Congratulations on your engagement! Now, what to wear? With so many styles
to choose from, selecting the perfect
wedding
gown can be tasking. Here are
some tips to give you the best experience possible and to help save you time
and money. Set a budget. This is the number one priority
before looking for a dress. Dresses can range from $100 to $5,000 and higher.
Knowing what you can truly afford and sticking to it will make it easier on
you. Let the bridal consultants at the shops you visit know your budget so they
don''''t try to go overboard. Allow plenty of time. Start looking
for a dress about eight months prior to the
wedding for a special order
designer dress. After settling on a dress, plan for 4-6 months for the dress to
arrive and to get alterations. Get
inspired. Try to get a general idea of the style you want. Look
online, in magazines and talk to your friends. Wedding-specific web sites, such
as The Knot, have entire sections dedicated to buying a dress. They also have
message boards with pictures of real-life
brides that you can talk to and learn about their experiences from. Where to
buy. Educate yourself before making this decision. Find a reputable
dealer and use common sense. You can purchase dresses on the internet, through
full-service salons, consignment shops, bridal warehouses and more. You will
likely find better service from small shops over bridal warehouses. Try
on several styles. Bring pictures with you and try on several
different styles. You may find that the spaghetti-strap style you thought you
wanted just doesn''''t work for you and the strapless style you never thought you
could wear makes you look amazing! If a salesperson brings you a style you
haven''''t tried, it doesn''''t hurt to at least see how it falls on you. You may be
surprised! Bring a trusted friend. Whether it''''s your best
friend or your mother, take a friend for honest opinions and help. Sales people
typically work on commission and want to sell, so you need someone you can
trust. Bring a camera along so you can get pictures to review before making a
final decision. Accessorize. Don''''t forget to consider these
must-have essentials: Veil. Consider your dress, wedding hair
style and face shape. Shoes. Find
comfortable shoes with a heel length that you can wear all day. Break them in
before the wedding by wearing the around the house a few times. Bring them with
you for fittings so your dress falls at the right length. Jewelry.
Keep it simple, elegant and not overpowering. Keep the focus on that incredible
dress! Undergarments. You can purchase these at the bridal
shop or at a department store. Make sure they are comfortable and wear them to
your fittings. Final steps. Get full-disclosure on the price,
including costs for alterations. You will have to sign a contract/invoice with
agreed upon terms that should include delivery date and that the dress will
arrive undamaged. Pay by credit card for your deposit. This protects you if the
gown arrives damaged or not by the agreed upon delivery date. Keep your invoice
and all receipts in the instance you run into problems. Most importantly, have
fun with this once in a lifetime experience!