Wedding dress shopping during covid

I'm back! It's been a while, blog. I've missed you, but I needed a break.

I'm so excited to start a new section on Guide called... "Guide to Bride," a section filled with all my tips and tricks for having an amazing engagement and wedding as someone whose been in the wedding industry since 2013 (!!!) and is currently planning a wedding. I'm excited to document my time as a bride and hopefully help some people out too, as they navigate planning a wedding during this CRAZY time!!

In today's post, I want to tell you about my experience buying a wedding dress during this pandemic. I would have never expected my "say yes to the dress" moment to have happened during a pandemic.... LOL!  It's honestly crazy and never how I would've pictured finding my perfect dress for the biggest day of my life as a little girl.

Back in February, I had planned on dress shopping over Memorial Day weekend. As businesses closed, and the entire city of Boston went on lock-down, it was clear that was not going to happen. My appointments were rescheduled for July, but with restrictions. Below, I outline what to expect from your appointment, and how to make the most of saying yes to the dress!

where I shopped

1. Musette Bridal 419 Boylston St Boston, MA

2. I Do Bridal 283 Tremont St, Boston, MA

3. Alexandra's Boutique 372 S Main St, Fall River, MA 
*Where I said "YES!"*

What to expect

1. Limited Number of Guests Allowed
Stores have a lower capacity than usual, which is based on the total full capacity number of the store. So, depending on how small or how large the store is, you may be allowed to bring a smaller amount of guests than you would have been able to, pre-covid. At Musette and I Do, I was allowed to bring 2 guests, and at Alexandra's I was allowed to bring 5 guests.

2. Zoom/FaceTime is Allowed.
Typically, most bridal stores have a no photos/videos policy to protect their inventory and designers. However, because of the restrictions on guests, you are allowed to zoom/facetime/skype in your loved ones. If this is the case, I recommend bringing a tripod for your phone to avoid tired arms!

3. Masks are Required.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, but masks are required for the bride and all guests. Make sure to bring along your cutest mask to accessorize with your dress ;) This wasn't terrible for me, as I'm so used to the mask at this point, but I did feel like I overheated at points between pulling up the heavy dresses, wearing thick fabrics, and overwhelming emotions, so if you're able to take breaks, I recommend doing so!

4. Appointment Times May Be Shortened.
Since the stores capacity is lower, you may be given a shorter appointment time than usual to avoid overlap in clients. Be prepared to know exactly what you are looking for - designers, styles, price points, etc - to give your consultant the best chance at finding you your dream dress.

5. Dress Browsing May Be Limited.
Disinfectant policies have changed, so depending on the store, you may not be able to browse and touch dresses before deciding to try it on. This policy was different in every store - one store I wore gloves to browse, another store I was allowed to browse but not touch, and another I didn't browse at all. I didn't mind much, as I think it's best to leave the shopping to the consultants who have seen every dress in the store on at least one bride. 

6. No Champagne Allowed.
This was the saddest rule for me :( (lol) but champagne, or any food/beverage, is not allowed at your appointment since guests have to keep their masks on at all times. I would have loved to celebrate saying yes with a glass of champagne, but, alas, we must save the drinking for another day.

Some of My Favorite Dresses...

Can't wait for you all to see THE DRESS!!