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Dress shopping is fun and it doesnt hurt to get an idea of what looks good on you. I got engaged in June 2011 and when dress shopping in august, we're not getting married until may 2013 so I went quite early. Some shops like to pressure you to buy a dress so just keep that in mind and dont buy until you know it's the "one". Oh, stores will ask your wedding date when you go, I always fibed and said it was the following year instead of a few years away, sometimes you dont get much assistance if they dont think you're going to buy.
Happy Shopping
In all honesty, I wouldn't start looking at dresses until a year and a half away from the wedding (and that's at the earliest). Styles change from year to year, plus your body could change.
When I marry in October, we will have had a 2.5 year engagement. I didn't even start thinking about wedding stuff until we were a year and a half away from our date. I just didn't see the point. I know everyone is different but for me, planning that far ahead would have made me feel sad about how far away the event still was.
I dont think there is anything wrong with going to look, if you have a ton of self control.
Beyond the fact that your body may change as well as whats "in", if you think you could buy something then you need to love it for a long time. If you really only want to look you could fall in love with a style and want it, which could be discontinued in a year or so and you'll be pinning over it for a long time. There's also money to consider. You have no idea what you will be able to afford so there might be a designer or style thats very expensive that will always stick out to you as time goes by.
If you choose to go, please think it through thoroughly.
When we get married, we'll have been engaged for just shy of 2 years. We got engaged in Nov. 2010, I first started looking for dresses in Feb of 2011. I'm glad I did because I was certain of the kind of dress I wanted and when I tried on that style, it looked terrible on me! I went to ALOT of different bridal salons and tried on ALOT of dresses. I did buy my dress in Jun of 2011, 15 months before my wedding.
In my opinion, it doesn't hurt to see what is out there and get a feel for the styles that you like. I wouldn't buy anything until you're a bit closer though. I sometimes feel I should have waited, but every time I see my dress I love it more...
My goal was always to figure out what I wanted a year and a half before, then wait for a trunk show so I could get the discount! Lucky for me, my plan worked out!
I got engaged back in 2010 and we're not getting married until 2013. I started looking at dresses right away and went to Kleinfelds a few months later! I always went shopping alone (except Kleinfelds) and that helped me keep my self control and say no. My parents offered to buy my dress, so it's not like I could have "said yea to the dress" even if I wanted to. Still, looking was fun and I got a good idea of what I wanted in a dress.
I'm still a year and half out, but I was able to take advantage of a great deal (10% off plus free alterations). It only took me 2 shopping trips to find my dress and I think shopping early helped. I knew what I DIDN'T want, so those dresses didn't confuse me.
Our engagement is a three year one and we are almost 2 years through (yay). I have been looking at dresses and saving my favorite ones (love Pinterest for that). But, I won't be stepping foot in a bridal salon until this May, 11 months before our wedding. i don't have the self-control to try on without buying! But, if you do, nothing wrong with trying on now for fun!
If you don't have good self control, I'd wait until 12-16 months before your wedding. I got engaged in May 2010, and I bought my dress in November 2011, I still thik it may have been to early because I'm maybe having dress regret.
Sort out your venue, and theme (if any), and the 'feel' of your wedding. You might change your mind about things, and you don't want to buy a ball gown and then decide to have a beach wedding and your dress doesn't suit.
doesn't hurt to browse the web or even try on dresses but i would hold off on buying till about a year out - you will change your mind a hundred time between now and then! good luck!
well i already know the venue, my dream venue anyway, but even if I have to save up for it and pay for it myself I will do what I can to get it, it's the church where my grandparents (my mum's parents) and my parents were married and where my aunt was christened and where my sister and I was christened :) I kinda want an empire waisted gown with short sleeves (Jane Austen style), but not sure if it would suit me, so want more of an idea of what would suit me :)
I'm in the same boat, although only a 2 year engagement. I've been looking online and doing my research to get an idea of what I do and don't like (e.g. I like a bit of beading and I like lace, I don't like ruffles very much etc). But I'm going to wait another year (the end of next wedding season) and see if I can get a deal or sale on something that I really want 
And at the same time find out what suits me (i'm not going to restrict myself to any particular dress types at this stage)
Why not go and just look? I have a long engagement and my
Mom and I went looking just for fun one day. I love mermaid dresses.... I tree a few on I refuesed to get out of the dressing room. So on
Y online procrastination dress shopping I know that mermids do not look good on me. LLol
I think you should look. Yes styles do change, but if you know the one you want, then it won't matter anyways. Also, if you want the regency style wedding dress, then you should definitely shop now because that silhouette is from 2007-2009. You will have an extremely hard time finding a regency style gown in more recent collections. Another bride was looking for regency inspired gowns, so I posted a gazillion photos with the maker and style on there. Hope this helps!
I'm not getting married for at least two years, but looking at wedding dresses has helped me understand what is out there, and what designers to go to for certain costs. I'm still finding new designers and new dresses I love every day. I am also someone who likes to do a lot of research before I jump in though.
@Shlieka: thanks so much, those dresses are gorgeous :)
i'd love to try on dresses now but the/one of the most important things is that my mum is there when i first try on wedding dresses, and i don't think she would be happy going now. however i did go looking at dresses with one of my bridesmaids, didn't find anything i really loved though
I got engaged last September and we knew that we wouldn't be getting married until Spring of 2013. I started trying on gowns in October lol. I haven't been too crazy. I've gone three times to try on gowns total. The way I look at it is, it can't hurt to start looking early. Especially if you have a hard time making decisions, like me. You can take your time and enjoy the process.
@Jacqui90: you never know until you try? Try asking your mom to go wedding shopping with you. You might be surprised.
My mom thought it was ridiculous to go wedding dress shopping. And then we got there, and she totally changed. She was like 'this is really nice'. I did end up getting my dress on the first go. It was a really great price on a brand new dress. I don't know if it's "the one". My mom loved it, and she loved shopping for the wedding. My mentality was more "ok, I did some shopping ... there's still a long way to go ... I can take it slow." And she was the one that ended up dragging me out of the house to start looking at other stuff. We even ended up getting my veil, a reception dress, and accessories. Even though I already had a dress, when she saw a sale at David's Bridal, she called me and asked if I wanted to go.
I think most mothers get excited about their daughters getting married. Sad, but also excited. Wedding dress shopping is one of those special moments a girl has with her mom. Why regulate that to a short time frame? It's the only time that you'll get to do this, and it's one of the last things you'll get to do as mommy's little girl before you are married and starting your own family.
@Shlieka: thanks, i will :)
i think i will need to explain that it's more to get an idea of what styles i like and what look good on me, as opposed to finding 'the' dress yet
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I am getting engaged soon (in one week hopefully), and will have a very long engagement (3-4 years), and I really want to start looking at dresses, just to get an idea of what suits me, what I like, etc. Is it too early? My future FI and I will be going to a bridal expo on Saturday and I will look there (after sending him away so he doesn't see the dresses!) but is it ok to go look in stores and stuff this early, even though I won't be buying for a couple of years?