The insider’s guide to putting together the wedding wardrobe of your dreams.
If the bride has no idea what she wants for a wedding dress, where should she start?
We work with a variety of brides. On one side of the spectrum, we have brides call in with their likes & dislikes, the number of looks they wanted, and the exact designs they want to try on. On the other hand, we work with many brides who have no idea what they want, which takes a bit more time. It’s really an intimate process. We often want to understand the whole picture from location to floristry to dress code, in order to create a wardrobe that will speak to the vision of your wedding.
My advice is before you even begin looking, consider the overall direction of the celebration. You don't have to know exactly what you want upfront, but consider your venue (or destination), dress code, the season you're getting married in (if not a date), and guest count will allow you to have somewhere to start and build from.
Do your research and pick 2-3 boutiques that align with your aesthetics. Every boutique represents a very different line up of designer wedding dresses and hence a very different aesthetics. Invest your time only in the boutiques that resonate with your style. Don’t go into this blindly.
You should start researching, shopping, and planning appointments approximately 10 months out from your wedding date, with the goal of ordering a wedding dress to arrive in HK no later than six to eight months prior to the wedding.
I really like the wedding gowns you offer, where do I start?
Once you have a baseline understanding of what your celebration would look like, book an appointment with us!
Typically, the process starts with a client-stylist consultation to understand your needs and wedding overview - likes and dislikes. Once we get a sense of what your style is, we will go thru our collection of wedding gowns at our HK studio with you and pull a personal curation for you to try on in-person, and many times, this goes beyond solely a designer wedding gown. We will put together the total look/ wardrobe for you.
Our tip: Go into the shopping process with an idea of what you are looking for and keep an open mind. If you’ve had your eye on a specific brand or wedding gown in Hong Kong, let us know ahead of time!
Buy Vs. Rent
LOFT brides would know that we do not offer rentals but focus on made-to-order bridal dress in our Hong Kong studio. That decision is conscious and intentional — it concerns emotion, craftsmanship and achieving the perfect fit. Rental is a main stream option that isn’t inherently sustainable. It increases our appetite for more: instead of one perfect dress, most brides are tempted to rent several extra pieces that are ill-fitted, with little to no room for alteration. Rented bridal dresses in HK almost always come with wear-and-tear, and especially when they are often stored in a crowded and humid store space.
All too often we hear from disappointed brides who reveal that their biggest regret is foregoing the purchase of her favourite wedding dress in Hong Kong, until the day is over and they are dissatisfied with how they looked throughout the day. Our advice? Allocate your budget on one perfectly tailored, unforgettable look; cut back on the number of outfits if necessary (which doesn’t matter if none of them fit). Go for a look that incorporates pieces with a transformative nature, not only enabling them to convert into different styles throughout your wedding day, but also afterwards, with the intention of being able to be restyled and reimagined to eliminate one-time wear.
Should I factor in my weight loss or body changes when it comes to saying yes to a bridal dress?
Buying a dress based on how you think your body will look on your wedding day is a mistake. Don't incentive shop; while your alterations may end up being more intensive should you reach your fitness goals in the lead-up to your wedding, purchasing wedding dresses that don't fit you now in hopes that they may down the road is a dangerous game plan.
There may be a desire to level up in health and wellness, but don't get caught up in weight and size. Instead, focus on choosing a wedding gown that makes you look and feel your most beautiful self now.
