It’s your BIG DAY. You’ve got to find the perfect dress.   Someone told you that once you find the right dress everything else will fall into place.  Hmmm … Most of us have in some way shape or form, at some point in time, fantasized about our wedding day and have envisioned ourselves in a cloud of white.  A big pouffy confection, sleek and sexy, Victorian, sophisticated, old world romantic, haute couture, beaded and sparkly, minimalist, short, low-cut, back-out, long, and the list continues; your perfect dress is out there, you just have to find it.

The task will be much easier if you figure out where you’re going to say I Do, before you make the rounds at all of the bridal boutiques – Amsale, Vera Wang, Saks, Mark Ingram, Claire Pettibone, Monique Lhuillier, Reem Acra, Kleinfelds, Atelier Amiee, Carolina Herrera, Jana Starr, JCrew, Jenny Packham, Junko Yoshioka, Lela Rose, Nicole Miller, Priscilla of Boston, Pronovias, Selia Yang - to name a few (whew, I’m exhausted and I haven’t even hit the tip of the iceberg!)

Last week the New York Times reported that it’s not uncommon for brides to make multiple wedding dress purchases in the quest for the perfect dress.  Not you? That’s what I thought too – but, trust me, it’s very easy to get caught up in All Things Bridal (I was a 2-dress bride, one for the wedding ceremony and one for the PARTY!, but I must admit that I do own 3 wedding gowns – I’m going to sell the Plan B dress on OnceWed, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet).

How to find the Perfect Wedding Dress:

1. Secure your venue before buying your wedding dress.  The beautiful sleek sophisticated structured wedding gown you’ve always dreamed of may not be the perfect dress for your laid-back wedding on Martha’s Vineyard.
2. Flip through magazines and look at wedding dresses online to get a sense of the kinds of dresses you’re attracted to. If you can give a salesperson a sense of what you’re looking for it will make it much easier for them to help you.
3. Wear well-fitting and proper undergarments when you go to try on wedding gowns.  Nude colored is best, leave the black skivvies at home.  If you’ve got some bits that need a little taming, bring your shapewear with you as well.
4. Only buy a wedding dress that makes your heart leap! (not your mom’s, not your bestfriend’s, not the saleswoman’s) Don’t buy a wedding dress that’s a great price but you feel lukewarm about it.  You’re going to keep looking and you will end up buying another that makes you’re heart leap.
5. When you go shopping for your wedding dress take no more than 1 or 2 trusted advisors. Too many opinions can make what should be a fun process stressful and overwhelming.
6. Stay within your budget (the right dress at the wrong price is not the perfect dress).
7. If all else fails and the task of finding the perfect wedding dress seems too daunting, stylist Allison Berlin will hold your hand through the process.

Don’t stress out about finding the perfect wedding dress.  There are tons of dresses out there to choose from, you may not find “The Dress” on your first shopping expedition, but whatever path you choose, trust that you will find the perfect wedding dress in due course.

[images clockwise from center - Claire Pettibone, Calvin Klein, Elie Saab, Shahin Design (gold dress), Daily Candy Weddings, Jenny Packham, Vera Wang, Christos, Vivienne Westwood, Alix&Kelly, Maggie Sottera, Alix&Kelly]