Wedding Dresses

Choosing a wedding gown can be extremely fun, somewhat frustrating, or somewhere in between. :) Give yourself time to look at different bridal dresses - you'll get a feel for what the current styles are and decide whether you'd like to go the traditional route or go for a more modern or unique gown.

Before even entering a bridal shop, your first goal should be to browse through several current bridal magazines and see what jumps out at you. Compile a collection of photos to work with, and if you find something you particularly love you can look online to see if the gown is available at a local retailer.

TIP: When you're ready to start trying dresses on, you might feel more comfortable having your best friend or a family member with you - a second pair of eyes and some moral support can help tremendously, and the day will automatically become more fun!

In addition to your dress, the following accessories should also be considered at the time of purchase:

• Veil
• Headpiece
• Undergarments (you can bring these with you if purchased previously)

For more on bridal undergarments, see "The Bridal Necessities: Everything you need to know about bridal underpinnings".

Before your first fitting, you should aim to purchase your shoes so that you can wear them at the fitting.

Other bridal accessories that are often added include:

• Bridal Jewelry - Earrings, Necklace, etc.
• Bridal Purse
• Hair Accessories
• Gloves and/or Wrap
• Garter

Other attire-related wedding items may be purchased later on in your planning and include:

• Rehearsal Dinner Dress
• Honeymoon Attire - including an outfit you can change into after the reception, and any lingerie items for the first night of your honeymoon.