| There's no doubt about it—things get personal when shopping for a wedding dress. Unlike any other frock you'll purchase, your wedding dress is part and parcel of a major commitment, and you'll want to remember it fondly for the rest of your life. As you enter the wonderful world of wedding dress shopping, don't worry if you're clueless about crinolines or corsets. Our 10 insider tips will help make your wedding dress search a celebration in itself.
1. Do your homework
Before hitting the wedding dress stores, be an educated consumer. Studying wedding dresses in bridal magazines is the best way to get started. Many designers and salons also have web sites where you can view wedding dresses (as does Brides.com with its Dressfinder) and check out fashion-show schedules.
The point of this research is not to induce hyperventilation, but to help you get a general idea of what wedding dress you want. Make notes about silhouettes, fabrics, and prices, then bring them, as well as magazines with pages you've flagged, to your salon appointments.
One caveat: Try not to get too attached to a wedding dress that looks great on paper. There's always the chance that it won't wow you in person. If that's the case, your consultant can direct you to similar, but more flattering, wedding dresses. Just make sure you try on the major wedding dress silhouettes: A-line, ball gown, basque waist, and Empire waist.
2. Start searching early
Any consultant worth her salt will ask you for the date, time, and location of your wedding. These logistics will dictate the type of wedding dress that's most appropriate. Experts agree that you should start looking for your wedding dress at least nine months before the big day. "Everything from the flowers to the headpiece revolves around the bride's wedding dress," says Lori Allen, owner of Bridals by Lori, in Atlanta. It will take at least three months for your wedding dress to arrive from the manufacturer and from one to three fittings to get it right.
3. Enter at your own risk
Just as you wouldn't show up at your doctor's office unannounced, don't go to your bridal salon without an appointment. "This allows us to spend more time with you and help you efficiently," points out Dorcas Prince, owner of Low's Bridal and Formal, in Brinkley, Arkansas. Some salons do take walk-ins, but you could be sitting around for hours before seeing a consultant, whose job is to listen to your ideas, then offer a few of her own. She will also educate you on wedding dress silhouettes, fabrics, and fit.
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