The White Dress by the shore owner, Beth Chapman was recently interviewed by Style me Pretty for an article on why it is OK to say YES on your first wedding dress shopping trip! "Thanks to shows like Say Yes to the Dress, the bridal dress shopping experience has become an event. Many brides book dozens of appointments at a variety of boutiques and spend days on end traipsing through shops with bridesmaids in tow. According to Beth Chapman, owner of The White Dress by the shore, there is nothing wrong with saying yes to your dress at your very first boutique!" -Style Me Pretty 

Photo | Melanie Zacek Photography 

SMP: What do you think are the key components to finding the right dress? Beth Chapman:  It is a great time to be a bride, as there are so many fashion options!  But, the process can easily become overwhelming.  I find the best first step in finding your gown is to identify your personal style. Think about whether your personal fashion aesthetic is more classic, bohemian, eclectic, or trendy.  More than likely you will find that the aesthetic that you have identified mirrors the style of gowns that you are pinning on Pinterest. Next, it is important to identify a budget. Do some research to make sure that your budget is realistic. Find gowns that you love on websites like style me pretty and Pinterest and reach out to bridal boutiques to inquire about the price range of the designers that you are attracted to. Shop with intention.  Bridal gown shopping should be fun! It is most likely something that you have always dreamed of doing.  But, before you book your first appointment ensure that you have done your research. Make sure that the bridal store that you plan to visit has the aesthetic and designers that you are interested in and that their price range fits within your budget.  This will ensure that you are starting the process on the right foot!  Also, I don't recommend that you begin shopping for your gown until you have selected both your wedding date and venue.  It can be difficult to select a gown when you cannot envision where you will be wearing it.

Photo | Melanie Zaeck Photography

SMP: How many shops are ideal for shopping? Beth Chapman: I would limit your shopping experience to 1-3 shops (no more). If you have done your research and ensured that the bridal stores you are visiting are ones that carry what you are looking for, this should be more than sufficient. Visiting too many stores can be overwhelming and ultimately detrimental to your decision making process.

Photography | Tiffany Joyce Photography 

Here are some of the other questions that Beth answered in the article.

• When do you know to stop shopping?
• Does everyone have that 'moment' where they know they've found the right dress? 
• It's a big decision- don't I need to really see everything that's out there?

Photo | Carla Ten Eyck

To read more about why it is OK to Say YES on Your First Wedding Dress Shopping Trip, click here to see the full article. If you have any other questions about your bridal shopping experience and what to expect, check out our FAQ page.