Are you recently engaged and wondering when to buy your wedding dress? For some brides, wedding dress shopping is number one on the wedding planning priority list. For others, wedding dress shopping can feel like a daunting task. 

Is there such a thing as saying "yes!" to your dress too early? When is it too late? Should you order a dress or buy off the rack? We've got the answers! Keep reading for our recommendations on the right time to purchase your perfect wedding dress.

When to buy a wedding dress

How far in advance should you buy your wedding dress? Being in business for over a decade, we've found that it's best to order your wedding dress about a year to 18 months before the wedding. On average, high-end designer or couture wedding dresses can take anywhere from 6-9 months to be made and shipped, followed by a 2-3 month alterations period to make your dream dress fit like a glove!

While many designers offer rush production for brides on a tighter timelines (more on that later), it often costs extra and can cut into your alterations time. A 12-18 month timeline will ensure you have plenty of time in the event there are any unexpected delays.

What if you have less than a year before the wedding?

No worries! A year or more is the ideal timeframe to purchase your special order wedding gown, but if you have less time that doesn't mean you HAVE to purchase a sample off-the-rack. Plenty of designers are on a standard 6-7 month production timeline; 12-18 months just gives you a little cushion.

Additionally, many designers offer rush production options which can get dresses made in 3-4 months (remember, you still need time for alterations once the dress arrives). Rush production can cost anywhere from 10%-30% of the price of the dress. When you're looking at dresses that cost a couple thousand dollars, that is a significant amount! Depending on how close the gown arrives to your wedding date, your seamstress may also charge rush fees to do the work in a tighter timeframe.

Our recommendation on when to buy your wedding dress: Do so as early as possible to avoid extra charges!

When is an off-the-rack wedding dress the best option?

Shopping off-the-rack is a fabulous option for brides that have six months or less before the wedding and have not yet purchased a wedding gown. An off-the-rack (OTR) dress means you're purchasing the floor sample you are trying on and taking it home that day! This is great if you're on a shorter timeline because floor samples are usually discounted and you don't have to worry about the dress arriving in time to start alterations. An OTR dress is a perfect low-stress option for short wedding timelines, or if there's no set wedding date, but you know it will be sooner rather than later.

If you're on a shorter timeline and need a dress soon, our sister store exclusively offers OTR wedding dress samples!

Is there a best time of year to buy a wedding dress?

New wedding dress collections debut every April and October (although not every designer releases two collections a year) and begin appearing in stores about five months later. If you're a bride with the luxury of time, you may be able to start shopping as the new dresses are arriving in stores. Because of social media, brides get to see the new collections at the same time as retailers (sometimes even before the retailer!).

If you're interested in a dress that was just released, know that it will not be available to try on for another five months or so. Because of this, we still recommend buying your wedding dress based on your own wedding timeline rather than the time of year when new collections debut.

Find Your Dream Dress at White Bridal Boutiques

Now that you know the best time to buy your wedding dress, we hope you feel excited about shopping for your perfect gown! If you're ready to find the wedding dress of your dreams, book an appointment at our Dublin, OH or Raleigh, NC bridal shop today. Our expert bridal stylists are here to advise you on the best time to buy a wedding dress in the lead up to your big day. We can't wait to help you say "Yes!" to your dress!