Pronovias Approves of the BFF Bridal Shopping Experience
We’ve probably said this more times than we can even count, but wedding dress shopping should be one of the LEAST stressful and MOST exciting parts of your wedding planning experience. And it all starts with the perfect place to pick that dream dress out. Whether you want to go all out, in a bridal salon that is stacked with signature skus and a plethora of bridal designers to peruse, or if you’d prefer to seek out that one store you know will have your always-imagined gown in stock, it’s YOUR decision to make. Thankfully, we’ve called on the experts at Pronovias to give us some ace advice on that first wedding shopping sojourn. And one of their best kept secrets: bring your best friends.
It might seem contrary to everything you’ve ever fantasized about in regard to your wedding dress shopping trip, but sometimes having your best ladies in tow is the best way to take on the trial-and-error try-on task. While having your mother or father there for the big moment certainly qualifies as the classic choice, it’s becoming a lot more commonplace for brides to bring along their closest friends as confidants, and we can’t say that we don’t support it! Moms and sisters, mother-in-laws and sibling-in-laws, will always come first to mind (rightfully so!), but they’re not always the best cheerleaders. Especially if they’re holding out hope that you’ll choose one of their favorite finds - and you’re hardly on the same page.
Case in point, my mom was dying for me to fall in love with a blinged-out bridal confection, and I couldn’t veto those styles from my dressing room faster. #sorrynotsorry, mom. I love you, but no. Not my taste!
The Pronovias powers that be advise brides to choose their entourage more out of conviction than out of obligation - and we are SO on board with their counsel. Obligation is often one of the MAJOR stressors for brides, whether they have to include a family member in their bridal party just to appease someone else, or whether they have to make changes to their ceremony based on religious or familial, faith obligations. So, when it comes to their dress, we agree with Pronovias and the persuasion to pick your bridal gown shopping posse based on what your heart is telling you.
Other than your girls finding your local Pronovias store and scheduling your appointment, here are a few more reasons we like what the style experts at this luxe fashion house are putting down… Scroll on!
Okay, SO. The dress shopping experience should be one of your biggest and most memorable as a bride. And that means your anxiety level needs to be non existent, because stress and pressure do not a happy bride make. That said, we’ve tapped the arbiters of style at Pronovias to give you a full rundown on what makes an easy, breezy dress-buying binge possible. And their secret: bring your best friends. Here are a few reasons why…
your dress should play well with your wedding vibe, and your girls will have your back
We’re totally not saying that mom and sis don’t have your back. Obvi they do. But your friends have been by your side for quite some time and it’s pretty plausible that they know your style even better than your blood relatives or future family do. Pronovias cautions brides to have a clear idea of how their wedding is going to be, and have their date and venue (both for the ceremony and reception) booked already so that they can come into their shopping experience with an aesthetic to match the dress of their dreams. Your girls probably know the difference between a contemporary elegant wedding and a bohemian romantic one, so just let your family members know that they have a better understanding of your modern gown glossary. 
your dress should titillate your taste, and your friends have your style committed to memory
Whether you went to high school together and remember each other’s prom dress styles and what looked good on your bestie back then (and still does) or whether you lived with each other in college or afterwards and could alphabetize your BFF’s favorite designers at the drop of a hat, your best friends have their pulse on the silhouettes, fabrics and embellishments that make you shine, so they’ll be able to help you pre-select gowns from the Pronovias wedding dress collection that you’ll share with your consultant before your appointment. They’ll also be great wing-women if you get to the store without any styles in mind and need to go through the digital lookbook or traipse from room to room to find some samples to try on. 
you might not want to strip down in front of your mom or mil
This is a BIGGIE!!! Even though your mom likely changed all of your diapers as a baby, she’s seen you naked, let’s be honest, you might not be comfortable with her (or your bae’s mama) seeing you in your lingerie or sans bra. On the flip side, you and your besties have probably shared more dressing rooms than you can remember and/or shared clothes so many times you know how they look in a push up bra or braless. So instead of stressing, you can go to your appointment and not have to worry about stripping down in front of your squad. Pronovias takes care of EVERYTHING so that you don’t have to worry about squat when you’re getting styled. The stores have all types of accessories to complete your bridal look, from headpieces to veils, shoes to lingerie. And your consultant will provide anything else you might need, including the right bra for each dress you try (the brand’s dresses are very well cut and certain necklines require certain undergarments or none at all). 
your ladies have gotten to know your 'O' Face over the years
No, we don’t mean that one. We mean your OH-EM-GEE face. The one you wear when you’re hundo P obsessed with something. The ‘OMG, I look amazing, do I really have to take this off?’ face. Pronovias is all about the ‘love at first sight’ moment when you try on THE gown and your emotions and feelings of joy just explode. The consultants have a great sense for noticing when their brides are overwhelmed or completely and utterly in love with a dress they literally cannot deal, and even if they need a little help deciphering… that’s what your friends are there for. They’ve got their eyes on you, and they’ll wave that flag if they want your consultant to get all the accoutrements ready for that celebratory ‘I’M SAYING YESSSS!’ moment or, rather, if you need to come back at another time because you’re just so overcome with emotions you’re having trouble. That happens, and it’s okay!
your besties will put blocks on all of your calendars
Not saying that your mother, sister or in laws won’t pencil in those important appointments, but sometimes a best friend can do it better 😳. Once you’ve said yes to your dress, you’ll need to schedule your fittings and alterations appointments, and who better to lock you down than the girls who basically rule your social calendar anyway? You’ll need to have a minimum of 2-3 fittings to make all the necessary alterations and checks, and Pronovias will make sure the timing is adapted to the calendar for your wedding. The first fitting will happen 4-6 months before the big day, and you’ll be able to meet with your consultant and seamstress (each Pronovias flagship store has its own dressmaking workshop, NBD) to make your modifications. The next fitting will be about a month and a half before your wedding and the last will be about 10 days before the main event. Give your girls your iPhone and tell them to drop those deets in your calendar. 
