Whether you’ve already booked your first bridal appointment, or your finger is still hovering over the ‘book’ button, we all know just how daunting that first trying-on session can be.

Having helped 100’s of brides say yes to the dress over the past nine years, Emma Swain, owner of multi award-winning Chesterfield boutique on our #GuestList, Nora Eve Bridal, is here to help calm those pre-appointment nerves with some expert top tips and advice for your wedding dress shopping experience, as well as the changes you can expect post-covid. To find out more about Nora Eve, head to their dedicated Guest List profile!

STICK TO ONE OR TWO BOUTIQUES

First things first, be selective! It’s tempting to book lots of appointments in one go so you can make a day of it with your girls. Please don’t! After the first few boutiques you’ll start to feel overwhelmed and indecisive, it’s much better to stick to one or two boutiques with a great selection of dresses with designers and styles you love.

WE ENCOURAGE OUR BRIDES TO PRE-SELECT THEIR DRESSES USING OUR ONLINE SHOWROOM ‘MY FITTING ROOM’. THIS HELPS OUR STYLISTS DEFINE YOUR STYLE AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR BEFORE YOU ENTER OUR HAVEN.

EMMA, THE OWNER.

SHOW ME THE GOWNS

When arriving at Nora Eve your stylist will welcome you at the door, pink fizz at the ready, before sitting down for a relaxed chat so we can get to know you and how you want to look and feel on your wedding day. We’ll have your pre-selected (and sanitised) dresses ready and waiting for you but will often add some wildcard styles as we see you in dresses and get a sense of personality and style.

BRING YOUR MAINS

You might be tempted to bring your whole bridal party along for some dressing-up fun, but at Nora Eve our standard appointments are limited to two guests. This is partially to comply with social distancing (you’ll also be asked to wear masks and sanitise your hands when entering the boutique) but too many people means too many opinions, and you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed. Bring one or two people you trust to your first appointment, then once you’ve found your favourites you can book a Family and Friends appointment.

RELAX, TRUST US!

The one thing we hear most often from our brides is that they’re really nervous, after all, dropping your clothes within five minutes of meeting someone isn’t the norm (!). Don’t worry, you’re not alone and we do totally understand, so we’ll step out of the fitting room while you step into your first dress. We usually find by the second or third one you’ll be feeling more comfortable with us and we’ll be in the fitting room to help with buttons, zips and trains. We also stock samples from size 10-28 (we’re pretty proud of our curve collection) meaning you’ll have plenty to try regardless of your size.

After the first few dresses you’ll be getting a feel of what you like and what suits you. It might be completely different from your expectations, so be prepared! Our bridal stylists are experts at listening to how you feel in each dress and will help select other options for you based on your body shape, what feels good on you, and what they hear, trust them! If you’re particularly nervous or unsure of your style, we’d recommend booking a 2-hour VIP experience in your own private lounge, giving you plenty of time to find your vibe.

So, bring your smile (even if it’s a nervous one!), relax and enjoy the experience. You’ll be treated like a queen at Nora Eve, prosecco in one hand, goodie bag in the other and a polaroid of ‘the one’ to take home and swoon over until your dress is ready for collection!

Nora Eve Bridal is based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and is open six days a week. Head to their website for more information on booking, or get in touch at bride@noraevebridal.co.uk!