Lori Allen’s 10 Commandments for Finding the Perfect Wedding Dress
Lori Allen owns "Bridal's by Lori." It's featured on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta," and plays a big part in my Friday Bride Day parties. She lends a few words of wisdom to future brides in this list. Make sure you read this before you do ANY dress shopping!
- 10
“Thou Shalt Keep the Bride's Eyes on the Prize”
Let your bridal style shine through on your big day. If there’s a vision you have for yourself, find the dress that will make that dream come true.
- 9
“Thou Shalt Not Let the Bride Overshop"
Stop in the name of love! If you fall for a dress, don’t continue looking. If you can give up other guys when you find “The One,” you should be able to do the same for a dress.
- 8
“Thou Shalt Keep an Open Mind”
Because I am a true Type-A control freak, I tend to sin against this commandment. Consultants are trained to consider every factor of a wedding. When it comes time to try on gowns, I hope I will be more open minded to what they pull out for me. You might not know you’ll love it until you try it on!
- 7
“Thou Shalt Leave the Past Behind”
“Let It Go!” Whatever is causing you anxiety while dress shopping will not help you find the perfect gown. It’s best to keep moving forward!
- 6
“Honor Thy Mother and Father...Up to a Point"
It’s important to at least consider their opinion on how you should look on your wedding day, especially if they are paying for the gown. Be sensitive to their feelings, as this is an emotional time for them as well. It’s not everyday they give their little girl away!
- 5
“Honor Thy Bride's Opinion Over All Others”
There’s a little voice in your head that will help you make some tough choices. Stick to your gut when it feels right. And don’t waste anymore time on something that isn’t working. Everybody’s got an opinion. Yours is the only one that really matters since you’ll be the one wearing the dress all day.
- 4
“Pick Thy Wedding Posse Carefully”
Consider the old saying “too many cooks spoil the stew.” You wouldn’t want so many people with you that your own voice is lost. But you wouldn’t want to go alone, without proper support. Lori thinks 3-5 people is plenty to get the job done, and make it a memorable experience…for the right reasons!
- 3
“Thou Shalt Not Bring Thy Fiance's Ex”
I’m not sure why Lori felt the need to add this to the list, but she must have witnessed one bride-to-be make a bad judgement call.
- 2
“Thou Shalt Not Covet a Dress Outside Thy Budget”
Be completely honest with yourself about what you can afford. If someone is helping you with the cost, agree on a price point BEFORE going shopping! And don’t tempt yourself with a dress that is even a DOLLAR over your budget. You'll only make it more difficult to fall in love with a dress within your budget, and you don’t want to go down that road.
- 1
”Thou Shalt Leave Thy Fiance At Home”
Leave a little something to his imagination. Keep the dress a secret and make his heart skip a beat when he sees how breathtaking you look walking down the aisle. Lori’s take: “If you bring him shopping, you risk boring him, shocking him with the cost of bridal attire or compromising your vision for something he prefers.” NO ROOSTERS IN THE HEN HOUSE!
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