How Many Wedding Dresses Should You Try On?

Although it’s probably one of the most common questions brides ask, figuring out how many wedding dresses to try on is a personal experience, so there’s not a one-size-fits-all answer. So how many dresses do brides usually try on? Well, on average, most brides try on fewer than ten dresses, with most brides falling in the 4 to 7 dresses range.

Does this mean that you have to try on 4 to 7 wedding gowns? Nope! There are brides who say yes to the dress after trying on just one, while other brides don’t find their dream dress until they’ve tried well over ten from multiple bridal salons and online try-at-home programs. There’s truly no right or wrong number for all brides, so it’s all about figuring out the best way to shop for yourself.

Trying on wedding dresses helps you understand what you like and don’t like so that you can get closer to discovering your dream dress. That means the whole “trying on” experience is going to be different for every bride, so the number of wedding dresses that you explore will be unique to you. That’s not to say you can’t get a feel for about how many wedding gowns you, personally, will need to explore before you’re ready to make a decision. In this article, you’ll discover some tips and tricks to help speed up the process to find your dream dress fast and to avoid wasting your time, energy, and money trying on dresses that won’t meet your standards. Let’s dive in.

How Many Wedding Dresses is Too Many to Try on?

You’ll know that you’ve hit the “too many” zone for trying on wedding dresses when you start to find the whole experience stressful, draining, and maybe even hopeless. Initially, the prospect of trying on wedding dresses feels almost magical! But when you start trying on close to a dozen wedding gowns at several different boutiques, not only is it time consuming, but also stressful, negatively impacting you with doubts and worries. The more wedding dresses you try on, the more uncertain you may feel. It may lead to second-guessing your decisions or leaning too heavily on other people’s opinions, and that can steer you to picking the wrong dress.

Maybe you’re feeling that strain right now or you’re just starting your journey to find your dream gown and want to avoid that feeling. Either way, it’s not too late to adjust your perspective and simplify your shopping experience with a little strategy. Here are five tips from Avery Austin on how you can avoid trying on too many wedding dresses.

1. Ask the Experts: The best way to start tackling your feelings about trying on wedding dresses is to broaden your perspective. It’s easy to bury yourself in feelings of self-doubt by thinking that no one else has tried on as few or as many wedding dresses as you. If you can, ask women in your life who have been married and gone through the dress shopping experience how many wedding dresses they tried on. Chances are, you’ll get varying answers. Maybe they got lucky and found the dress of their dreams after trying on just a few dresses, but sometimes, it can take a bit of back and forth. There are brides who try on as many as 50+ wedding dresses before they ultimately said yes to one in particular. Simply knowing you’re not alone in your journey to your dream dress can make all the difference in lifting your spirits and pulling your confidence right back into place. It’s a whole new mindset. Did you try on only one dress? Instead of second guesses, now you’re thinking congrats to me, let’s celebrate and accessorize! Did you try on way more than ten wedding dresses? Instead of feeling like you’ll never find the right gown, now that you know many other brides have experienced this, you can lean on that magical word “yet”... “I haven’t found my dress yet, but I will!”
2. Do a Little Advanced Planning: There are a few ways you can narrow your bridal dress choices before you even start shopping. Deciding on your wedding theme or venue first can make a big difference in the type of wedding dresses you’ll want to try on. For example, if you’re planning a modern wedding, you’ll want to start by trying on modern wedding dresses that will perfectly match your theme. If you’re getting married on a beach, you can find beach wedding dresses that beautifully suit a sandy setting. If you want a more traditional wedding, romantic wedding gowns are a good starting point. One other thing to consider before trying anything on is your budget. Once you figure out your budget, you can focus on only trying on wedding gowns within that price range. Whether you’re shopping for wedding dresses under $1000 or some other price point, you’ll be narrowing your options down and (hopefully) the amount of bridal gowns you’ll be trying on to find the one you love.
3. Tune Out the Noise: This is especially important when you start feeling that self doubt. Many times, brides struggle to find their dream dress because they’re being led astray by other opinions. You probably have several important people in your life trying to help you find your dream dress and joining you for all of your shopping trips, and that’s wonderful! Don’t hesitate to lean on them through this process and get their opinions as you try on wedding dresses. However, if it comes to the point when you feel that those opinions are doing more harm than good (even if they have the best intentions in the world), it may be best for your decision-making process to tune them out or try on some wedding dresses solo. No matter what anyone else thinks about a style or how it looks on you, your opinion is what matters the most. By clearing the noise (and your head), you can regain your focus. Remember: This is your wedding and your dress.
4. Minimize the Fatigue: It’s far too easy to exhaust yourself by overbooking yourself at every local bridal salon over the course of a month. Take it one appointment at a time and give yourself time to reflect after each experience. After your very first appointment for trying on wedding dresses, kick back with a drink and a notepad. Think back to each wedding gown you tried on and take note of what you liked and disliked. In this way, you might be able to zero in on or eliminate certain silhouettes, fabrics, or dress features right from the start. Maybe you LOVED the A-line and ball gown styles but didn’t like the way it felt to move in the fit-and-flare or mermaid styles. Maybe lace detailing kept snagging on your jewelry or smooth satin felt cool and comfortable under your palms. With any and all of these ideas in mind, you can walk into your next appointment ready to try on styles you like and avoid wasting time on the gowns you already know you won’t like because of the cut, fabric, or design. Oh, and if you’re not sure what to call a certain fabric, neckline, or style, don’t hesitate to ask! Then you’ll know exactly what to ask for or avoid next time. You can also check out Avery Austin’s guides about wedding dress styles, fabrics, sleeves, necklines, and more to give yourself a head start.
5. Skip the Boutiques: A perfect way to lower your stress level is to opt for trying on wedding dresses at home instead of spending additional time traveling to boutiques. When you shop for wedding dresses online, you’ll find that some sites offer you the option to try on sample bridal gowns in the comfort of your own home. With Avery Austin’s Try at Home Program, not only is it easy and affordable, but you also get support through every step with a bridal specialist! That specialist can help you narrow your options right from the start and guide you through the process of finding your dream dress.

Needless to say, it can make a huge difference for your confidence and well-being if you jump into trying on wedding dresses with a plan (and a little mental preparation). You’ll no longer worry about how many wedding dresses you need to try on before finding The One, and you won’t be frantically trying on anything and everything under the sun. By having a general idea of what you’re looking for and knowing how to start refining your choices as your learn about your own preferences, you’ll save yourself a whole lot of time, energy, money, and stress because you’ll be focused on only trying on wedding dresses that are “qualified candidates” for your style, theme, and budget.

So, take a deep breath and focus on YOU. Visualize your dream wedding and your favorite bridal styles. Prep yourself with a wedding dress try-on game plan, then focus on enjoying every memorable moment of your journey to find your bridal gown.