Advice from the owner and bridal stylist who has helped hundreds of Bridal Atelier brides secure their dream dress.
My answer is remarkably simple: I promise, you just will.
When you strip away the noise, the opinions and the pressure of the decision itself, deep down — in your heart, in your gut — you will know. You might not be ready to say it out loud straight away, and your big cinematic moment may look a little different to how you imagined, but I truly believe the feeling is unmistakable.
Here are a few signs to look out for:
You’ve tried on lots of beautiful gowns, then suddenly one feels different. You can picture yourself on your wedding day, wearing this dress. It has an edge and makes you feel incredibly special.
- When you think about what you don’t love… you come up blank.
- You’ve spent a long time in it and, actually, you don’t want to take it off.
- You love what you see in the mirror and feel confident and empowered enough to walk down the aisle in this dress.
- You’ve already discussed your budget and timings with your stylist and know you’re comfortably within them.
- Talking through finishing touches makes the dress feel real — you start visualising hair, jewellery, veils, shoes, and the complete look comes together in your mind.
But what if you’re not crying — and neither is your entourage? Is that strange or unusual? Absolutely not.
We’ve all been shown a very manufactured version of the bridal experience on TV (‘Say Yes to the Dress’). In reality, most of my brides are relaxed and a little more… British. We tend to hold it together.
What I see instead is something quieter and far more genuine. A bride lights up in a way the other dresses didn’t provoke. It’s a different smile. A reluctance to take the gown off. Glancing at ‘your’ dress on the hanger while you’re trying on another. The right dress subtly transforms you, giving you a calm, confident, radiant energy — exactly the energy you want to bring to your wedding day.
If your wedding dress is in my boutique, it’s my job to make sure you try it on. My role is to guide, empower and support you through this decision, helping you celebrate this important milestone.
What you’ll never experience at The Bridal Atelier is the pressure of the hard-sell. I find it off-putting myself when shopping, and I trust my brides to make the right decision when they feel completely ready. You’re always welcome to return for a retry if needed — because when it’s the one, you’ll know.
