"I do".
These two words might seem inconsequential without context, but they mean the world to any couple looking to spend the rest of their lives together. Exchanging vows with the woman you love will certainly send her over the moon and make her the happiest woman on earth.
However, you don't have to wait until your big day to start making your bride happy. Even before the wedding, you can brighten up her world by going bridal shopping with her. But how exactly do you do this, especially if you have no clue about what goes on during bridal shopping?
Thankfully, we've curated this list of the best tips for shopping with your bride. From Ukrainian brides to Dominican women, the following tips will certainly put a smile on any woman's face. Let's take a closer look at them, shall we?
Tips for Going Shopping with Your Bride
Do your research
There's more to bridal shopping than simply walking into a random store and calling on an attendant to show you their wares. You need to walk into the right stores and have a clear picture of what you're looking for ahead of time. This way, you'd waste less time and have a more productive shopping spree.
As such, before going shopping with your bride, it's essential to do your homework and carry out the necessary research. Find out what she's looking for and search for great stores that will certainly have her dream items.
As you've probably never gone bridal shopping before, this process may be a tad confusing and overwhelming for you. To narrow your search and ensure that you make the right choices, you may want to look up bridal blogs and reviews from the internet to get a glimpse of the best options and what bridal salons you should avoid.
Book a beauty and spa morning
Let's face it: bridal shopping (especially with Ukrainian brides) is certainly overwhelming. Thus, just before you step into the busy day, you might want to book a luxury spa session for you and your bride.
This will help you prepare for the upcoming hustle and bustle and also put you both in a great zen mood. At the end of your spa session, you'll certainly be ready to seize and conquer the day.
However, if you're working with a tight budget and can't fit in a spa session, you could consider having an in-house yoga or massage session. This will help to put you at ease and get rid of any physical tension you may be feeling.
Set a budget
Budgets: every bride's worst enemy. Budgets are no fun but unfortunately, they're often a necessary evil. If you're hoping to have a wedding that won't eat too deeply into your bank accounts, you'd need to set a budget for your shopping spree.
Look up everything you might possibly buy when you go shopping with your bride and compare prices before you go out. Factor in any miscellaneous or unexpected expenses and then set an appropriate budget.
Pro Tip: There may be incidences when your bride might want to choose an item that's over the set budget. If this happens, try not to get upset or react untowardly. Remember: you're there to liven the shopping experience, not be a Sullen Steve.
Bring on the refreshments
Although shopping might be fun, it can get exhausting for both the bride and groom. With the slightest pang of hunger, even the most pleasant bride could turn into a hangry 'bridezilla'. The same goes for you too. Without appropriate refreshments, you might find yourself getting irritable and overwhelmed.
As such, it's essential to grab some snacks and refreshments when going on a shopping spree with your bride. Some salons have policies against food and drinks (for certain reasons) so you might want to do some research on the salons/stores you'd be visiting.
If you'll be having several appointments in a day, you could also schedule lunch in between your appointments. This way, you'd have time to catch a break and replenish your energy.
Keep an open mind
You and your bride probably already know what you're looking for and where to find it. However, one of the basic rules of bridal shopping is to keep an open mind.
You never know the hidden treasures you may find on your quest. As such, try as much as possible not to dismiss any alternate options offered by the bridal consultants or attendees.
Keeping an open mind will certainly liven the shopping experience and make it more fun for everyone involved. At the end of the day, you could even end up with items way better than what you had in mind before.
Final Thoughts
Shopping for the big day might be fun but it's certainly a nerve-wracking experience for any bride. As such, it'd be a great help if you take active steps to ensure that your bride has an enjoyable shopping experience that she'd look back on in the years to come.
If you're looking to achieve this, follow the tips outlined above and don't forget to smile!
