For many brides, buying a wedding dress is one of the most emotional and significant moments of wedding planning. But when is the right time to find your dream dress? Too early, and you might change your mind later. Too late, and it becomes stressful with alterations and delivery times.

This guide will help you find the optimal time to shop for your wedding dress, plan in a structured way, and calmly navigate all the important steps. With a clear wedding dress shopping plan, practical tips, and a realistic timeframe, you'll be perfectly prepared for your grand entrance on your special day.

When to buy a wedding dress?

The recommended timeframe for buying a wedding dress is 8 to 12 months before the wedding. That may seem like a long time, but in the world of bridal fashion, good planning is worth its weight in gold.

Benefits of Buying Early

1. Wide selection: Early brides have access to the latest collections and more design options.
2. Plenty of time for alterations: Many dresses require alterations – a time-consuming process that can take several months.
3. Less stress: You can focus on other wedding details without any last-minute panic.

Our extra tip: Keep an eye on seasonal collections – many designers release new styles in spring and fall. Sales and discounts are often available outside of peak season. Subscribe to the newsletter and follow noni on Instagram so you don't miss out on any offers!

To help you stay on top of things, here's a structured wedding dress shopping plan:

• 12-9 months: Set a budget, schedule bridal shop appointments
• 9-6 months: Conduct fittings, make a purchase decision, order the dress
• 6-4 months: Schedule alterations, initial tailoring appointments, select accessories (veil, jewellery, shoes)
• 4-2 months: Additional fittings, make final adjustments
• 2-1 month(s): Pick up the dress, make final alterations (if necessary)
• 1 week: Store the dress securely (e.g., hanging in a breathable garment bag), make final preparations

👰 Pregnant Brides

Time to Buy: About 3 months before the wedding

Our tip: Choose a wedding dress or bridal outfit with stretchy materials, an empire waist, back slits, or lacing, as styles with these details are more figure-hugging.

Consultation: Mention your pregnancy when booking your appointment (even if you're still in the early stages). If you become pregnant during your wedding dress search, let your consultant at the bridal shop of your choice know – this way, the team can prepare suitable styles or accommodate any alterations.

🚀 Last-minute weddings

Not every wedding is planned 12 months in advance—and that's perfectly fine! Here are a few solutions:

Options for last-minute wedding dress shopping

• Off-the-rack dresses: Ready-to-go—often available in showrooms or warehouse sales. Book one of our last-minute consultations.
• Secondhand wedding dresses: Sustainable and often more affordable. Pay attention to well-maintained condition and possible alterations. Learn more about noni PreLoved.
• Express services: Some manufacturers and studios offer express production for an additional fee.

This short checklist will help ensure your fitting runs smoothly and successfully:

✅ Fitting Checklist

• Subtle makeup: To keep the dress clean.
• Matching underwear: Ideally, skin-coloured, seamless underwear – this will be closest to the final look.
• Shoes with a similar heel height: To better judge the correct length, bring shoes that you feel comfortable in and that are closest to the style you'll wear at your wedding. If you've already found your final pair of bridal shoes, bring them directly to your initial consultation.
• Trusted companion(s): Max. 1–3 people whose opinion you truly value. Our experience has shown that this is the appropriate number of companions.
• Openness to new things: Try unexpected styles – many brides find their dream dress in a completely different style than planned.

The ideal time to shop for a wedding dress is 8 to 12 months before your wedding day. This lead time gives you time to choose, make alterations, and plan in a relaxed manner.

With the right wedding dress shopping plan and a few practical tips, the journey to your dream outfit will be a beautiful and stress-free (!) part of your wedding planning. And remember: every bride is unique – adapt your schedule to your needs and enjoy the process.