Everything You Need To Know About Your Bridal Appointment

We sent Galia Lahav writer Lauren to try the GL experience for herself at our exclusive London stockist, Browns Bride. Here, Lauren gives you the low-down: everything you need to know before you book your bridal appointment.

It goes without saying, but… don’t leave organising your boutique visit to the last minute! It’s best to schedule your appointment well in advance, especially if you’re hoping for a weekend or evening slot. 

Most bridal boutiques charge a booking fee to avoid late cancellations and enable the best-possible service from their staff. Despite being so in-demand, designers and boutique owners want to ensure that there are never too many brides-to-be in-store at the same time. This means that you each have the devoted attention of a stylist, as well as a sense of privacy. So, if a client cancels last-minute that’s a precious slot that could have gone to another excited bride-to-be. Luckily, your booking fee will usually be deducted from the cost of a purchase.

Wearing nude underwear to your wedding-dress appointment is ideal. The last thing you need is a dark or bright pair clearly visible beneath your gown, which is very distracting (and detracting!). If your underwear is seamless, even better – particularly for women who’d like to try on some figure-hugging shapes.

Bridal boutiques have cups that you can fit into the bust of a design (should you wish to use them to test fit and coverage); alternatively, you could bring some skin-coloured ‘nipple covers’ with you to wear beneath sheer or unstructured fabrics. Once you’ve chosen your gown, good boutiques will also suggest trusted lingerie brands to go to for the best wedding-day underwear advice.

The boutique can lend you heels in your size but, if you already know the style of shoes you’ll wear on your wedding day or already own something like them, definitely bring those along. 

Your appointment will probably last an hour or two, so you’ve got plenty of time to try on the handful of gowns that really stand out to you. As a general rule, it’s better not to overwhelm yourself by trying on too many styles or asking for opinions from too many people. Most boutiques recommend limiting yourself to bringing three friends or family members with you to an appointment. It may not sound like many, but too many cooks truly can spoil the broth. And once you’ve had some time to digest how you looked and felt wearing it, you can come back with someone else for another perspective (free of charge). Just remember, it’s YOU who’ll be wearing the outfit on your wedding day, so trust your gut and do what feels right for you.

Your dedicated stylist can help you into and out of the dresses, but will also respect your privacy. Don’t be shy to say what you need, and bear in mind that they work with women in this way all day long. With that in mind, listen to your stylist’s advice because they’re experts. Many brides find their big-day dress off the back of a stylist’s suggestion.

When you find the perfect look for you, it’s time for measurements to be taken. All Galia Lahav designs are made-to-order, meaning they’re made especially for you. The GALA collection requires 4 to 5 measurements across your figure, while any couture style needs around 30.

It’s time to book some fittings which will ensure the dress fits you like a glove. Of course, there’s no limit to how many adjustments a bride will need, but over the course of a few months most will have around three fittings at the boutique, with the last one taking place as close to the wedding as possible.

The next thing you know, it’ll be your wedding day (and you’ll finally get to show your new dress off).