Not buying the dress you thought you wanted

I had the style in mind when I went in but my sister and dress consultant threw some different styles in there. I ended up hating the style I wanted (lace and cap sleeves) on me. The dress I ended up with was actually the one style I said I didn't want (mermaid) it is amazing how different dresses really look when you try them on!

I saw this dress and fell in love. Tried it on, and it did not look good on me. The fit was very weird. Also the fabric was very heavy and that bugged me.

Personally, I would wait a little to start trying on dresses and not try on any outside of your budget.

I used to always want more of a princess gown, but when it came time for our wedding and to go dress shopping I decided after much pinterest-ing that I wanted a lace mermaid/trumpet style with a sweetheart neckline and wavy bottom. I walked out with that exact style. I actually walked out with it too since it was an off-the-rack sale lol. Now, a year later I gained weight and it doesn't fit, but also our wedding plans have changed and I found myself wanting something more flowy that I could move in freely since we're eloping in Hawaii and I want lots of fun pictures with FH picking me up etc.

My advice is to keep a really open mind on styles and don't purchase TOO early in case you end up regretting it and then needing to buy something else later.

I'm very simple and set in my ways so I was the opposite. I knew what I wanted and when I found it, I tried it, and it was perfect. But I used to work at a bridal store and tons of people came in and would buy the OPPOSITE of what they first were leaning towards.

I absolutely would not try on a dress out of my budget! If you showed the bridal consultant a pic of it they could shoe you some similar in your price range though.

I had 3-4 dresses I really wanted to try. I was able to try in one of them & I bought it! The others were allure and the closest place to carry them is a 3 hour drive. I'm super happy with my dress but will not look at any pics of allure dresses bc then I'll second guess since I never hot yo e me try them on.

I was dead set on cap sleeves. They looked TERRIBLE on my body type. I was really surprised about it. The dress I bought was a spaghetti strap form fitting lace dress that is just simply beautiful and perfect for where I am getting married at. It was $750 which was $150 over my budget but it was discounted down from almost $2,000.

I ended up getting a mermaid silhouette, which is what I wanted. But I ended up choosing a dress with no bling on it whatsoever, and I'm completely bling crazy! The dress that kept catching my eye online was the Maggie Sottero Blakely. I just loved the gold embroidery. I tried it on in silver because they didn't have the gold, and while I liked it, I didn't love it. When everything was pinned back the way it should be on my dress, it made my body look amazing. It was also unlike any other dress I had tried on even sans bling. Also, it was way under budget, so I'm thinking about getting a blingy shoulder necklace

I went in knowing I wanted a key hole back and that's the one I walked out with.

I knew which dress I was getting when I walked in. It was the one. Until I put it on.

I was limited in that I refused to try on dresses over my meager budget, but I found a great dress. I know if I spent over my budget I could have found a better dress, but I really didn't want to go over. I see dresses on here and at times I'm jealous, but I have my own priorities (like everyone) and my dress was not it.

Don't get me wrong, I love my dress! I know I could have found a dress with more lace or bling, but mine is very flattering as well.

I knew I wanted an aline with straps, lots of bling, tulle, and zero lace. I tried on all different kinds, fell in love with several modified aline and mermaid styles, with tons of lace, and almost bought one. But I knew I wouldn't be comfortable in something that form fitting all night, so I kept looking. I ended up falling in love with a strapless aline satin gown that has no lace or bling. I plan to add a sparkly belt to it. It was just so elegant and comfortable, plus it had pockets. Who can say no to pockets?

I ended up with a fit and flare, which I had been eyeing for awhile. Although I was surprised at how much I liked a sheath style dress!

I went in wanting an A-Line simple gown... didn't want lace and absolutely did not want a strapless dress. . . well I am in the same boat as PPs and I got a beaded lace strapless (sort of) ballgown . . . i say sort of because it has a draping of tulle for a romantic off the shoulder look.

I totally fell in love with the dress though and didn't want to take it off.

I went in looking a completely different dress. I ended up with a dress that made me cry. I tried on 6 or 7 dresses all together. I never got to try on the one I wanted in the first place and I'm kind of glad I didn't. I got to wear mine Tuesday and I just felt like a princess. I loved it then and love it now!!!

@Christina that dress is beautiful! Wow!

I always thought I'd wear a tight mermaid style dress.. something very sexy and "va-va-voom" like... And that's definitely what everyone expected me to wear.

The first 2 Bridal shops we went to I only tried on Mermaid, Trumpet, Fit & Flair style dresses. When my mom and I went to Kleinfeld the consultant brought in this A-Line/Ballgown dress that she insisted I try on because she said that after talking to me and my mom she just Knew it was my dress. Welp, I put that bad boy on and It was instantaneous, That Was My Dress! I never imagined it and I couldn't believe it but it was just everything. I also just instantly had this feeling that my Grandma would have Loved that dress, she's been gone for over 10 years now and just having an overwhelming feeling that if she was alive that was the dress she would have picked for me solidified it for me.

I think it's good to have an idea of what you like and also to know what looks good on your body, but I think its also really important to be open minded and not afraid to try on something that might not be what you think you want. Dresses look so different on than they do on hangers and in pictures and even on different people. I would say, I would be weary to try on a dress that's out of your budget, it would be terrible to absolutely fall in love with the dress and not be able to get it. At the Bridal Salons we went to they wouldn't even let me try on anything that was out of my budget.

I ended up buying one that I NEVER imagined and completely different from what I had in mind. When I put it on, I felt like Great Gatsby and did not want to take it off - plus it was 70% off - just seemed right.

I was adament I wanted a mermaid style and a strapless dress wasn't even to be discussed. Guess who ended up with a strapless, poofy dress?

No, it's not too early if you stop looking at dresses after you buy one. Dress regret happens because people don't stop looking at dresses.

Can you try the dress on to see if you like it on you? Almost every girl I know ended up with dresses that weren't their 'dream dress' since they didn't like it on them. After you try it on and know if you like it, check out sites like Tradesy. While I got mine at a salon, I've seen my on that site for 1/3rd of the price. Just make sure to note what size you are when you try on the dress you like.

Ok. I love my dress story.

I had been looking at dresses for months (online) before we got engaged. There was one that I loved, loved, loved and there was a local boutique in town that sold that designer. I knew the second I got engaged, I was heading there.

Well, we got engaged last July, and we both wanted a short engagement (even if it meant I would t get my dress).

My sis made an appt. at that boutique 2 days after the engagement. I went in knowing that I probably would not get my dream dress, because I would have to get one off-the-rack. Well, they had that exact dress, available off-the-rack, and it was only one size too big. We bought it (Mom bought it) that day and took it home!

I thought I wanted the biggest tulle ballgown money could buy. I left with a fitted satin gown.

Sorry. I didn't answer your question. I would try it on if you think you won't be able to get it out of your head. I tried on 7 other dresses at that appt. before "the one." I couldn't decide if I liked them or not, because I just kept thinking about the dress I wanted.

If you try it on and get all the feels, then maybe cut your budget somewhere else. If you try it and you're like, it's fine, then you know to keep looking.

My sister swore up and down she'd never get a halter top. My mom told her just to try one on, because my sister loved the rest of the dress and my sister refused to take it off. She probably wore it in the store for an hour before my mom told her it was her dress since she wouldn't take it off. You never know what you're going to like!