One of the most exciting parts of being a bride is finding the gown most perfectly suited to you. All eyes will be on you as you glide down the aisle on the big day, radiating love, happiness and joy that your guests, family and friends will delight in seeing. The gown you choose should complement your personality, style and be exactly what you’ve envisioned for your wedding day. And of course, you want to take your spouse-to-be’s breath away when they see you for the first time in that beautiful dress.

Shopping for your ideal wedding dress, however, can be an exhausting and somewhat stressful experience when you go into it unprepared. That’s why we did the research for you to help guide you through the process of shopping for the perfect gown. From saving money to creating extra special memories around the experience of discovering that perfect dress with the special people in your life, here is what you need to know.

To start, we compiled a list of the top-rated Boston bridal salons with a Google 4.5-star or higher rating. Click on the links below to visit the websites for these salons and get a better understanding of their offerings and gown selection appointment packages. Then, keep reading for more tips on making your gown shopping a breeze.

• I Do Wedding Dresses and Photography, 283 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116, website: https://www.idowedding.co (4.9 star rating)
• Flair Boston, 140 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116, website: http://flairbridesmaid.com (4.5 star rating)
• Firas Yousif Originals Bridal, 35 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116, website: https://www.firasyousiforiginals.com (5.0 star rating)
• Candice Wu Couture, 460 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, website: http://www.candicewucouture.com (5.0 star rating)
• Bella Bridesmaids, 715 Boylston Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, website: https://bellabridesmaids.com (5.0 star rating)
• Precious Memories Bridal Shop, 1256 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA 02148, website: http://www.bestbridalshop.com (4.5 star rating)
• Camilla’s Bridal, 673 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476, website: http://camillasbridal.com (4.7 star rating)

Your gown is truly a statement of who you are, so the way you shop for your gown should also reflect your style and preferences. Some brides are straightforward shoppers. They know what they want—they go right to a retailer or salon and pick out their gown, get measured and pay rack rate. Other brides are more particular. They want to create an experience around choosing the right gown. They prefer to create a memory they can cherish along with all of their wedding moments.

Whatever kind of shopper you are, to help you prepare for your gown shopping experience, we’ve researched and found these tips to get you off to a great start:

• Take care of yourself first. Wedding gown shopping can be an exhausting experience, even if you make an appointment with a few bridal salons for a one-stop shopping day. Trying on gowns in and of itself is exhausting! Some gowns take between ten and twenty minutes just to put on, lace or button up, accessorize and display the train so you can form the best opinion (and may even take longer to take off). If you’re booked with two or three salon appointments in one day, just trying on gowns can take all day. Make sure you’ve eaten properly (eat a light meal the day before so you don’t feel bloated), bring snacks, hydrate and rest up for your try-on day. You don’t want finding the perfect gown to turn into a chore—keep it special by taking care of you first.
  
• Research your gown style preferences beforehand. To eliminate thumbing through racks of gowns, narrow your gown style preferences before your appointment or outlet visit. What type of neckline do you like? What dress style? Lace-up corsets, buttons or zippers? Adornments? Lace? Veil type? Train length and style? There are many possible style variations, so do your research ahead of time so you know what you prefer. Bring photos of gowns you like from bride magazines or websites. Help the retailer or salon consultant select the right set of gowns to try so you save time and get that much closer to finding the perfect one.
  
• Know your budget walking into the appointment. Weddings have many costs that when added up can cause any couple to make an audible gulp. Because you don’t want to skimp on your dress, make sure you have a budget for the right gown ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is go into your appointment with no real budget and fall in love with one that is out of your price range. That would be heartbreaking! So unless you want to have a pre-wedding spat about finances with your fiancé, it’s best to have your gown budget predetermined. It can also help you negotiate with your retailer or bridal salon consultant if you know in advance what you can afford. That way, when you come in under budget you have a little extra to put toward shoes and accessories, or maybe a spa day for you and your bridesmaids.
• Bring the right undergarments. You’ll be trying on a variety of styles, so it’s best to have the right undergarments such as a nude strapless bra. If you already have your wedding undergarments, bring them to your fitting. Trying on gowns with the wrong undergarments can make it so the dress doesn't fit you properly or look quite right on you.
• Wear light makeup. Many gowns will go over your head, and if you are wearing heavy makeup it could easily transfer to that beautiful (and expensive) gown. Be sparing with your makeup application the day you try on gowns. Also, bring hair ties to put up your hair if you’re planning an updo or similar hairstyle on your wedding day. The more you can prepare as if it’s your actual wedding day, the better you’ll be able to select the right dress.
• Bring special people, but not an entourage. There is more on this below, but if you want to share your dress shopping experience with those you trust and love, pick two or three at most. You don’t want to become overwhelmed with a sea of opinions that confuse you as opposed to affirming your choices. You can also tire faster by having to manage a large group. Keep it small, intimate and special.

Shopping for your gown is a special unique-to-you experience, but it can be influenced by too much upfront preparation so you have to find the right balance. Approach the process with an open mind and heart, even if you’ve done your research and have a good idea of what you want. Too many preconceived notions may hinder the perfect dress from discovering you.

When you’re trying to budget for all of your pre- and post-wedding expenses, your gown is one area you don’t want to skimp so it’s best to know what to expect. According to Wedding Wire, Boston area wedding dress costs range from $229 or less up to $2,500 or more, with the average spend being between $748 and $1,858. Further, the folks at The Knot did a study in 2016 called, “The Knot 2016 Real Weddings Study” and found that the national average cost for a wedding has soared to $35,329 (not including the honeymoon). In the same study, they found that the national average cost for a gown was $1,564. That’s only for the gown, not the accessories like shoes, a veil, lingerie or jewelry.

