So, you have decided to get married in a different country? Now, the excitement of choosing your wedding dress can begin!

What are the rules? Do you need to have a simple dress? Does it need to be light? Can you have a train?

The answer is really you should have what you want, what you feel you can travel with and what you feel you can wear for your day. So, no there are no rules just a few suggestions and recommendations, but you can follow them or ignore them as you please.

After many years working in a bridal boutique I can tell you Brides getting married abroad choose as wide a variety of dresses as those that marry in the UK.

Location, Location, Location

Firstly, think about the temperature of your destination and how you will cope wearing your dress?

A light chiffon, tulle, lace or cotton dress without the need for extra layers of petticoat, lining or corsetry may be more comfortable if you are outside in hot and humid conditions and plan to wear the dress for several hours. However, if you are getting married at a hotel or other airconditioned indoor venue then a full princess dress with many layers, a petticoat and corset should not cause too much discomfort.

Do you want a train?

Once again, it will be easier to move around on sand, grass, or other surfaces if you do not have one. But a full train is always possible, just remember to ask your seamstress to create a bustle so you do not have to hold the train but can move freely once you want the train pulled up. The best bustles require loops and button or laces and make the back of your dress the same length as the front, the consultant at your bridal boutique should be able to demonstrate this when you are trying on dresses.

Research Wedding Dress Styles

There are lots of wedding websites where you can look through designs of wedding dresses, you can look at individual designer’s websites, Pinterest and bridal magazines. A little research online will help you identify a few designers who create styles that you like and whose prices are within your budget.

Next, look at each designer website to find a list of ‘official stockists’ to help you identify local boutiques worth visiting. It is also interesting to look at Bridal forums for recommendations of good boutiques. Then book at least a couple of appointments to visit your chosen boutiques.

Do bear in mind it is best to order your dress NO LESS than 6 months before the wedding, to allow time for it to be ordered, produced and any alterations completed. Any closer to the wedding date and you may restrict your choice of dress and add ‘rush order’ fees to the cost.

Who should I take to my Bridal appointments?

It is tempting to take a large number of friends, family and others to the appointments. However, while it is exciting to try on dresses it can get stressful, hot, and tiring so one or two supportive and helpful people will minimise any drama. It really is best to take only one or two people whose opinion you trust but who you can also overrule if you love a dress, and they don’t.

Once you have narrowed down your choice to one or two you could consider another appointment with a few more friends but also bear in mind that you probably want your dress to be a surprise on the wedding day and the more people who have seen it the less special it will feel. Keep them in suspense!

What should I take to my dress appointment?

Wear underwear that you are happy to stand in front of the bridal consultant, clothes which are easy to take on and off, and perhaps a spare pair of shoes of the height you hope to wear. It is a good idea to have bottles of water, paracetamol and a granola bar in your bag in case you are tired. Do not make too many appointments in one day and allow a break to eat a sandwich, have a cup of coffee and mull over your choices.

How do I know I have found ‘the one’?

Do not expect to get a sudden overwhelming feeling of ‘this is it’, it does happen but very rarely. In my experience your dress will be the one you cannot wait to try on again, the one that makes you smile from ear to ear, that you want to twirl in and do not want to take off. It might be that you leave the boutique and keep thinking back to one dress and want to return and try it on.

If you have tried on lots of dresses but just can’t seem to find the right dress consider trying on a completely different style or asking the bridal consultant to choose a dress they think will suit you. Importantly, once you find and order your dress STOP LOOKING.

Finally, How am I going to transport my outfit to the destination?

These days MOST airlines DO NOT let you take the dress in its dress bag and have nowhere to hang it up. It is much better to buy either a dress box or use a piece of hand luggage to take the dress, veil, shoes, jewellery etc. onto your flight. Of course, you can put the outfit in your checked in luggage BUT what happens if the bag is lost? We had a bride whose Groom lost his wedding day outfit this way.

The best way to travel with the dress is to put it in a dress bag just before you leave home and ROLL it before putting it in the box or case. Then when you arrive at your destination immediately hang the dress bag up so the dress can hang full length, this allows most creases to fall out, if you are sharing a room with your husband to be then try and get another person to hang the dress in their room so he doesn’t catch a glimpse before the special day. If you have a silk, satin or very large dress think about booking in to have the dress steamed at the destination.

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