You’ve done your research on wedding dress styles and bridal designers and now you are ready to begin wedding dress shopping in the Pacific Northwest. But what will you wear to your wedding dress shopping appointment? Many brides in the South Sound will spend time browsing bridal stores’ online inventory, choosing dresses they want to try on during their shopping appointments, but you might not think very much about what you should wear when you go try on wedding dresses.
Finding your dream wedding dress should be a joyous occasion! Here at Weddings With Joy in Olympia, WA, we’ve worked with countless brides, guiding them through this process, and we’re sharing our best tips for what to wear when you go wedding dress shopping.
![Bride browsing wedding dresses with bridal consultant in bridal store. Weddings with Joy.](https://weddingswithjoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bride-looking-at-wedding-dresses-on-rack-weddings-with-joy-1.jpg)
Your Comfort Is #1
We know that it might not feel very comfortable to be changing clothes and trying on bridal gowns in front of another person, but your bridal stylist is just there to aid in the process of getting the dresses on and off your body quickly, efficiently, and in a safe manor that doesn’t damage the dresses.
Believe it or not, trying on wedding dresses is a lot of physical work! The dresses themselves are heavy, the zippers and buttons are difficult to manage by yourself, the trains can be long and more. So, do not worry, your bridal stylist is there to help you and they won’t be checking out your body or judging you in any way.
To help make your bridal shopping a joy, there are certain undergarments brides can wear to make them more comfortable while trying on wedding dresses. We are sharing our Weddings With Joy best tips for what to wear when wedding dress shopping in the Pacific Northwest, Portland, or Seattle areas to make your appointment run smoothly and make trying on gowns as easy as possible.
Choose An Easy Outfit
When thinking about what to wear to go wedding dress shopping, brides should choose an easy, comfortable outfit. You want something that will be easy to get on and off in the dressing room.
If you opt for an outfit that has complicated ties, zippers, or lace-up elements, that is going to cut into the time available to try on bridal dresses. You want to be able to try on as many wedding gowns as possible during your appointment time, so don’t waste any time with an outfit you will struggle to get out of.
Choose an easy, comfortable outfit for your appointment day!
![bride tries on jacquard wedding dress with straps. Weddings with Joy.](https://weddingswithjoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bride-in-jacquard-wedding-dress-with-straps-weddings-with-joy.jpg)
Undergarment Choices
Now that you’ve decided on an easy, breezy outfit to shop in, you want to consider the undergarments that you’ll wear to try on wedding dresses.
It might seem like we shouldn’t have to say this, but please wear underwear to your bridal appointments. We know some brides may not wear underwear in everyday life or with certain outfits, but you must be wearing underwear in order to try on wedding dresses in any bridal shop. This is a hygiene consideration, as other brides will be trying on the same sample wedding dresses.
When selecting what underwear to wear when wedding dress shopping, we would suggest a nude or light-colored pair. Some wedding dress fabrics are sheer or may have see-through tulle elements and it can be quite distracting if you see hot pink or brightly colored underwear peeking through the wedding dress fabric.
When going wedding dress shopping, you don’t necessarily have to wear the undergarments you will wear on your wedding day, as the specific style of undergarment will depend on the specific wedding dress style that you end up purchasing.
We know that nude might not be the most exciting undergarment color, but leave the bright or dark-colored underwear at home so you don’t have that distraction while trying on bridal dresses.
You are probably now wondering what type of bra to wear when trying on wedding dresses. You can certainly wear or bring along a strapless bra, but you should be prepared to go braless when trying on wedding dresses.
Many bridal dresses are designed with bra cups sewn into the bodice of the dress, so you won’t even need a bra on wedding day (and alterations will ensure these cups fit your body perfectly). A strapless bra can interfere with certain necklines or add a little extra bulge that no brides want!
If you want to be a bit more modest, you can plan on wearing pasties or stick-on breast covers so you have a little coverage still but no interference with the dresses you are trying on.
![bride in lace fit to flare wedding dress with straps. weddings with joy.](https://weddingswithjoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bride-tries-on-wedding-dress-with-friends-weddings-with-joy.jpg)
Should You Wear Shapewear?
Many brides who come to shop with us at Weddings With Joy will wear shapewear to their appointments, hoping to create a slimmer figure. Shapewear can actually be helpful when trying on wedding dresses, especially if you are a bit shy and want to be a bit more modest with more coverage than a standard pair of underwear.
Trying on wedding dresses is hard work! The bridal dresses can be bulky and heavy and you will most likely get a bit hot and sweaty so shapewear can actually add a smooth layer to help the dresses glide on and off a bit easier.
Shapewear is certainly not a necessity for trying on wedding dresses, but it can be a helpful item to have on hand. And remember to choose a nude or light shade!
![bride tries on fitted lace wedding dress with spaghetti straps. Weddings with Joy.](https://weddingswithjoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bride-trying-on-lace-wedding-dress-with-train-weddings-with-joy-683x1024.jpg)
We hope you have found these tips helpful in preparing for your wedding dress shopping appointments and knowing what to wear for an easy, breezy shopping trip. If you’re ready, we can’t wait to see our South Sound brides book an appointment with us at Weddings With Joy!
Be sure to also check out our past tips on how to make the most of your wedding dress shopping experience and how to know when you’ve found your wedding dress.
About Weddings With Joy
If you’re a bride in the Pacific Northwest or planning a wedding in the South Sound, Seattle, and Portland, OR areas, come visit our amazing bridal boutique in Olympia, WA full of beautiful wedding dresses. At Weddings With Joy, we offer a truly one-of-a-kind experience for our joyful brides through our personalized attention and bridal styling support as they find their perfect wedding day look. Weddings With Joy features stunning wedding dresses in all shapes, sizes, and styles as well as the best tuxedo rentals and suits in Washington state. Request your bridal shopping appointment in the South Sound to find your dream wedding dress! We can’t wait to help you become a joyful bride!