[注意]Will Your Wedding Dress Be Ready On Time?

You've imagined it since you were a little girl, but now it's really here. You're on the hunt for your perfect wedding dress, but do you know how long it'll take to find it? Don't wait until the last minute to get all of your wedding dress done, or you could end up walking down the aisle in your sweats! Here's our list of ten dress-shopping milestones to make sure you're managing your time wisely.

First come the needs, THEN go for the wants

The first thing you need to figure out is a price and a place. Determine your budget and be honest with yourself. If you have an off-the-rack budget, you can still find a gorgeous dress without torturing yourself by spending hours imagining a custom made Vera Wang. You're not doing anyone any favors by going into debt for your wedding dress, so once you've figured out what you can spend, stick to it! You're going to look gorgeous and earn yourself a few less wrinkles when the American Express bill comes due.

So many choices, so little time

We've all been there. You're surrounded by photos of 96 different wedding dresses and they're all absolutely gorgeous. Before you go off the deep end, consider the season; this will narrow down your choices and help keep you on track.

Most of us, even if we don't have a specific date, have a season and time of day in mind for the big day. Knowing this can really help to narrow down the field before you even pick up your first oversized issue of Brides. If you know you're going for a June wedding, it's likely that long sleeves and mink trim won't be making an appearance on your wedding dresses, so you can take those gowns, pretty as they are, out of the running. Getting married on a Sunday afternoon? Those ankle length, dramatic, long sleeved gowns, beautiful as they are, might not be your best bet. Keeping the time and season in mind will save you a ton of effort on your hunt!

Don't wait until the last minute

So you know your budget, and you know you're having an autumn affair, but it's not going to be for 3 more years. Time to take a break, right? Wrong! The earlier you start, the less stress you'll have, so start flipping through bridal magazines and hunting online now, it'll save you a lot of headaches later.

Ask now, buy later

Which salon to choose? Married friends, and online message boards (like Chatterberries!) are great places for referrals and recommendations to reputable bridal salons. This will help you to know if you're going to be treated as a valuable customer, or just another fluffy, wallet on legs. If a few of your friends have had a good experience at a particular salon, the chances are much higher that you will, too. Remember, if a boutique's staff is inattentive, or "poo poos" your concerns when you're just browsing, that's unlikely to change once you're locked in to the gown of your dreams.

Know the right questions

The right answers can help you narrow your choice of salons down to THE one. Bring a notebook with you on your go sees. Write down the name of the Salon, the name of the person you spoke to, and the answers to the important questions. That way, when you're home, and away from the pressure, you can compare them side by side without worrying about anyone's feelings but your own. What are the important questions? Start with things like:

Do they offer a fitting service, or will you have to find your own seamstress?

What is their policy on out-of-town bridal party members?

What is the delivery and return policy?

What are their shipping policies?

Getting the right answers to these questions will make sure that you choose the right bridal salon for you, and make sure your big day is as stress free as possible.

Have a dress rehearsal!

Once you've picked out the salon, it's time to try on the dress. But don't think you can just show up in jeans and sneakers. This is a real life dress rehearsal. Wearing heels, makeup, and a close approximation of your expected hairstyle can make the difference in choosing how the dress will really look. You'll be disappointed if your heels don't make your legs look as shapely as you'd imagined when you were wearing your sneakers, so go prepared. You might want to see what different hair or jewelry styles look like with a certain neckline, so it can be a good idea to bring a digital camera with you and take pictures of each different combination. It's going to take a while, but in the end, it'll be worth it.

Under where?

Make sure you wear nice lingerie. There's a good chance you're going to be standing around in a semi exposed state for quite a while (it's amazing how modesty goes out the window after you've tried on the 10th gown) and you'll want to maintain your poise while doing it. Aside from making sure you don't have the dreaded visible panty lines in your chosen wedding gowns, the trying on process, and all of the standing around is part of the fun, so look good doing it and leave the granny panties at home!

We are family, but not too much!

It's tempting to make these trips a family affair, but don't bring more than 2 people. You'll end up inciting confusion and what should be a fun, happy time can end up in bickering and tears. Keeping the shopping trip guest list to a minimum can cut hours out of the day. If you already have a good idea of your wedding dress's style before you arrive, bring a magazine, or print out pictures from a website to give your consultant a visual representation of what you want. Trust us, it'll be much more helpful than telling them you want to be the most beautiful bride on earth.

Size Matters

Wedding gown sizes don't run the same as standard dresses, and are not necessarily uniform between designers, so you won't be using your wardrobe as a sizing guideline. It's tempting, but don't freak out when you see your wedding dress size! The typical petite size two woman can expect to wear at least a 10 in a wedding gown! Bridal dress sizes were established during WWII and simply haven't changed with the times like street clothing has. So, no, your attendant isn't trying to add to your misery when she brings you that size 18, she really is trying to help!

Bringing It Home

Once you've got the dress picked out, you'll want to start fittings right away. Remember, if you're going to be losing weight, you're going to need more fittings. Most brides try to lose a few pounds in the months before wedding, but each inch you lose can have a tremendous effect on how the wedding  dress looks and fits, so plan your fittings accordingly. Try to get in one last fitting within 2 weeks of the big day and then, for better or for worse, stick with that weight!

The very last fitting should have you examining the dress from all angles, bending at the waist and even trying to sit. Make sure the fit is PERFECT, for both style and comfort. It may take an extra few hours of your time, but on your big day, when you look beautiful AND you can breathe, it'll all be worth it!