We did some additional research* and found these helpful tips to guide you to saving without skimping on a gown that makes you glow on your big day:

• Buy second-hand/pre-owned gowns (bridal or bridesmaids gowns).
• Get your gown from Brides Against Breast Cancer, a great organization that resells used gowns to fund programs for cancer patients and their families. You can save up to 80% on designer gowns and also support a charitable cause. In fact, wherever you decide to get your dress, after your wedding you can donate it to this organization.
• Find a floor sample gown that’s been gently worn or attend a bridal salon’s trunk show.
• Rent a gown—many bridal salons in Boston also offer gown rentals in addition to new gown purchases.
• Go simple and non-traditional: cocktail length gowns, vintage dresses at thrift shops, separates and cocktail dresses that have the style that reflects your unique personality.
• Go custom and lose the markups—it sounds expensive, but it can actually be just the opposite if you find a good seamstress or dressmaker who will make a gown that fits you perfectly because it was made just for you. Plus, if you have the bridesmaid’s gowns also custom made, you could get a volume discount. Just make sure you give your dressmaker enough time to design, fit and make your one-of-a-kind dress.
• Borrow a dress from a friend or family member (that’s the cheapest way to go: FREE!) You can also “renew” your mother or grandmother’s dress by taking it to a cleaner and a good seamstress.
• Shop off-season—weddings are more frequent in the warmer months in Boston, so if you have enough advance time to prepare for your big day, shop during winter months to grab some real bargains, especially if the retailer is at the end of their season and getting new inventory.
• Negotiate! You can always negotiate with a retailer, especially if you’ve shopped around and know the prices of similar gowns at competitive stores.
• Be flexible on your styles—for example, dresses with corset backs are easier to adjust than gowns with button or zipper backs which will save you money on alterations and are often a less expensive option.
• Go online—if you’ve found a designer gown you love, but your Boston retailer’s price is a bit over your budget, search online for the same gown. You may find a retailer online with better pricing because they are a wholesaler.
  

As we mentioned earlier, inviting special people in your life to share in the experience of choosing your wedding gown can make for an even more enjoyable occasion. It will also help you feel more confident about selecting the right gown and what looks best on you—that is, if you invite the right people. Here are some tips to help make your bridal salon appointments with your special “gown advisors” even more fun:

• Choose your special people wisely. We recommend you invite those who know you best and who want you to be happy and confident on your wedding day. This could be anyone from your mother, close aunt (or uncle!) or a trusted friend. Consider each person’s style and if they’ve always looked out for you and offered helpful, honest feedback on things that mattered to you. Remember that you’re inviting these special people to help you choose as well as help you enjoy the experience.
• Prepare guests for what to expect. Working with a bridal salon consultant at a pre-set appointment has a specific length and etiquette, so find out from each salon what they recommend and then let your companions know what to expect at each appointment. For example, pulling random dresses from the racks is a no-no unless you’re instructed to do so. Make sure you and your guests know the guidelines.
• Dress for comfort. If you have a two or three appointments in one day, it can not only be tiring for you but also a long day for your guests. Have them dress for comfort and ease, and don’t forget to dress comfortably yourself, since you’ll be working the hardest trying on gowns!
• Celebrating and snacks. Contact your appointments to see if they offer Champagne or wine, or even light appetizers during your shopping. You may also consider having a shuttle service take your group to and from each appointment, especially if you’re planning on enjoying a celebratory drink with your guests. Make sure you either bring snacks or have a planned lunch break to avoid crankiness when people get too hungry.
• Always decide for yourself in the end. Trust your own instincts when you find that perfect gown, even if your guests are not as in love with it as you are. Remember that this is your wedding, your dress and if you love it, that’s all that matters. Don’t allow a strong opinion to sway your initial instinct about a gown you love. Be polite, say thank you, but always go with what you love best.
• Thank your guests. Whether it’s your mom, bridesmaids or other special people, your wedding gown shopping companions are giving up a day (or more) to help you find the best gown for you. Thank them with special gifts, a luncheon, dinner or spa day together. It’ll be a great way to create even more special moments.
  

When you’re a prepared bride-to-be, finding the perfect gown can be an enjoyable experience. In the end, you’ll end up with a beautiful gown you love and a great memory of sharing the experience with your dearest loved ones.

*Research compiled from Money Crashers, Wedding Wire, The Spruce, Woman Getting Married, The Budget Savvy Bride, Moonlight Bridal Design, Saphire Event Group and Real Simple.

Congratulations and all the best from your friends here at TransAction Corporate Shuttles.

We’d be thrilled to help you with any transportation needs for your wedding or any of your other wedding-related events.

Just give us a call and don’t forget to use your coupon to save 20%!

Save 20% on Wedding Event Transportation

As a Savvy Bride, when you book your wedding transportation with us, we'll give you a 20% discount on transportation for bachelor/bachelorette parties, bridal party spa days, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, wedding after-parties or any of the other wedding-related events you are planning.

> Learn more about our wedding shuttle services and options here.

Save your guests and bridal party the hassle of figuring out the logistics of getting to and from your wedding events. We specialize in wedding transportation and it's a great way to create even more memories of being together during all of your celebrations.

Get a FREE Quote!

When requesting a FREE quote for your wedding day transportation online or over the phone, use the code "SavvyBride" to claim your 20% discount on a second (or more) wedding-related event. We look forward to helping you enjoy your wedding events that much more by taking the fuss out of getting there and back again. Let us do the driving for you!