I’ve been planning weddings for a long time and one of the things that I’ve come to appreciate is that I work with a lot of fabulous professionals that really know their stuff. I’ve also learned that each specialty has a number of quirks about it that always inspire questions. In our Ask the Expert series, we’re going to talk with, well, the experts and answer some of those fun questions that you may or may not have wondered about.

In this post we are going to talk with Laurie Dickman with Laurie’s Bridal based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Laurie sells amazing gowns with a personal touch. She truly cares about each one of her clients and wants them to feel gorgeous on their wedding day! Here’s a little more about Laurie -

Originally from New York, Laurie’s flair for fashion began in her teenage years, when she started working part-time at a high-end clothing and dress boutique in her local mall. In the very early 1990’s, she started working for a leading bridal dress and headpiece manufacturer. Laurie worked her way up and was soon traveling all over the United States as a Trunk Show Coordinator, training store owners, and their employees on how to properly sell wedding gowns, to educate their customers and to help listen to what the consumer wanted and bring that back to the company.

‘I loved every single thing about our wedding! I still look at my wedding pictures and LOVE LOVE LOVE my own wedding gown and yes, I still love my groom too!’ I tell all of my brides to be true to who they are when choosing their bridal gown. Don’t worry about matching the venue, but match who you are. ~ Laurie

Laurie wants all of her customers to have fun. With a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, surrounded by gorgeous dresses, it’s not difficult to find that dress of your dreams here. Bridal appointments are private and exclusive and you get to work with Laurie, herself! Being a hands-on owner, Laurie definitely brings the fun back into dress shopping!

Now, about those questions -

1. What is the ideal number of people to bring with when trying on dresses?

Ideally, we recommend you bring the 2-3 closest people in your life. Buying a bridal gown is very emotional and personal. Too many opinions may not be a good thing.

2. How soon should I start looking for a dress?

We recommend 12-15 months in advance. Most special order gowns, meaning, not purchasing off the rack, can take anywhere from 5-9 months, depending on the designer.

3. When should I schedule alterations?

Typically alterations should be scheduled about 2-3 months before your wedding, depending on the time of year. There is a busy season for alterations and you don’t want to find your alterations specialist saying they don’t have time to take you.

4. Should I get a bustle?

ABSOLUTELY! Why wouldn’t you want to get a bustle? Do you want to be lugging around that gorgeous train all night? I tell all my brides, bustling is an art and can be almost as spectacular as the front of your gown. By the way, that little loop under the skirt, is NOT a bustle. It’s for the bridal shops to lift the bustle up off the floor and hang it up. An alterations specialist is worth every penny!

5. Will you recommend a dress for me, or do I need to know what style I want to wear?

I chat with every bride prior to her appointment to hear what her vision and her thoughts are. By the time she comes in, I already have an idea of what she’s thinking. I tell every single bride, “My job as a stylist is to also put you in gowns that you may not have thought of. A good stylist will put you in gowns that look amazing on you, whether or not you like them, that’s up to you.”

6. What should I bring with me for my appointment?

UNDERWEAR!!! Not only should you wear your underwear, but please wear proper underwear, not a thong. Nude seamless panties are perfect. You’ll be in and out of gowns all day and need to be comfortable. Trying on bridal gowns is like trying on bathing suits, until it’s yours, underwear is a must ☺

Also you may wish to wear a strapless bra. Even though most gowns come with built in bra cups, a strapless bra will help you feel more comfortable.

7. What is your favorite tip for people dress shopping?

Every single bride hears this from me, I should trademark it I say it so often: “Be true to who you are because you don’t want to look back at your pictures and think oh my, what was I thinking.” It’s ok to say yes at the first shop, in the first dress. Don’t be pressured into buying something you think everyone else wants you to buy. Most importantly, have fun! This is an exciting time in your life, that you plan to only do once!

Looking for your wedding dress? Make an appointment with Laurie today! And tell her I sent you!

Website - https://lauriesbridal.com

Emails - LauriesBridal@Gmail.com

Telephone - 480-699-3973

Address - 14891 N. Northsight Blvd Northsight Crossing Shopping Center Scottsdale, AZ 85260