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My dress was the first wedding purchase (aside from the e-ring). I went shopping with my FMIL about a month after our engagement and was lucky to find the dress straight away. Doesn't hurt to start shopping early, though the more time you have with your dress, the more opportunity for dress envy to creep in and put you on the road to being a two-dress bride (not that there is anything wrong with that, just one thing to consider).
Just remember that if you are ordering a dress, leave plenty of time for the order to come in (my dress took 14 weeks!) and allow sufficient time for alterations.
happy shopping!
Well, I can't answer how early but the drop dead deadline for buying a dress should be 4 months prior to the wedding. 4 months gives the dress shop time to order the dress, have it shipped and have any alternations completed prior to the wedding.
Good Luck
i just got my dress yesterday. (yay!)
I ordered it March 15th. It took just about 16 weeks.
I was told it could take up to 22 weeks, So be aware of that. I would definitely start to seriously search for the dress by the 7-6 month mark. This would give you plenty of time to get the dress ordered and back for alterations if needed. I think 4 months to to recieve a new wedding dress is fairly typical.
I ordered mine in February, got it in June, did my first fitting for alterations in June, and If inally get to try on the finished dress with alterations this Sunday! My wedding is August 9th. I need to take the dress back to the store after the final alterations to get it steamed for the wedding.
GetMarried4Less: Congrats on getting your dress! I read your post late last night and didn't get a chance to leave a comment. I can't wait to see pics of it out of the plastic!
why does everyone order their dresses? they don't usually have them in stock or are these designer dresses?
The dresses in stock generally don't fit anyone. The dresses are made to be ordered (even the ones under $1000) and are made to be altered (I think it is a racket!) My dress was just under $700. If you want to buy a dress "off the rack" go to Jessica McClintock stores, Macy's, Nordstroms, and other places like that -- or go to a sample sale. However, if you buy your dress in a bridal salon you will need to order it because the dresses there are for trying on and are usually pretty "beat up" from brides trying to fit into sizes that are too small.
I ordered my dress in May for my April 2009 wedding. It needs minimal alterations for my "odd shape" (funny how we're all odd shaped). They told me this particular designer takes 16-18 weeks to make the dress and ship it from China. So, too early, but hey, I'd rather be early than sweating it later.
That being said, I ordered my dress (rather than off the rack) because I went to an el cheapo (but totally awesome and amazing) dress shop. I'll just say the dresses there were well ... loved. But, if I could have bought it off the rack, I would have! And then I'd be able to wear it around the house...
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I ordered mine the second week in March and it's set to ship July 23...I hope it arrives early!
missm gave good advice about buying too early...I don't think anyone budgets to to purchase two dresses :)
I don't think it hurts to start shopping early though (unless you think you may cave in to the sales pressure) b/c that will allow you to shop around and find the best prices (look up trunk show schedules, look online, etc).
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Wedding dress shopping came in second on my list of things to accomplish. My first priority was venue so I knew if a certain style was appropriate or not. Then the dress shopping began. I was given 9 months to plan my wedding and ordered my dress one month after engagment (because it took me that long to find the right one). My dress was couture so it takes approximately 4 - 6 months to receive and usually you need ~3 fittings/alterations which for me are at a minimum of one week apart (so about a month for that). I also had bridal portraits that had to be at least 2 months before the wedding so I had to have my dress ordered at the absolute latest 7 months beforehand. You may want to look at fabrication time of your preferred designers, alteration time at salons and tailors around you, and any deadlines set by your other vendors (i.e. bridal portraits) to determine your cutoff date. However I would say, it's never too early to start looking!
I got my dress from DB (I had great serves don't no about others). David's prefers you take the dress from the store (but they only carry one of each size) but my sale's lady was awsome and said we don't have a size 6 in stock so I will order you a new onem, while I was wearing the size 6 to try on. The dress I had on has LOTS of beading and some of the beads were hanging off.
One thing my SIL pointed out is you don't no what people have on their hands or bodies when they try on dresses. Would you prefer new (no one but you will touch it and wear it) or the one off the rack which everyone has come in tried on and left what was on thier hands, bodies, etc on the dress? Also if yours has details and they are coming off, alterations will fix it but the could miss something from the dress in stock and you might have to take it back a few times to have it fixed.
I bought my dress in July and it arrived in October. (I wasn't expecting it until December or January.) I think it generally takes longer if you order in January to March for the summer, for that is when a lot of people who get married in the summer buy their dresses and there is prom/grad season.
If you buy off the rack, make sure you get it cleaned first. But ordering it in is fun, for then it's a brand new dress just for you! :)
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I ordered my dress (Demetrios) two weeks ago and they said it will be in by late Dec. My wedding is not untill October 2009, so I am hoping I will stay the same size, make alterations then, and be able to try it on a ton between Dec and the wedding 
I bought mine on Thanksgiving weekend - hooray for black friday sales! It arrived in March and they are holding it until we get closer to the wedding in October.
I should add - Oct & Nov is the bridal slow season, so you'll get tons of attention and may be able to pick up a deal. By all means avoid prom season!
one note about shopping early if you're not planning on buying - beware of the seasons. if you shop now, find the dress for you and wait a while to buy it, there may be a new season of styles in the shop, which would leave you back at square one or stalking ebay. :) not sure how much of a problem this would be - it may only be an issue if you fall head over heels for a dress and don't see anything in the new season.
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how many months before the wedding should I start looking/buying?