How to pick the perfect destination wedding dress

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You’ve decided on a destination wedding and started planning your dream day – now it’s time to find your dream dress! Whether you’ve been watching Say Yes to the Dress for years or have no idea how to get started on picking out a gown, we put together the ultimate guide on picking out the perfect destination wedding dress.

Daniel McQuillan Photography

Find inspiration online or in magazines

First things first – figure out what you like! Browse through wedding magazines, Pinterest and online stores to get a sense of what style and look you love. You can even check out the sites of popular Canadian designers like Anais Annette, Paloma Blanca, Catherine Langlois and more. Remember that just because you’re having a destination wedding doesn’t mean you have to stick to a specific style or look. The important part is to make sure you get an idea of the styles and silhouettes that you love.

Narrow down your destination and venue

While you should pick whatever dress you love, you also want to make sure your wedding dress doesn’t look out of place in your destination or venue. If you’re planning a more laidback beach affair, you might gravitate more towards dresses with a Bohemian feel and more flowy silhouettes like a fit and flare or a sheath. Envisioning a glamorous reception on a rooftop terrace? You might want to consider a dramatic mermaid or an elegant ball gown to match your overall wedding day look.

John Lyons Photography

Consider the best fabrics for your climate

One of the most important things to consider when picking out your wedding dress is your destination’s climate. You don’t want to be sweating buckets on the beach as you exchange your vows! Heavier fabrics like silk, brocade, polyester, velvet and satin don’t offer much breathability and might be too uncomfortable in a tropical climate. Look for lighter and more breathable materials like chiffon, crepe, organza, rayon, tulle and jersey-based fabrics.

Be open to trying something different

You’ve got an idea of what you want and now it’s time to head to the shop to try on dresses. After you’ve given your consultant a rundown of your wedding day details, your personal style and your favourite silhouettes, be open to any additional suggestions they may have. They help brides pick out their dresses every day and might have an idea for a silhouette or style that you never would have considered otherwise! Even if you don’t end up picking it, it’s always fun to play dress-up.

Try to coordinate with your partner

If you and your partner are both wearing wedding dresses, you want to make sure your outfits complement each other (or at least don’t totally clash). While some couples may choose to go dress shopping together, you may want to keep the tradition of not seeing each other’s dresses until your wedding day. In that case, we recommend picking a close friend or family member to give input on whether your dresses will go together or asking your bridal shop consultants to blindfold you so you can stand side-by-side and show your entourage the dresses together.