How long does it take to order a wedding dress?

That's THE wedding planning question out there right, "how long does it take to order a wedding dress in Canada?" We'll break it down so you you'll step into your bridal dress shopping journey armed with all the knowledge you need to have your "say yes to the dress" moment.

12 - 18 months before the big day

This is going to be the absolute best time to start wedding dress shopping. Not only does it afford you the majority of options (made-to-order vs off-rack vs custom gowns), but it gives you time to feel out different styles and find what YOUR wedding dress look will look like.

A warning/some advice with shopping in the sweet spot, just because you CAN shop more does not mean that you should. Once you find a dress you love, DO NOT KEEP SHOPPING, you'll only confuse yourself further. 

The best practice is to book one appointment at a time!

9 - 12 months before the big day 

Let's call this the "most popular" time to shop! Almost all gowns and designers (100% all the Canadian Wedding Dress Designers we carry) can accommodate this timeline. This is usually a helpful time to start shopping because you most likely have the other "big" decisions mapped; your venue, planner, and colour scheme. You'll have your vision (somewhat) down pat and ready to find a dress that fits that vibe.

3 - 6 months before the big day 

This is where it might start to get tricky! Some made-to-order wedding dresses may still be possible, you might have to shift your search to off-the-rack stores.

PS. many of our designers CAN make this timeline work, with rush and super rush requests since they are solely sewn in Canada! We don't have to worry about shipping delays or run the risk of production manufacturing errors.

Although, rush fees add to the overall cost of the gown and off-the-rack stores, like our sister store NKIN, may be better for you since you can take your gown hope the same day.

Under 3 months away before the big day

Off-the-rack is the way to go! Budget for possible alteration rush fees

No matter where you are in your wedding dress shopping journey, we'd be excited to help you out at Always Knew I Needed in Ottawa, Canada.