Yes, You Absolutely Should Go Wedding Dress Shopping Alone—Here's Why.

Real brides tell all.
Bride smiling while looking at wedding dresses
Photo: Stocksy
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by
Sofia Deeb
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Sofia Deeb
Assistant Fashion Commerce Editor
  • Sofia writes and edits articles for The Knot Worldwide with a specialty in fashion and e-commerce.
  • Prior to The Knot Worldwide, Sofia was a writer for Santa Barbara Life and Style Magazine.
  • Sofia studied cultural anthropology and journalism at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Updated Jan 13, 2025

No, it isn't weird to go dress shopping alone. In fact, it can actually be empowering. There are a number of reasons why many modern brides are choosing to leave their entourages behind for at least one of their dress shopping appointments. For recent bride Christina Fish Fee, going wedding dress shopping alone allowed her to pull off the surprise of a lifetime.

"I really enjoyed the reactions I got from my loved ones and my husband when they saw my gown for the first time," Fee recalls. Her experience was made even more special when she showed her loved ones how she incorporated each of them into her custom-made gown. "My designer, Steven Birnbaum, created an exquisitely beaded edge on my veil, which was echoed with beading along the neckline of the dress," she explains. "The beads were little tiny pearls and clear glass that almost looked like sea glass. Being near the ocean and sailing is something that I share with my family and friends, and Steven had found a way for me to include them in the gown themselves."

Her dress also paid homage to the beginning of her love story. "In high school, I wore a white grosgrain ribbon in my hair every day," she shares. "My husband and I met when we were freshmen, and he still remembers that those silly bows were one of the first things he noticed about me. Steven designed a tight little bow around the waist of my gown as a fun throwback nod to my style, and my husband immediately recognized it when he finally saw the back of my dress."

For those who aren't quite as keen on surprises, there are still plenty of other reasons why you might consider going wedding dress shopping alone. Stick with us to hear from more real brides and wedding fashion experts on the matter. Then, once you're thoroughly convinced, you can head to The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find a bridal salon near you for your first solo appointment.

In this article:

Can You Go Wedding Dress Shopping Alone?

You might wonder if it's acceptable to go wedding dress shopping alone—and we're here to respond with a resounding "yes." Not only is it okay to go wedding dress shopping alone, but we actually encourage it. As you heard from one real bride above (and will hear from more below), going dress shopping on your own can be a memorable part of your prewedding prep. While movies and pop culture may have led you to believe that having your entire bridal party there for the process is a must, we're happy to assure you that that's simply not the case. When it comes to your wedding, you make the rules, and if that means flying solo at the bridal salon, we say go for it.

Bride looking through a rack of wedding dresses
Photo: Stocksy

5 Reasons Why You Should Go Wedding Dress Shopping Alone

For Fee, it was the eagerness to surprise her family which fueled her desire to go wedding dress shopping alone. Looking back, however, she recognized how this decision benefited her in a number of other ways. Below, we're breaking down a few of them.

You'll Get One-on-One Time With a Stylist

"Successful design is all about finding a perfect complement between the garment and the person inside it," says Steven Birnbaum, founder of the namesake label and salon. When you attend a dress shopping appointment alone, your stylist or designer can use that one-on-one time to get a better sense of your personality and unique sense of style. You'll also get to experiment with different dress styles, silhouettes and colors—all without the added pressure of your loved ones watching and giving their opinions. This is ideal for to-be-weds who aren't totally comfortable with having attention on them.

You Won't Feel Unnecessary Pressure

"I went into my first dress shopping appointment feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure about what I wanted, and having other people's opinions at play from the beginning really emphasized that feeling," says Kate Boswell, Fashion Editor at The Knot and recent bride. It's common for brides to experience wedding dress anxiety at the beginning of their search, and having others around during it can sometimes add to the feeling of stress.

Let's face it: Your loved ones have opinions and bringing them along to your dress shopping appointments means they won't shy away from sharing them. Consider how you might feel in the event that one of your loved ones dislikes a dress that you love (and doesn't shy away from telling you). Would their opinion impact how you felt about the gown? Would this cause you to feel insecure or unsure of your choice? If yes, you might want to consider going dress shopping alone.

According to Birnbaum, "coming to a first appointment alone can be a great lesson for brides to get to know themselves, their bodies, the types of wedding dresses, silhouettes, and necklines they like (and perhaps what their fiancé might like to see them in), rather than making a choice geared to making their entourage happy."

Your Priorities Won't Be Compromised

Whether you have a strict wedding dress budget or you're shopping for a specific style, it can be difficult to stick to what you want when you're fielding suggestions from an entourage. Being able to talk and ideate openly with your consultant will give you the freedom to find a look you love. You'll be able to browse within your price range and try on styles you love without trying to please your future mother-in-law or maid of honor. "More often than not, brides seem conflicted by outside opinions and trying to make everyone happy with their dress choice," Birnbaum says. "Ultimately, this is the bride's day, and they should pick something that they feel good in."

Your Loved Ones Will Enjoy the Surprise

As we mentioned above, one of the greatest perks of going wedding dress shopping alone is getting to watch your loved ones see your gown for the first time on the big day. Recently, we've seen more and more nearlyweds opt for a first look before their wedding. This is when the bride gives their partner, family or wedding party a sneak peek of their attire before the ceremony. The grand reveal makes for a heartfelt moment between brides and their loved ones (it also makes for really great photos).

You Can Still Invite Your Loved Ones to Dress Fittings

"I definitely wouldn't have wanted to go through the entire wedding dress shopping process alone, but now that I've done it, I think it would've been beneficial to go to at least one of my first appointments alone," says Boswell. "I recommend going alone to your first appointment to get a feel for what styles you like and what you feel comfortable in, and then if you want to, you could bring along loved ones once you've narrowed down your options a bit," she says. You could even bring your crew along to your dress fittings after you've made your purchase. That way, they'll still get to feel involved in the process. According to Boswell, "this will help keep your vision clear and save you stress in the long run."

Additional reporting by Sarah Hanlon

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