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Many girls envision their weddings from an early age.  The most important part?  The dress.  Everyone wants to look fabulous on their wedding day.  When I got engaged, shopping for the dress was the first item I tackled on my overwhelming list of things to do.  Why?  Because the dress is the fun part.

The first thing to keep in mind is to keep an open mind.  If you have a very exact image in your head of what your dress should be, you may be disappointed.  Go shopping with the “I’ll know it when I see it” attitude.

Bring at least one other person with you.  Your mom, your maid of honor, a friend.  Anyone who can give you an objective opinion will be invaluable.  They will help you choose a dress that looks best on you and help you stick to a budget.

Make sure you have a budget.  And be realistic.  You should have an overall budget for your wedding and if you decide to go over budget on the dress of your dreams, make sure you understand that you may have to cut something else.

Start early and be prepared to dedicate time to shopping.  Start shopping at least nine months ahead of the wedding if you can.  Bridal salons can get dresses faster than they are willing to admit, but start early just in case.  Spend a lot of time trying on different dresses in different styles.  Don’t buy the first dress you try on that you love.  Go to several shops even when you think you have found the one.  It may not be the one and even if it is, you can always go back for it later.

Finally, be patient.  It may take a while for you to find the perfect dress.  But, if you start early, there will certainly be time to make your dreams come true.