Myths About Wedding Dress Shopping – read what we think, and decide for yourself:

Wedding dress shopping should be an exciting and memorable journey, but many brides find themselves navigating confusing myths that can make the process more stressful than it needs to be. At Elodie Bridal, the team is committed to empowering brides with knowledge and confidence. Let’s uncover and debunk some of the most unrealistic expectations and persistent wedding dress shopping myths in New Zealand.

Myth 1: Wedding Dresses Must Be White/Ivory

Actually, our gowns are ivory, not white. We rarely see a truly white gown. Ivory gowns are far gentler with different skin tones, but even so, can range from cool tones to warmer tones.

While ivory gowns are popular, they are not mandatory. Modern brides embrace a wide range of colours—from classic ivory and blush to champagne and even black or floral prints. Don’t be bound by tradition – choose what feels right for you.

Myth 2: You Need a Big Entourage

Television often glorifies bridal shopping with large parties and champagne, but a smaller group can help brides stay focused and feel supported. It is super important that the bride’s opinion takes centre stage.

A large group often creates more confusion and pressure than support. Brides benefit from thoughtful input but keeping the entourage small allows the shopping experience to remain focused. We really do recommend just one or two trusted friends/family members.

If you do have a large bridal party, don’t feel pressured to include them all on your dress shopping journey. It can also be a lovely surprise to have a dress reveal occasion especially for them, closer to the date.

Myth 3: The “Perfect” Dress Will Make You Cry

Not every bride will burst into tears when finding the right dress—and that’s perfectly normal. It’s about trusting your own unique feelings rather than expect a made-for-TV reveal.

Not every bride experiences an emotional “aha” moment when finding the perfect gown, for most, the journey is more gradual. Falling in love with a dress can mean a quiet sense of certainty or simply feeling comfortable and confident in your choice, while for some it’s a sense of excitement. Always trust your gut feeling; the gown should feel like something you want to wear unreservedly.

Myth 4: Beautiful Bridal Gowns Are Always Expensive

Finding an affordable, stunning wedding dress is absolutely possible. Designer labels and high price tags do not guarantee a gown fits, flatters, or feels right for the bride. Allow yourself time to shop around – but don’t expect that you must visit EVERY bridal store. Be real with your budget and tell the store what your maximum is – don’t be tempted by trying on dresses out of your budget in the hopes that you can recoup the expensive price tag by selling the dress later.

There are stores that cater to brides with more affordable options – seek these stores out, as we really don’t recommend buying online for so many reasons; buying online seems convenient, but risks include poor fit, questionable quality, and limited return policies.

What matters most is how the bride feels wearing it. Find a dress in store than you can see, feel and try on.

 Myth 5: You Must Know Exactly What You Want

Many brides walk into their first appointment with just a vague idea (or none at all) and leave surprised by what actually works for them. Your preferences often evolve as you try dresses on. It’s normal to discover these preferences while trying on different styles. Expert consultants help guide brides through options, whether a bride arrives with a Pinterest board or not.

You don’t need a plan. You need an open mind.

Breaking Free From The Myths

At Elodie Bridal, the aim is to help every bride in Wellington feel empowered to choose a dress that reflects her true self—on her budget and on her terms.

Finding your perfect dress is a very unique experience - some brides cry, some laugh, some don't feel anything at all! Some brides know as soon as they put it on, some brides need to try it on a few times before they decide it's their dress.

Don't be discouraged if you absolutely love the dress but haven't cried or got 'the magical feeling', you just might not be one of the brides that does and that's totally ok, it doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong choice.

It's unrealistic to expect each bride who finds a dress to experience the same thing, it doesn't change how much you love the dress or how drop dead gorgeous you're going to look. Forget the myths and embrace a fun and stress free wedding dress shopping experience crafted just for you.