Photo Cred:@danisorkphoto
You don't need to walk into your bridal appointment knowing the exact silhouette, neckline, fabric, sleeve, and designer you want. In fact, sometimes knowing less makes it easier to discover what you actually love.
When shopping for a temple wedding dress or LDS wedding dress, start with the things that matter most to you, like your desired coverage, personal style, wedding timeline, and how you plan to use the gown. Your bridal stylist can help with the rest.
What Should You Know Before Shopping for a Temple Wedding Dress?
Start by thinking about your priorities rather than trying to design the entire dress in your head.
Consider questions like:
- How much coverage makes me feel most comfortable?
- Do I want sleeves, wider straps, or another style?
- Are there any necklines or fabrics I already love?
- Will I wear this gown during my temple sealing or change into it afterward?
- When do I need the dress ready for bridals or my wedding day?
You don't need an answer to every question. These are simply helpful starting points for your stylist.
Does Your Wedding Dress Need to Be Temple Ready?
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Photo Cred:@danisorkphoto
Not necessarily.
Some LDS brides wear a separate temple dress during their sealing and change into their main wedding gown afterward for their reveal, photos, and reception. Other brides want a temple-ready wedding dress they can wear for more of their wedding day.
Knowing your plans can help narrow your search. If you intend to wear your wedding gown during the sealing, confirm the current temple clothing requirements that apply to your ceremony before purchasing.
If you're changing afterward, you may have more flexibility to choose a modest wedding dress based on your personal coverage preferences.
What Happens During a Bridal Appointment?
Your appointment is where Pinterest inspiration meets real life.
Your stylist will begin by asking about your wedding, personal style, budget, timeline, and anything you've already discovered you like or dislike. From there, you'll start trying temple bridal gowns and modest wedding dresses that fit those preferences.
This is also when your opinions may change.
A silhouette you've saved for months might not feel right once it's on, while a gown you wouldn't have picked from the hanger could become your favorite. That's completely normal and one of the biggest reasons shopping in person matters.
Should You Keep an Open Mind When Trying Wedding Dresses?
Absolutely. Give your stylist enough direction to understand your style, but leave a little room to be surprised.
Try the different fabric. Put on the silhouette you weren't sure about. See what happens with the sleeves you didn't save to your Pinterest board.
You don't have to love every experiment. Sometimes ruling something out makes it much easier to recognize what you do love.
Should You Buy a Modest Gown or Customize a Contemporary Dress?
If modest coverage is important to you, it's worth trying gowns designed that way from the beginning.
A contemporary gown can sometimes be customized by adding wedding dress sleeves, lining, raising a neckline, or adjusting other areas. However, those changes may require more extensive alterations and can affect the original design.
With an intentionally modest wedding dress, elements like the neckline, sleeves, bodice, and back are already designed to work together. You can then focus on personalizing the gown rather than rebuilding it.
What Questions Should You Ask Your Bridal Stylist?
Your stylist is there to help you understand more than whether a dress looks good. Useful questions include:
- What alterations will it likely need?
- Can the sleeves or neckline be changed?
- Are detachable sleeves or other customization options available?
- What accessories would work with this dress?
- If I need the gown for bridals, will there be enough time?
Be upfront about your budget, wedding date, bridal photo date, and must-haves. The more your stylist knows, the better they can guide you toward realistic options.
When Should You Shop for Your Wedding Dress?
Shopping 9 to 12 months before your wedding gives you the most flexibility for special ordering, which can take around 6 to 9 months. But that's not the reality for many Utah brides.
Short engagements are common, and many brides shop only 2 to 4 months before their wedding. Some even start before they're officially engaged because they know a short engagement is coming.
With a shorter timeline, buying a gown off the floor may be the best option because you can take the dress home that day. Designer stock may also be available in some cases and can arrive faster than a special order.
Most importantly, tell your stylist when you actually need the dress. If you're taking bridals several weeks before your wedding, your bridal photo date may be your real deadline.
When Should You Choose Your Veil and Accessories?
Once you've found your dress, start experimenting with the finishing touches.
Your veil, detachable sleeves, bridal topper, jewelry, and other accessories can completely change the finished look. Trying them with your actual gown makes it much easier to see what works.
If an accessory will affect the gown's fit or alterations, choose it before your alterations are completed.
Where Can You Shop for Temple Wedding Dresses in Utah?
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Photo Cred:@danisorkphoto
Moments Made Bridal is a Utah bridal boutique specializing in modest wedding dresses for LDS brides. Our collection gives brides the opportunity to try different silhouettes, fabrics, necklines, wedding dresses with sleeves, and levels of coverage without having to imagine how a contemporary gown might look after major modifications.
More importantly, you don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want. That’s what your bridal appointment is for. Your stylist is there to listen to what you love, help you narrow down your options, and pull styles you might not have thought to try yourself.
Come With Ideas. Leave Room to Be Surprised!
Your Pinterest board can point you in the right direction, but it doesn't have to make the final decision.
Come knowing what matters to you, ask questions, and give yourself permission to try something unexpected. At Moments Made Bridal, we'll help you navigate the rest, because sometimes the dress you say “yes” to isn't the one you planned on trying at all.