How to: Choose the right wedding dress

Choosing your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of the planning process. For many brides, it’s the moment everything begins to feel real. The dress represents not just a look, but a feeling, the way you will walk down the aisle, the way you will move, the way you will remember yourself decades from now.

But with so many silhouettes, fabrics, trends, opinions and inspiration images, it can also feel overwhelming. It’s easy to fall into comparison or feel unsure about what direction to take.

At Trish Peng, this is one of the most common questions we’re asked:

“How do I choose the right wedding dress?”

Here’s what we always tell our brides…

1. Start with Silhouette, Not Trend

Before you fall in love with a neckline, sleeve detail or specific lace, begin with shape.

The silhouette sets the foundation for how you will feel and move on your wedding day. Whether you’re drawn to a soft A-line, a sculpted fitted gown, a dramatic ball gown or something sleek and modern, the shape determines your posture, your presence and your comfort.

The most beautiful gown in the world won’t feel right if the silhouette doesn’t align with your confidence. When you find the right shape, everything else tends to fall into place. We often see brides surprised by what they love once they try it on.

2. Do Not Get Caught Up in What Is In

Bridal trends move quickly. One season it is exposed corsetry, the next it is oversized bows, then minimalist silk. Trends can be inspiring, but they should not dictate your decision.

In ten or twenty years time, you will not be thinking about what was trending on social media. You will be looking at how you felt.

Your wedding dress should reflect your personal style. The pieces you naturally gravitate toward and the details that feel authentically you. If you are timeless and classic, lean into that. If you love modern drama, embrace it. If you are romantic and feminine, honour that.

The goal is not to look current. It is to look like yourself, elevated.

3. Should Your Dress Match Your Venue?

This is another question we are asked often.

Your gown should complement your setting, but it does not need to mimic it. A beach wedding does not require a bohemian gown, and a cathedral does not demand a ball gown.

Instead of trying to match the venue, focus on how you want to feel. Do you want to feel romantic, modern, effortless, dramatic, soft or structured? Once you define that emotion, the direction becomes much clearer. Your venue becomes part of the story, not the rulebook.

4. When Should You Start Looking?

Timing matters more than most brides realise.

Ideally, you should begin shopping ten to twelve months before your wedding date. This allows time for design selection, production, fittings and alterations without unnecessary stress.

Bridal gowns are not off the rack purchases. They require craftsmanship, precision and care. Starting early gives you space to enjoy the process rather than rush it. If you are working within a shorter timeframe, flexibility becomes important, but there are always options.

The earlier you begin, the calmer and more enjoyable the journey will feel.

5. Who Should You Bring to Your Appointment?

The dress appointment is emotional and intimate. It is often one of the most memorable parts of wedding planning.

Keep your circle small. Two to three trusted voices is ideal. Choose people who understand your style, respect your opinions and support your final decision.

Too many opinions can create confusion and doubt. This experience should feel calm, celebratory and focused on you. It is your wedding, and the only approval that truly matters is your own.

Above All, Trust Your Instinct

The right dress often is not the one you expected. It may not be the gown you saved on Pinterest for months. It might surprise you completely.

But when you find it, you will know.

It is the gown you do not want to take off. The one you keep comparing everything else to. The one that makes you stand taller and imagine the moment you walk down the aisle.

Choosing your wedding dress is not about perfection. It is about connection.

And when you find the one that feels like you, that is when the magic happens.