By Whitney C. Harris, Brides
[post_ads]Your wedding dress
is probably the most memorable piece of clothing you'll ever put on (as
an adult anyway). You wear it on one of the most important days of your
life, and it's a significant investment both emotionally and
financially. So you want to make sure you get it right. Many brides
often look back on their wedding dress and wish they could have a
redo—whether it be a small element like an accessory or rethinking the
whole thing. What else do women walking down the aisle wish they had
known before picking out their dress? Here are 14 former brides who
reveal what they might do differently.
"I would have gone
simpler, lighter, and more classically elegant and choose an option in
that category that is price-friendly. If I redid my gown, I would try on
a couple of simple silk or satin A-lines and see how I feel versus
going straight to the bigger and frillier dresses. The last thing I
would want is not to be able to dance the night away." —Natalie N.E., Philadelphia
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"Looking back, I would have loved a dress that didn't require so many alterations. I went a bit over my original budget
and didn't realize that I'd have to spend nearly $500 to add French
bustles as well. I was able to cut costs by ordering a veil online and
sticking to ballet flats, but that only helped so much." —Meghan E., Richmond, Virginia
"If
I could do it all over again, I would have gone with a 1960s
bohemian/beatnik style, which was just ahead of trend when I was getting
married six years ago and not easily found. Something with long sleeves
and an open back for my early spring celebration would have been supercool but practical at the same time." —Maggie N., Sleepy Hollow, New York
"I probably would've allowed for a smidge more breathing room or a bit more stretch, as my dress was very snug. I did want a form-fitting silhouette, but it would've been nice to not have to suck in all night!" —April H., Honolulu
"I
wanted a classic style that wouldn't look too dated in pictures and
chose a strapless piece in ivory satin with a boned corset and slight
detailing and gathering at the hip. I had purchased a dress to change
into for the evening function, however I never used it as I wanted to
keep my wedding dress on and keep the fairy tale going! In hindsight, I
wish I had chosen something a bit more ornate and detailed had I known I
was going to wear it all day and night. Something with delicate lace on
the arms/shoulders or maybe a matching lace over shrug that I could
have removed for the evening to make the dress appear different would
have been nice. I would also go for a sleeker style that didn't restrict
my movement so much, as the train and skirt on my original dress was
quite heavy and it was difficult to dance in!" —Charlotte F., Manchester, England
[post_ads]"I
would love to have a wedding dress with cold shoulders and ruffles, two
trends that have taken the fashion world by storm over the past year!
If I had done it when I had gotten married two years ago, it might have
looked less traditional and even tacky, but today, I can see how it
would have made the gown so much more chic!" —Pratibha V., New York City
"I would have made sure I tied the corset tighter. As I bent over to fill the unity sand bottle (we had a beach wedding), the audience got a great view of my 'chicken cutlets'! Oh, to have larger boobs... " —Jenn W., New York City
"I
strongly recommend brides choose something classic that will still be
in style for many years to come and avoid trends. I got married in 1988,
which was just a horrible year for fashion. My dress was plantation
style—I wish I had chosen something more formfitting so years later I
could look at pictures and see what a great body I had. But the worst
thing was the veil. I chose a veil that was designed as a giant bow. So
in all my pictures, which really are lovely, I have this giant bow on my
head. Everyone who looks at my pictures just laughs, and for this
reason I took down wedding pictures that were hanging in my house. It was a trend then, but I so regret it now." —Paige E., Woodland Hills, California
[post_ads]"I
still think about the dress that I tried on two years ago and let get
away. The dress fit like a glove and had enough embellishment that a
simple veil would've paired perfectly. At the time, it seemed above my
budget but honestly might've been worth all the time I spent
second-guessing my decision. Also, by the time I finished altering my
'cheaper' dress and buying its ornate veil, the price wasn't that much
less than the other. For the record, I loved my 'second' dress and so
did my husband, but it didn't compare to the Romona Keveza.
My advice to brides: If you see something you absolutely love and can't
stop thinking about—and aren't above pinching pennies if you have to—go
for it. For most of us, it's the one time to wear an amazing gown and
feel like a princess." —Lauren W., Memphis
"I
would have maybe gotten a dress that had more a corset to keep it up. I
had thin spaghetti straps on mine with a lowish back, and it dug into my
shoulders all night because there wasn't enough waist support. I
remember my shoulders had marks in them still the next day, it hurt so
badly." —Lauren G., Sleepy Hollow, New York
"I
honestly do not have many regrets about my wedding dress…but I guess the
one thing I would do differently is I would have spoken up more about
my fitting and been more vocal about what I wanted. Luckily I brought my
sister and she helped, but at times I look at the pictures and think it
could have been a little better tailored!" —Ilana K., Manhasset, New York
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"My
silk gown was fairly heavy since it encompassed a full A-line skirt.
The store where I purchased my dress was supposed to sew padding into
the bust of the gown but forgot to, which we realized mere hours before
the ceremony. I was wearing a strapless/backless bra, which didn't do
much for my décolletage,
so I wanted the extra padding to help me fill out the bust. In the end,
my best friend drove to Nordstrom to buy some inserts which held up
pretty well through the day. If I had to do it again, I'd still pick the
dress I had but I would have checked the dress as soon as it was
delivered to make sure the store followed through with the
customization." —Beth Z., Rochester, New York
[post_ads]"I would listen to my mother! I only tried on four dresses at one store. I fell in love with the fourth one I tried on, and we got it. I loved it so much and still do but if I could do it again I would either not wear a strapless dress or tailor the neckline so it wasn't quite so low. When you wear a traditional, heavy, wedding gown like I did, it inevitably stretches out as the day goes on. I also, like many brides, lost weight right before the wedding, which didn't help things! My mother warned me." —Rachel S., Brooklyn, New York
"Is it tacky
that I wouldn't change a thing? I think it's key to go with your
instincts about what you want and what looks good on you. I honestly
regret even trying on a mermaid dress when I knew I wanted the style I
got from the beginning! Stop trying to be cool and just buy what you
love!" —Katy M., Yardley, Pennsylvania
See More:
- Dealing With #DressRegret? You're Not Alone
- This Mother-Daughter Duo Is Making Wedding Dress Shopping Effortless for the Cool Bride
