Most common concerns a bride has when looking for her ideal dress.

You're getting married and you're looking for your dress, and suddenly you realize it's not as easy as looking for a weekend dress or, much less, a pair of jeans. Don't worry, you're not the only one, and that's why we've decided to talk about the most frequent doubts when looking for your wedding dress, and here are 7 tips to find your answers.

1. The budget.

Most people start with the budget question, not knowing how much a dress costs and how much is appropriate for them to invest in the trousseau. In terms of price ranges, you should know that today there are options for all types of budgets, from the bride with an intimate wedding who wears a simple short white dress without embroidery and from a commercial brand; to the bride who will have the wedding of the century, hires designers for an exclusive model, or travels to find the most special personalized dress. If you look at it this way, you can indeed start from $1,500 Mexican pesos up to $8,000,000 USD for the dress of Queen Letizia of Spain designed by Manuel Pertegaz. The most expensive wedding dress in the world, and not yet worn, costs $12,000,000 USD and is by Martin Katx and Renee Strauss, its price is due to the fabric being encrusted with 150 carats of pure diamond. In Mexico, in the commercial market, the most common range is from $10,000 to $30,000 Mexican pesos (according to a 2022 study by bodas.com in Mexico surveying its users, 55% of respondents said they had a budget for their dress within this range). Evidently, if you are looking for something very special and different, your budget will be above this range. Some wedding planners say that the wedding dress and all its accessories should represent approximately 10% of the total wedding value, which is why someone who has a wedding of more than $1,000,000 pesos sometimes spends more than $100,000 Mexican pesos on their dress. At Débh Herrera, our clients usually invest between $22,000 and $60,000 in personalized ceremony dresses, and between $6,000 and $24,000 in dresses for intimate or civil weddings.

2. The style of the dress.

It's important to be clear about where you'll be getting married—beach, forest, etc.—and if your wedding will have a certain theme or "dress code." If you want a super relaxed and bohemian beach wedding, it might seem odd if your dress is too elaborate and has many layers of fabric. The same goes the other way around: if your wedding is super lavish and elegant, your bridal look will need to match.

3. What type of silhouette suits me best.

A good wedding dress starts with a piece that has a very good "fitting", which is why knowing the best silhouette for your body is essential. We suggest you try on all silhouettes anyway to see which ones you feel best in. Here's a small guide:

- Rectangular body (few curves and little difference between bust, waist, and hips): avoid mermaid styles, choose sweetheart necklines or details that create volume at the bust and hips, such as princess skirts fitted at the waist or voluminous sleeves.

- Triangular body (small torso in relation to wide hips): If you choose tight-fitting skirts, balance with voluminous sleeves or sweetheart necklines. If you choose A-line or princess skirts, avoid pleats or crinolines from the hip down.

- Inverted triangle body (large torso in relation to narrow hips): Avoid dresses tight at the hip, choose princess silhouettes or skirts with more volume.

- Apple or pear body (large waist in relation to narrower hips and shoulders): your best option is empire cuts.

- Hourglass body (curvy silhouette with a very narrow waist in relation to shoulders and hips): almost all silhouettes suit you, but if you are petite, choose flowing fabrics or straight cuts that lengthen you.

4. How far in advance should I look for the dress?

Generally, an ideal time is between 9 and 6 months before the wedding. The most organized start a year in advance, and the least prepared start up to three months before, but this latter option carries many risks: you'll be very stressed, and you'll have fewer style and price options, which often means higher costs due to the rush.

5. Where to look

If you're looking for something classic and commercial, well-known bridal stores will pop up with a quick Google search. But if you want something more unique and special, you should direct your search to independent designers in Mexico like Débh Herrera or specialized boutiques with a selection of dresses from national and international brands and designers. Fashion and wedding blogs will tell you about original options.

6. Fittings

Normally, a wedding dress to achieve a perfect and custom fit will require at least some adjustments and at least two fittings; sometimes it can go up to 5 fittings. That's why time is also important so you can enjoy the process. If you plan to make significant changes to your body, it's best to complete these at least one month before your wedding to ensure your final adjustment will be ideal.

7. Accessories.

The dress doesn't end with the dress; you should think of a total look. Accessories to consider include: the veil, hairpiece, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, bouquet, shoes, and underwear. In terms of styling, you should think about your makeup and hairstyle; for example, if you have a significant backless design, it would be a shame to wear your hair down.

Do you have other questions? Contact us for personalized advice with Débh Herrera!