5 months out and I haven't starting look for a dress... is that bad?

David's Bridal may be your best bet. I got my dress from there and I'm so in love with it. It took about a month to get in but you can also buy off the rack. Check their clearance also to see what they have. Good luck!

Yes I think you might have a bit of trouble. Most dresses take 5-6 months to come in so you might have to buy off the rack. Let the store know when you get there your time crunch and your budget. But since you have such short amount of time, you might have to spend a little more than you want to.

Yeahh..I ordered mine in February and didn't get it till June. You will likely end up spending more to have things rushed. I would definitely suggest telling them right away that your wedding is so soon - some designers can't get dresses in that fast if you find one you like that isn't in-store.

Definitely go as soon as possible, but it's doable. I got mine at David's Bridal for $500 + tax and it arrived a month after I ordered it. Your options are definitely limited at that price point though. Can you move your appt at David's Bridal sooner?

I found an unaltered, new with tags dress at a bridal consignment shop. And I didn't need alterations. Bought it in May for my 7/31/15 wedding!

I'd definitely recommend trying to find a bridal consignment shop!

Yeah, you'll most likely either have to buy from DB or get an off-the-rack dress. Look for places that sell sample dresses, and remember a lot can be done with alterations even if you don't initially love everything about a dress.

Yikes! When I went dress shopping at 8 months, I was told I might be cutting it close. You will most likely need to either pay for a rush order or buy off the rack at this point. For less than $500, you should start with David's Bridal.

Is that bad? if you are looking to buy a designer dress... yes. your options are going to be extremely limited the longer you wait.

I would tell any place you shop when your wedding is and that you don't want to see any dresses you can't get in that time period so you don't fall in love with something you can't get. I got lucky and my dress I could have walked out with that day even though I was shopping 9 months out. You are probably best off with DB or a sample dress.

I did my dress shopping at 5 months, it was delivered two weeks later.. so.. just depends on where you are ordering from.

Ahhhh... good advice ladies, thank you!

I'll be careful before trying anything on to make sure it's possible to get it in time! Sounds like DB is a good option for my situation.

She's not going to get a designer dress for less than $500, so it doesn't sound like that is a consideration anyway.

DB is likely your best bet - their dresses come in the quickest as they are often not "made to order". They are pre-made and sitting in a warehouse somewhere. They also have a lot more options for buying off the rack than other boutiques.

Many salons offer rush orders, but it will likely increase the price by 10-30% depending on the store. And I doubt you will be able to find much at boutiques other than DB for less than $500.

Also, since you are already in a time crunch, I would change your DB appointment to asap. There is no reason to wait until August.

I don't know where you are, but BHLDN is another good option - look at some of their BM dresses in white, ivory or champagne, which are gorgeous and flowy. They also have a much shorter turnaround.

I got my wedding dress 5 months before at DB. The sales consultant is going to act all panicked and be like "YOU NEED TO ORDER TODAY!" but honestly, I went home and ordered online and my dress can 2 weeks later. Dress was $150 (yay online sale!) and only needed to get the dress hemmed because I'm really short.

@Emily - you hit the nail on head, thanks for the advice!

@Doublej079 - I am TOTALLY open to a pretty champagne colored bridemaid dress! I think I'd be more comfortable in something slightly less formal/bridal! Love the idea.

@Tara - thank you for the advice! This makes me feel a little better, hopefully I get as lucky