Recommended gowns
When to Buy Your Wedding Dress — the Full Timeline for a 2027 Wedding
"When should I start looking for a dress?" is one of the first questions every newly engaged woman asks — and one of the few where being late genuinely costs nerves. The answer depends on whether the gown is in the salon or made to order, and how far away the date is. Here is the honest timeline Areti has worked with since 1992.
The short answer: start 8–12 months before the wedding
The ideal moment to start looking is 8 to 12 months before the wedding. That gives you time to try different silhouettes calmly, sleep on the decision and — if your chosen style is ordered from Demetrios — wait for delivery without any pressure.
💍 Not sure where to start? Take the "Which dress is for me" quiz →
The month-by-month timeline
- 12–9 months before: browse, try on, compare silhouettes. Most brides find "the one" within 2–3 visits.
- 9–6 months: final choice and order. If the style is not in stock, delivery from Demetrios takes 3–4 months.
- 3–2 months: the gown is in the salon; alteration fittings begin — length, waist, neckline, fitted to your figure.
- The final month: a last fitting with your shoes and accessories — veil, jewellery, lingerie. The dress waits for you in the salon until the day itself.
What if the wedding is only 2–3 months away?
It is not too late. Our Lozenets salon physically stocks over 100 styles, and when a gown is available, alterations take 2–3 weeks. When time is short, one thing matters most: come for a fitting as soon as possible and mention your date when booking — the stylist will then show only styles that can be ready in time.
When do the new collections arrive?
Demetrios presents a new collection every autumn. The 2027 collection arrives at Areti in late September 2026 — the first styles of the new season can be tried on with us before they appear anywhere else in Bulgaria. If your wedding is in 2027, this is when the choice is widest: the new season is in the salon and every ordering and alteration deadline is comfortable.
✨ See which 2027 styles are already in the salon →
How much should you budget?
Prices at Areti follow the Demetrios collections: Cosmobella from €1,000, Destination Romance from €1,200, the core Demetrios line from €1,500 and the luxury Platinum from €2,500 to €4,000. The detailed breakdown — what drives the price and what is included — is in our dedicated guide.
💶 Wedding dress prices & budget 2026/2027 →
How to prepare for your first fitting
Areti works by appointment only — the salon is yours for the visit, and the consultation with a personal stylist lasts 90 minutes. Bring nude-tone underwear and shoes with a heel close to your wedding pair. Invite one or two people whose opinion you trust — more eyes tend to confuse rather than help.
The essentials in three lines
Start looking 8–12 months before your date. A made-to-order gown needs 3–4 months for delivery plus 1–2 months for alterations — so for a summer 2027 wedding, choose your style by January–February. And if time is tight, in-stock styles are ready with alterations in 2–3 weeks.
