10 Tips For Buying Your Dream Gown

1. Start envisioning yourself in your dress. Write down adjectives that describe how you want to look: sexy, sophisticated, romantic.

2. Go through magazines and search online for dresses that you like. Remember, you don?t have to love the whole dress; pick out different elements that you like, such as the neck on one dress and the skirt detailing on another.

3. Choose the time of day and the formality of your wedding before setting foot in a store. This will make a difference in the style of dress you wear.

4. Have a gown budget in mind. Dress salons will ask you before you start trying on dresses what your price range is. Ten percent of your wedding budget is a good guideline.

5. Find two or three salons that suit you. Make appointments, allowing at least an hour at each salon. Some salons, such as Low’s in Brinkley, let brides have more time if they are shopping during the week; Saturday shoppers are limited to hour and a half appointments.

6. Decide who you want to tag along with you. More than three friends and fam-ily members can get a bit chaotic.

7. If you’re worried about how tops will fit, be sure to bring a strapless bra to wear while trying on dresses. Most salons will have shoes or stools to judge the dresses’ lengths.

8. Contrary to popular advice, DO bring a camera. The magazines are right — you can’t take pictures of all the dresses, but most salons will let you take a picture of the dress you end up buying.

9. Take a look at the salon’s veils, accessories and shoes, but don’t feel obligated to buy them when you purchase your dress. Those items can be purchased online or at other stores, and a veil can be made by your favorite seamstress.

10. If some of your bridesmaids are with you at the salons, take some time to check out any bridesmaids’ dresses the salon carries. Often, salons will give a discount on those dresses if you purchase a wedding gown from them.

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