Q When should I start my gown shopping? A Nine to twelve months before your wedding is an ideal time for shopping as it’s best to have about six months to spare for fittings and (sometimes multiple) alterations. If you have less than six months to work with, start shopping right away! Q How can I prepare for my first gown shopping experience? A You’ll want to start by looking at maga- zines, bridal websites, and yes, Pinterest to get an idea of what you’re drawn to in terms of style, shape, and attitude. Be sure to bring those photos to your first appointment; the overall feel — romantic, modern, beachy — is the key piece your consultant needs to pull a range of dresses that might work. Less excitedly – but more im- portantly – you’ll need to have a budget in mind. Most brides spend about 10% of their overall wedding budget on their dress, but consider this a starting point. You may need to stick to a hard-and-fast number, but you may also be able to increase your gown spending and scale back in other places. Q Where should I go? A Chances are you have a ton of fabulous bridalshopsrightinyourownbackyard! If you have specific designers in mind, find out which local stores carry them. Our vendor profiles on TodaysBride.com can help you narrow down your list! Before you shop, you might like to check out reviews for your potential shops, as well as take notes on whether they advertise in any major bridal magazines, wedding shows, or Q+A Most brides spend 10% of their budget on their dress. Make sure you include alterations in this number. GOWN SHOPPING 2 3 4 1. Lillian West - Style 6422 available at Doreen Leaf Designs 2. Mori Lee - Style 8118 available at CLE Bride 3. Casablanca Bridal - Style 2272 available at Koda Bridal 4. Maggie Sottero - Odette available at Doreen Leaf Designs, Galleria Gowns, and Lavender Bridal Salon 5. Hayley Paige - West available at Radiant Bride 5 READ MORE AT TODAYSBRIDE.COM TODAY’S BRIDE | 9