Choosing your wedding dress is not something you want to leave to the last minute. So when exactly should you start your fittings? As a general rule, it is advisable to choose your wedding dress between 8 and 10 months before the big day, regardless of the time of year.

Coordinating availability — boutiques and your closest friends

Most brides-to-be visit several boutiques before finding the gown that truly takes their breath away. This takes time, and requires flexibility both from the shops and from the people accompanying you to fittings — friends, bridesmaids, and so on! You will need to book a time slot with each bridal boutique so that a dedicated consultant can give you personalised advice. In some cases, the boutique can even be reserved exclusively for you, as is the case at Couture Nuptiale.

Bear in mind that Saturdays are inevitably in high demand. If you can take a weekday off for your fitting appointments, we strongly encourage you to do so! You will also need to work around the schedules of your companions — and it is worth keeping this group small to avoid being pulled in too many directions.

Allowing enough time for alterations or bespoke creation

Once you have fallen in love with a wedding dress, the work is far from over for the seamstresses! They will need to alter or customise your gown so that it fits you perfectly. At Couture Nuptiale, for example, the process unfolds in three stages:

  • A first sewing appointment is scheduled, during which the seamstress pins the dress and discusses possible modifications (adding or removing rhinestones, closing a neckline, adding a back lace-up, etc.)
  • A second check-up appointment follows, at which you can admire the finished gown. Minor adjustments can still be requested at this stage.
  • A final appointment allows you to collect your dress, freshly pressed and carefully bagged.

If you are commissioning a designer, you will need to give her sufficient time to create your bespoke wedding dress. Do also keep in mind that spring and summer remain the most popular seasons for weddings.

Note: New collections typically arrive in boutiques in October and November. If you want the widest possible selection, plan your fittings around that time. If you are working with a tighter budget, September can be an ideal moment to negotiate attractive end-of-collection prices.

Buying the dress — a milestone in your wedding planning

Choosing your wedding dress is one of the most meaningful steps in planning a wedding. It is often the moment when everything suddenly feels very real — when brides truly begin to feel that they are about to say yes to the love of their life. For this reason, it is well worth starting the process several months in advance.

Eliminating one source of stress

Moreover, choosing your wedding dress well ahead of the celebration helps you avoid unnecessary stress at a time when it will already be plentiful — those final weeks before the big day, when you are juggling caterers, entertainment, decoration, last-minute surprises, guests who cancel, and unpredictable weather. If at least the choice of wedding dress is settled, you can free your mind and focus entirely on being ready to say yes to the person of your life!