I tried a few more but nothing lived up. Don’t rush it. But equally don’t leave it too late and limit yourself but you will know when you find your dress

Emily Barnett
Emily Barnett 8 Oct 2019

I went shopping a month after the engagement so 2 years 8 months before the wedding! Designer gowns take 6-9 months to arrive at the store for alterations which can take 4-6 weeks on top of that. Check with the store manager where you intend to shop. My dress was made by an independent boutique so it took 4-5 weeks to be made bespoke.

Cherie Faherty
Cherie Faherty 8 Oct 2019

I would say about 9-12 months minimum.. I ordered my dress around May and it came by December.. my wedding was 15th March and between Dec and March and literally the week of the wedding I was still having fittings.Was only because my accessories came last minute and the seamstress was attaching them for me.. I wish I had given my self a month or so more because I had to order mine when I did or risk it not coming in time cx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 8 Oct 2019

Got mine 7 months before. Was in the first shop I tried. Tried several different styles but knew it was the right one straight away. Was really lucky that I didn't need any alterations so took it with me that day and my Sister kept it stored at hers until the wedding

Hayley Clark
Hayley Clark 8 Oct 2019

My wedding dress provider advised I was only just in time with 11 months to go. It take ages to come if you don't have off the shelf, then you need to allow for alterations x

Andrea Lawlor
Andrea Lawlor 9 Oct 2019

It depends. Are you buying off the rack or are you getting it from a boutique and custom fit?

If it is off the rack then you could wait as late as 3 months before without alterations (6 if it needs some alterations).

In a boutique I would do it a minimum of 12 months before.

I bought my dress the November before I got married (I married the following September). My dress took till May to be made and to arrive in the boutique. I then needed to get some alterations done to the dress in the June and I had my final fitting in the August 4 weeks before the big day.

Amanda Ross
Amanda Ross 9 Oct 2019

I am getting married july 2020 i will be 51 i still want a wedding dress what is the best style and i am plus size

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 9 Oct 2019

Enjoy looking and enjoy the experience! Even if you think you find the one keep looking as it’s such good fun!!! I wish I hadn’t said yes to the dress so quickly as I could have dragged it out for a few more weeks! Love my dress but loved the whole experience especially when you get treated like a princess with the occasional glass of fizz! 🥂

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 9 Oct 2019

I got booked my wedding 7months before the big day and ordered my.dress the following week and they were extremely concerned it wouldnt be ready on time so i paid extra to have it done quicker and was only.ready 2weeks before the wedding and i still needed it altered x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 9 Oct 2019

My dress took nearly 6 months to order in. Luckily I started looking around 10 months before the wedding, but it I had to do it again I'd give it at least 12 months

Rachael Watkinson
Rachael Watkinson 9 Oct 2019

I think 9-6 months is too late depending on where you buy it from. I'm getting married in April 2020. I went in August and they said if i ordered my dress then providing they had it in stock and what size i needed the earliest it would be ready would be November but may need other alterations if i lose or gain weight. My cousins wife had to have an alteration 10 days before her wedding. Buying off peg is easier but beware cos alterations maybe expensive and difficult. I am having my dress custom made and my dress maker also does alterations and has said wed2b dresses are some of the most awkward she has seen.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 9 Oct 2019

Give it 12 months or you might be disappointed.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 9 Oct 2019

I found my dress in a boutique 18months before the wedding, but went in for my measuring 9 months before as I wanted to lose weight. The boutique wouldn't let me leave it any later.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Oct 2019

That's how long you should wait to order it, you need to get an idea of what kind of dress you like and then narrow it down to the one before then.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Oct 2019

I’m looking now and I’m not getting married till 2021

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 10 Oct 2019

I got my dress 4 weeks b4 my wedding booked wedding on the 2nd April and married 11th may 2019

Abi Owen
Abi Owen 11 Oct 2019

I only had 6 months before the big day and luckily I fell in love with a 'last one' sale rack dress. I was advised had I of picked a brand new dress it would have taken up to 6 months for it to be ordered in and arrive and a further 6 weeks for alterations.
I would start looking around 12 months ahead to be safe and then it leaves you time incase you don't find anything straight away but it also leaves you time for ordering the dress in and having alterations if needed ☺

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 12 Oct 2019

I get married in November 2020 and ordered my wedding dress last month x

Sue Harpin
Sue Harpin 13 Oct 2019

I got my dress 11 months before had so many fittings then few weeks before we did alterations when i wore it on the day felt really soecial

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