What do I look for in a dress?

There are many things to consider when you are choosing a wedding dress. Your chosen dress should match the style of your wedding, fit with your personal style and most importantly, you should be comfortable wearing it.

For brides planning a morning or afternoon wedding, you have the option of choosing a less formal gown, for an elegant evening wedding with a large reception, you will want to choose a very formal gown.

If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, avoid gowns that have a train or are designed to drag the ground in the back. Instead, look for a floor length gown that barely skims the floor when you have your chosen shoes on or a tea length gown to swirl about your ankles.

If you will be walking down the aisle in a large church or hall that has a long walkway, a dress with a sizeable train and beadwork is likely in order. This will allow those guests that are seated farthest from the aisle to easily see you. Weddings of this size also tend to be much more formal, so the dress should match the occasion.

Once you have an idea of what kind of dress you are interested in, start looking. Do some window shopping and look at several bridal magazines. Try to narrow down your selections before you start to try dresses on.

When you do start trying on dresses, enjoy the process, but don't make any snap decisions. If you find a dress you like, don't order or purchase it immediately, give the decision some time to sink in. Sleep on the decision and return to pick up the dress the next day. Many dress shops will hold a gown for 24 hours if you want to think the purchase over.

Next: Gown Lengths and Trains