Being engaged is one of the most exciting times we have in our life. You get to start wedding planning, visiting with friends and family, exploring opinions for wedding decor, flowers, food, and more. This also means shopping for your wedding. Not only do you get to choose the above items to match your dream wedding perfectly—you also get to pick out a wedding dress!
Some of the biggest decisions of your life will need to be made for your wedding. Like many brides in 2021, you will be limited to where you can go and what you can do due to quarantine.
The great news is, not only are we adapting to quarantine but so are retailers. Even if you are stuck in an area locked down or stores have reduced hours, can you still shop for your dress!
We have compiled our best tips for virtual wedding shopping so that you can still plan the wedding of your dreams.
More Time for Research
One of the most exciting parts of wedding planning can be to create a spreadsheet or Pinterest board dedicated to your wedding. You might want to start with the current wedding dress style trends and then decide what silhouettes you would like to try.
It is always an excellent choice to know current wedding dress trends, prices, colors, and wedding gown styles you would like to wear.
Once you have a good idea of what you like (and what you don’t), you can start looking for bridal shops near you. Do a few quick internet searches to learn what is available near you.
Perhaps you are local to Illinois or other midwest areas. Suppose you are looking for fashion-forward but cost-effective gowns. In that case, you might want to run a search for ‘affordable wedding dresses Chicago.’
A quick search of ‘couture wedding gowns Chicago’ will return boutiques in your area that will custom make your dress. Narrowing the area can bring up the best wedding gown boutique options for you. The best part about planning from the comfort of your home is that you will have determined what is worth your while and what might be a waste of time before you get there.
New Ways to Celebrate
Of course, nothing beats the company of family and friends, and when you are without them for an extended period, it can feel pretty lonely.
However, there are still ways to celebrate fun and momentous occasions during the wedding planning period.
You could show your bridesmaids the wedding colors with a virtual party, or, if they live close by, host a gathering to discuss any ideas they might have for wedding decor.
Another fun idea might be to get your cake tasting or food tasting ‘to go’ and invite your parents and in-laws over for some fun. Or, keep it intimate and taste test with your future spouse. While you’re at it, you could create a signature cocktail to share with your friends and family at your wedding.
Shopping for your wedding dress can be an enjoyable time, especially when it is shared with your nearest and dearest. You probably envisioned trying on gowns with your besties and getting their opinions—welcome or not.
However, the current situation does not always allow for that. If your wedding party or closest family and friends can’t join you at the bridal boutique for your wedding dress try-on, you could host a virtual try-on for your wedding party, or if the circumstances allow it, an in-person try-on lunch or brunch from your home!
Virtual Advice
If you have made your Pinterest board of wedding dress styles and silhouettes, but you are still unsure of what you are looking for, your computer or tablet might hold the answer.
Hosting a Zoom call with your closest friends and family members to choose your wedding gown might not be the same as being in person, but it also means that they can be a part of this special day.
You will have the same opinions to consider and the same helpful eyes to help you decide on your perfect dress—you will all just be safely distanced.
More Time to Consider Everything Else
If you would rather shop in person for your dress, you can choose to wait until stores return to normal service or until you can shop again. But in the meantime, you could shop for everything else.
Shopping for all the other things you need for your wedding will mean that you are organized and ready well before the day arrives. This level of preparedness can save you a great deal of pre-wedding stress!
Are you having a rehearsal dinner? Now is a great time to have something custom-made for your wedding party. Perhaps you have already planned a bachelorette party, or there is a wedding shower being thrown in your honor? Now is the perfect time to find a great outfit. Your groom, the groomsmen? You have lots of options and lots of time to find the perfect outfits, so go wild!
Wedding Gown Shopping
We know that wedding planning during a pandemic is not the way you had pictured it when you dreamed of your wedding, but unfortunately, here we are.
You can still shop for your wedding from home. Some purchases are simple, like outfits for your rehearsal dinner or bachelorette party. Some are much more complicated, such as your wedding gown. With a bit of help from technology and some patience, you can be extra prepared during this time of uncertainty.
Most importantly, you can find your dream wedding dress during this time.
An excellent wedding boutique, like Viero Bridal, carries designer gowns and has an extensive website to browse, and includes some online options if you are unable to make it one of our premier wedding dress boutiques in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, or Los Angeles.
Virtual wedding planning can be as fun as you want it to be, and when we can move about freely once again, you can celebrate with those you hold the closest.
Whether you are looking to design your own gown with a custom couture wedding dress, or you have your eye on a dress from one of Viero Bridal’s collections, contact Viero Bridal today to get started.