I’ve tried on wedding dresses even though I’m not getting married. Here are 7 things I learned.

• I went shopping at a wedding dress store in Glasgow, Scotland, even though I’m not engaged.

• I have tried on some of the most expensive and cheapest dresses in the store.

• Every woman should be able to buy a wedding dress, regardless of her relationship status.

I’m not about to get married or even get engaged. Still, I decided to go shopping for wedding dresses at a bridal shop in Scotland, UK earlier this week.

I visited Eleganza Sposa, a bridal store in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday to interview store owner Anna Cirignaco about the bridal industry for Insider. Before the interview, I was offered to try on a few wedding dresses.

At first, I didn’t know if I should. Although I have been in a committed relationship since November 2020, we are not engaged and it will probably be some time before that happens. But before I even met my partner, I loved dreaming about the kind of wedding I would one day have – especially the dress.

I thought it would be a good opportunity to practice shopping without the added pressures of planning a wedding. And, I thought, I might even learn something along the way.

Eleganza Sposa was founded 30 years ago and is located on Bath Street in Glasgow city centre.

According to the company’s website, Eleganza Sposa was founded in 1992 and is Scotland’s leading luxury boutique specializing in haute couture wedding and evening dresses.

Eleganza Sposa offers a range of bridal designers to choose from, including Iconic elegance, the store’s in-house designer brand. Dresses range in price from £1,499, or about $1,790, to £8,000, or about $9,500, according to the company’s marketing manager, Angela, who told me most women end up spend more than the budget they initially set.

According a survey conducted by wedding website Hitched, British women who married in 2021 spent an average of £1,300, or about $1,550, on a wedding dress.

Eleganza Sposa’s marketing manager, Angela, showed me around the store and showed me the most popular dresses.

The story continues

Angela said she started in the business as a stylist before becoming a marketing manager. she knows everything there is to know about dresses. She showed me a private room that had shelves of wedding dresses, a sofa, a full-length mirror, and a walk-in closet.

She said two of the most popular features on dresses right now are beading and 3D floral embroidery. But when it comes to dress style, Angela said brides enjoy a variety of styles, from soft A-lines, ball gowns to fishtail dresses.

This also seems to be the case with American brides. This manifested itself during New York Bridal Fashion Week in April, according to CNN, which reports that the collections for 2022 and 2023 are “flush with different silhouettes, details, textures and colors” rather than following trends.

The store had dresses in a variety of colors, including ivory, blush, and nude, but none were white.

The store doesn’t sell white dresses, according to Angela, who told me that white dresses look harsh and can look almost blue in some photos. She recommends brides to opt for ivory as it is a softer color.

Over the years there has been a drop in demand for white wedding dresses in favor of more flattering hues, and experts predict the color will continue to wane in popularity, Brides reported in July 2021.

The first dress I tried on – a sparkly strapless dress with removable sleeves – was glamorous, but it didn’t fit me properly.

The first dress that caught my eye was the Lucera dress by Eleganza Iconica, and it cost £3,699, or about $4,400, Angela told me. The skirt had multiple layers of sheen and tulle, and I loved how flowy it was because I’ve never been a fan of dresses that cling to my body.

The dress comes with removable sleeves, and when I tried them on, they were too long for my arms. Angela said it’s common and most brides will need to have their dresses altered.

However, she said this is not included in the price of the dress, and that there is a separate alterations business in the same building where prices usually start at around £150, or around $180, according to the amount of changes you need.

I was surprised to learn that some brides have to pay extra for this considering how much they may have already paid for the dress.

Then I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried a wetsuit, and learned that it wasn’t for me.

Angela said that combinations are a modern choice and they have become particularly fashionable for wedding receptions, where it has become increasingly popular to wear a second outfit. I tried on Eleganza Iconica Castro Jumpsuitwhich she says costs £3,199, or around $3,800.

I’ve never been a fan of jumpsuits, and to be honest, I didn’t like the way it looked on my body. I also can’t imagine spending money on a second wedding outfit. If I end up spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a beautiful dress one day, you better believe I’m going to wear it all day of the wedding and not change a thing.

I’ve always said that I don’t want to spend a lot of money on my wedding dress. But then I tried on one of the most expensive dresses in the store.

I’ve never been intrigued by the idea of ​​spending a lot of money on a wedding dress. But then I tried on the Galilee dress from the Martina Liana Luxe collection, and I may have changed my mind.

Angela wouldn’t let me try on the most expensive dress in the store, which she says is £8,000, or about $9,550. But at £6,500, or around $7,760, the Galilea dress was a close second.

I would never have chosen the fishtail dress for myself because I didn’t think it would suit a dress that hugged my curves. But Angela encouraged me, saying that most brides who try the opposite of what they originally wanted end up being the most successful — and I ended up loving it.

Finally, I tried on the cheapest dress and was shocked at how similar it was to the most expensive one.

The last dress I tried on was from Essence of Australia Veronique dresswhich Angela said was the cheapest dress in the store at £1,599, or around $1,900.

I was surprised how similar it was to the most expensive dress. It was the same fit and flare style as the Galilea, though it was made with a different material – stretch crepe – with illusion lace down the side to show off the bride’s curves.

If I had to choose between the two dresses (and if I had unlimited amounts of money), I would choose the first. Even so, this dress is a fantastic alternative in my opinion, and over $5,800 cheaper. It’s also simpler, which I imagine would appeal to brides who prefer the “less is more” look.

Although it is unconventional to buy a wedding dress before getting engaged, I would recommend it to all women who want to get married one day.

About 90 minutes had passed by the time I finished trying on the dresses. I couldn’t believe it, but Angela said that was normal and they could book up to two hours per customer.

It was a nice experience, but it was mostly because I wasn’t really looking to buy a dress. I didn’t mind if I tried something and it didn’t work for me, because there was no pressure there. Likewise, I found myself more willing to take risks and try on dresses that aren’t my typical style.

I now believe that every woman who wants to get married one day should buy a wedding dress, regardless of her relationship status. You might just learn something about yourself.

Read the original article at Initiated