Shopping 'til we rock: The big wedding dress timeline (with printable checklist!) #Fashion Advice#dress shopping#omg dresses Updated Mar 5 2020 (Posted Oct 21 2015) Catherine Clark bijouxandbits Dress by Zeita Studios Need to know when to start shopping for your wedding dress? When to start stocking up on nude knickers? When to schedule your fittings? When to start flippin' out? (Hint: never!) This is your Offbeat Bride wedding dress timeline guide. Here's a run-down of all the necessary steps to acquiring your rad wedding outfit in a lower-stress way. Disclaimer: This timeline definitely won't apply to everyone's timeline. If you're buying off-the-rack, from a place like ModCloth, wearing pants or something other than a dress, or having your dress custom-made, your timeline could be very different. But if you're planning a more traditional shopping route, whether at a dress boutique or otherwise, this will help you plan ahead. Click here to download the wedding dress timeline 12+ months before Related Post How to shop for a wedding dress like a software engineer I work for a software company, and regularly we ask, “What customer problems are we trying to solve?” Since I am the target customer, and... Read more * Start researching: look at different styles, fabrics, colors, fits, and check the weather to help gauge what you might need. * Create a list of boutiques, stores, online stores, and custom dress shops to start shopping and making appointments as necessary. * Find a pair of shoes that are the same height as the shoes you plan on wearing. * Buy some nude bras and slips to take with you on fittings. 10-12 months before Be open-minded to various dress styles and silhouettes to see what looks good on you. Ask about any expected additional lead times, costs, and tailoring fees based on your choices. Ask about the refund and return policy. Attend dress fittings and book second appointments as needed. 8-10 months before Related Post Don't let the "Bride Again" stigma dictate your next wedding dress choice I remember so clearly shopping at plussizebridal.com (which no longer exists). It’s where I bought my fabulous purple wedding dress. There was a section on... Read more * Order your dress. * Start searching for your accessories such as veils, belts, headpieces, jewelry, etc. * Schedule fitting dates to have your dress tailored, if needed. 6 months before Select and order your wedding party outfits including accessories and shoes, if you're choosing them. 4-5 months before Arrange to have your dress cleaned after the wedding, or ask someone close to do it for you if you're leaving on your honeymoon right away. Order your accessories, especially any custom-made items like veils or headpieces that need extra lead time. 2-3 months before Related Post How to buy an Etsy wedding dress: 4 tips to avoid getting scammed For years, people relied on sites like eBay for their ecommerce needs, but over the last decade, Etsy has emerged as the place where most... Read more * Start your dress fittings and tailoring — don't forget your undergarments and shoes at the right height, and any accessories you plan to wear. 1-2 weeks before Pick up your dress and check it for any issues. Store it in a clean place. The wedding day Forget any imperfections and rock that shit like you know you can! Click here to download the wedding dress timeline printable checklist! Dresses by Zeita Studios Getting all stressed up? Here's how to chill: Related Post All stressed up with nowhere to go: 8 tips to de-stress wedding dress shopping Planning your wedding dress shopping strategy and getting all stressed up with nowhere to go? It's time to take a step back and look at your priorities. We've compiled a… Read More Catherine Clark Catherine Clark loiters at her local library, makes art, watches movies en masse, plays video and tabletop games, poorly cooks healthy things, cuddles with her feline fur babies, and blogs at BijouxandBits.com. @enidjcoleslaw @bijouxandbits @bijouxandbits PREVIOUS This grey dress at this winter wonderland Czech wedding is making our lives NEXT How to make fabulous paper rose bouquets Show/Hide comments [ 0 ] Join the conversation Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sign me up for your offbeat awesomeness newsletter! No-drama comment policy Part of what makes the Offbeat Empire different is our commitment to civil, constructive commenting. Make sure you're familiar with our no-drama comment policy. Biz owners & wedding bloggers Please just use your real name in your comment, not your business name or blog title. Our comments are not the place to pimp your website. If you want to promote your stuff on Offbeat Bride, join us as an advertiser instead.