Congratulations! Christmas and New Year are among the most popular times of year to get engaged, so if there’s a new ring on your finger this festive season, you’re in very good company.
Once the excitement settles, the questions start. When should you start looking for a dress? How much should you spend? Who do you bring along? We’ve helped brides through this since 2013, so here’s how we’d suggest getting started.
Enjoy Being Engaged First
There’s no prize for booking everything in the first week. Take some time to enjoy it, tell the people who matter and get a feel for the kind of wedding you want. A rough idea of the venue, the season and the overall feel of the day will make choosing a dress much easier later on.
Work Out Your Timeline
We suggest starting your dress search around 12 to 18 months before the wedding. That might sound like a long time, but most designers take 6 to 9 months to make and deliver a gown, and we start your fittings around 3 months before the big day.
If you are planning a wedding for late 2027 or 2028, the new year is a great time to start looking. Starting earlier also gives you longer to spread out payments, which a lot of brides find helpful.
Have a Budget in Mind
You don’t need an exact number, but a rough figure helps. At VBB our wedding dresses typically range from £899 to £2,299, with most between £1,000 and £1,800. Let your stylist know what you’d like to spend and they’ll guide you towards the best options, so you’re never falling for something outside your budget.
Save Your Ideas, but Keep an Open Mind
Pinterest boards and screenshots are a brilliant starting point, so bring them along. Just don’t feel tied to them. Lots of brides arrive sure they want one shape and leave with something completely different, because a dress can look very different on you than it does on a screen.
If you have no idea where to start, that’s fine too. You’ve never chosen a wedding dress before, so nobody expects you to know your silhouette or neckline. Helping you work that out is our job.
Decide Who Comes With You
Choosing your dress is a special moment and it’s lovely to share it. We’d suggest bringing a few of the people closest to you rather than a big group. Too many opinions can make it harder to hear your own, and the best appointments are relaxed ones. We don’t have a strict guest limit, we just ask that you keep your party to a comfortable size.
Book Your First Appointment
Every bridal appointment at VBB Gravesend is private and lasts 90 minutes, with your own stylist. We only hold one appointment at a time, so you’ll have our bridal space to yourselves. You can read more about how it works on our Experience page, or in our guide to what to expect at your first bridal appointment.
We recommend booking 2 to 3 weeks ahead of when you’d like to visit, and our diary is open into early next year if you like to be organised.
When You Find The One
When you say yes, we’ll take your measurements, talk through sizing and go through our terms with you, including the timeline for alterations and further appointments. A 50% deposit places your order, and the balance is due when your dress arrives in store, usually 6 to 9 months later.
Then you can get on with planning the rest. Bridesmaids, mother of the bride and accessories can all come later. When you’re ready for bridesmaids, our guide to bridesmaid dress shopping in Kent is a good place to start.
Ready to Start?
Have a browse of our collection to see the designers we stock, then book your bridal appointment when you’re ready. You’ll find us inside The Wedding Showroom at Lion Business Park, Gravesend, and we can’t wait to meet you.
