What to Wear and Bring to Wedding Dress Shopping in Ottawa

Hey! You scheduled your wedding dress shopping in Ottawa at Always Knew, Ottawa's Luxury Wedding boutique, right? Isn’t it EXCITING!! Maybe you have been saving Pinterest boards for years now or you are just starting to find what will feel like you. Either way, you might be wondering what on earth you should wear and bring. Deep breaths girls, we got you! At Always Knew in Ottawa, we believe wedding dress shopping should feel fun, comfortable, and completely your own. There is no rush to have everything figured out. You won’t trust us if we say that carrying only a few essentials can make your trying-on time while shopping easier. So, let's get you ready!

 

What to Wear

The MERCH

First things first, this is your reason to wear that cute bridal-themed outfit you've been saving! Bride-to-be sweatshirt? Adorable. Honestly! Comfort is key when you're trying on dresses and this is the perfect excuse to wear all the cute bride merch.

Underwear & Shapewear

You'll be trying on primarily white and ivory gowns, your best friend here can be seamless nude underwear. It will help you see how every gown will fit you right without distracting lines. Shapewear is totally optional! If you have a favourite pair, feel free to bring them along if you anticipate want4ed to where them on the day. Our stylists are pros on helpign you find wedding dress Shapewear in Ottawa.

Bra

Good News! NOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A BRA! Most wedding gowns have built-in support. You can absolutely wear pasties if it makes you feel more comfortable, but most gowns won't require it. A

What to Bring to Your Bridal Appointment 

You don’t have to pack your entire bedroom. We promise! Everything you absolutely need will be available to you at our boutique, but here is an easy-peasy list of thoughtful essentials that will keep you comfortable and help you find a dress that feels like YOU.

A Hair Elastic or Claw Clip

Trust us on this! You are definitely going to need either a hair elastic or claw clip when you try on dresses. You know that your beautiful hair might constantly get in the way. Plus, wedding dress shopping can get hot, it's nice to be able to throw your hair up. Yes, it is a tiny thing, but it makes the world of difference.

A Water Bottle

We love our girlies and want them to stay hydrated in Ottawa. Please carry a water bottle with you throughout your shopping. You may not be thinking about it right now but continuous changing, chatting, and decision-making can get surprisingly tiring. So, don’t avoid hydration, as time will fly surprisingly fast.

Inspiration Photos or Pinterest Boards

We want to see it all! Please bring all the saved favourites, the favourites, the  Instagram posts, and inspiration photos. Don’t worry if your ideas are all over the place. Seeing what you love is the best way to choose your bridal style sometimes.

Special Accessories or Sentimental Jewelry

Do you have a heirloom veil or piece of wedding jewelry that you will absolutely, without a doubt, be wearing on your wedding day?Bring them along! It is so much easier to visualize the entire Bridal look with all the pieces right in front of you!

SHOES!

Here's the good news: you don't need to bring your actual wedding shoes to your appointment! We know you might not have picked them out yet (or maybe you're keeping them safely tucked away until the big day).

What is helpful? Bringing a pair of shoes with a similar heel height to what you're envisioning for your wedding. Whether you're a flats kind of bride, love a little kitten heel, or plan on wearing sky-high stilettos, having an idea of your shoe height can help you get a better feel for how your dress will look.

And if you're still undecided? No stress! That's what we're here for.

We have EVERYTHING else to make you comfortable!

We like to think we've thought of just about everything to make your wedding dress shopping experience as comfortable (and fun!) as possible. While you're busy thinking about what to wear, what to bring, and who gets to come along, we've been busy making sure you don't have to worry about all the little things!

Of course, we've got the gorgeous gowns covered, but we also have plenty of tools to help you visualize what your dream dress could look like with a few customizations. Want to see a different neckline? Add sleeves? Change up a detail? We love helping you see the possibilities beyond what's hanging on the rack.

And then there are all the little extras! We know that trying on wedding dresses can come with a few unexpected moments. Maybe you forgot the right underwear, need a little extra support, or you're a new mama navigating dress shopping while nursing. Whatever the situation, we want you to feel comfortable, confident, and completely taken care of.

Here's just a little peek at what we keep on hand for you:

• Customization Tools like sleeves, straps, hoop skirts, and more
• Nipple covers, bra cups & boob tape for when you need a little extra coverage or support.
• Extra seamless underwear because we've all had those moments when we wish we'd worn something different!
• Toiletries & blotting papers 
• Pads & other period essentials because sometimes the timing just isn't on our side.
• Nursing pads for our new mamas who deserve to feel just as comfortable while trying on gownsAnd 

And we've got plenty more! Just ask! We have all the comfort items tucked away. The best part? It's all completely complimentary. No awkward requests, no extra charges, and absolutely no judgment. We want you to spend less time worrying about what you packed and more time enjoying the experience of finding a dress that feels like you.

So if you're wondering whether you need to pack your entire bathroom cabinet before your appointment at Always Knew I Needed, the answer is definitely no. We've got you!

We can't wait to have you!

At the end of the day, wedding dress shopping should be FUN! It's not every day you get to try on gorgeous gowns and dream up exactly what you'll wear on one of the biggest days of your life. But if there's one thing we want you to take away from this guide, it's that your comfort always comes first.

You don't need to show up with the perfect outfit, the perfect underwear, or even a clear idea of what you're looking for. Come as you are, bring your favourite people, and let us take care of the rest. We want you to feel comfortable enough to be yourself, ask all the questions, explore all the possibilities, and maybe even surprise yourself along the way!

If you're ready to find a wedding dress that's as unique as you are, we'd LOVE to welcome you to Always Knew I Needed in Ottawa! From our one-on-one appointments to our gorgeous collection of made-to-order gowns and endless customization possibilities, we're here to make this experience entirely yours.

We can't wait to meet you (and see what we dream up together)!