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What to Wear to When Wedding Dress Shopping

Elevate your bridal shopping experience with our list of what to bring, wear and consider before an appointment

For many brides, wedding dress shopping is a key highlight on the journey towards the aisle. An exciting opportunity to try on countless beautiful dresses in the pursuit of finding 'the one'. But in the lead up to many of our brides' appointments, they often ask about what they should wear when wedding dress shopping. And it got us thinking that maybe we should share our advice with everyone!


It's not entirely obvious to the uninitiated what should be worn, or brought to a wedding dress shopping experience. After all, if you've never done it before, how would you know! Which is why we thought it would be useful to answer all your questions right here.


what to wear wedding dress shopping

What to Wear to When Wedding Dress Shopping

Here’s our simple guide to preparing for a stress-free wedding dress fitting.


Wear the Right Underwear

The foundation of any great outfit is the right underwear, and a wedding dress is no exception. Here's our tips on what to wear underneath.


  • Nude or Skin-tone Underwear

    Always opt for nude or skin-toned undergarments that won’t show through your dress, no matter the fabric. Seamless underwear is also ideal to ensure no visible lines showing through on your dress.


  • Strapless Bra or Corset

    Depending on the neckline of your chosen dress, a strapless bra may be necessary. If your dress has built-in corsetry or a structured bodice, you might not need additional support. If you can though, bring a few bra options to see what works best.


  • Shapewear

    If you intend to wear shapewear on your wedding day, bring it to your fitting. It can affect the fit and feel of your dress, so it’s essential to try everything on together.


  • Nipple Covers

    We mentioned that having a small range of bra options would be a benefit, but many bridal gowns also have support built-in. Making a bra quite unnecessary. What this does mean is that you'll often be topless in the changing room with your stylist while trying on dresses. If you're totally comfortable with that, great, but if you're not, and you'd like a little coverage, pop some nipple covers on.




Bring the Right Shoes

Shoes are crucial for getting the hemline of a dress just right and can alter how you feel in a certain style.


  • Wear the Actual Shoes You'll Wear on the Day or a Similar Height Heel

    If you’ve already purchased wedding shoes, bring them to every wedding dress appointment. If not, bring a pair with a heel height similar to what you plan to wear on your wedding day. The height of your shoes will determine the length of your dress and the adjustments needed for the hem.


  • Comfortable Flats (Just in Case)

    While you’ll need to try on your dress with heels (if you're wearing heels on the day), it’s also a good idea to bring a pair of comfortable flats. You may want to switch to them during the fitting, especially if it’s a long session.



Keep Jewellery & Hair Accessories Minimal

When wedding dress shopping, the jewellery you're already wearing should not be your priority. Maintain a less is more approach to accessorising.


  • Simple and Subtle

    Stick to wearing minimal jewellery while wedding shopping, as it's important not to snag anything on the dresses you're trying on, or distract from the fitting process. A pair of stud earrings and a delicate necklace is ideal.


  • Hair Accessories: If you’ve already chosen a veil, headpiece, or hair accessory, bring them along to see how they work with your prospective dress. This helps ensure a cohesive look and allows you to make any necessary adjustments to your hairstyle or the dress.




Wear a Comfortable, Easy-to-Remove Outfit

Arriving at your fitting wearing comfortable, easy-to-remove clothing can make the process much smoother.


  • Button-Down Shirt or Loose Top

    A button-down shirt or loose top is ideal, as it’s easy to remove without disturbing your hair or makeup (especially if you’re doing a beauty trial on the same day). Avoid anything tight or difficult to take off.


  • Leggings or Loose Trousers

    Comfortable bottoms like leggings or yoga pants are perfect for slipping on and off quickly. They’re also useful if you need to sit down or move around during fittings.



Wedding Shopping Beauty Prep

To get a clear picture of how you’ll look on your wedding day, consider a subtle glam look.


  • Wear Your Hair Like You'll Wear on the Big Day

    If possible, style your hair in a way that’s similar to how you'll wear it on the wedding day, as this'll help you see how the neckline and back of the dress works with your hairstyle.


  • Light Makeup: Wear light makeup to your fitting to enhance your look and give you a better sense of the final result. However, avoid heavy foundation or products that could transfer onto the dress.


  • Feel Good About Your Beauty Look

    It's tempting to dress down your hair and makeup in the pursuit of comfortability, but this may make it harder to imagine how you'll feel on the big day. Don't go full on glam, just enough to help you feel confident when looking in the mirror.

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