Show-off photos of gowns you love! Research beforehand to get an idea of what kind of dress you’re looking for. Do you like a lot of beading or vin- tage lace? Do you like a tight bodice or loose-flowing? What type of mate- rials are you drawn to? Is there a designer you ab- solutely love? Coming to your appointment with de- tails like these can help narrow down your selection quickly and make it easier to find your gown. Incorporate alteration costs into your budget beforehand. You should absolutely have an idea of how much you want to spend before going to your first appoint- ment. One hidden cost that most brides don’t ac- count for when coming up with their wedding dress budget is the cost of alterations. Alterations can cost anywhere between $200-$1,000. If you don’t ac- count for that within your dress estimate, you’ll end up going over budget because of the alterations. Don’t try on dresses outside of your budget. It’s a common downfall to many bridal budgets. While falling in love with a dress that is a few hun- dred dollars over your budget can work for some brides, you’ll have to decide on your priorities. Where can you shift dollars and spend less in order for you to afford this dress? If it’s worth it to you, feel free to stretch your budget! But if you want to stick to a spe- cific number, avoid trying on dresses you can’t afford. Don’t lose too much weight or order your dress in a size too small. Some brides order a dress in a smaller size to moti- vate them to lose weight. It’s a lot easier to remove fabric than it is to add more fabric in, so it’s smarter to order a dress in your current size and fit it to your new body after weight-loss. However, it can also be scary to lose too much weight and end up with a dress that’s too big only weeks before your wedding. Have a realistic goal of how much you want to lose, and talk to your consultant and alterations team to decide what size would be best to order. When you have your “moment,” stop. Don’t keep looking for something better. Shopping is addicting, and you will always wonder if there is something better out there just waiting for you to find it. Trust that the dress you love is everything you’ve ever imagined and more and that you’ll look beautiful in it walking down the aisle. Is there a dress out there that you’d love more? Proba- bly. But as long as this dress makes you feel absolute- ly perfect and gorgeous, stop looking for something better. Otherwise, you’ll never stop shopping. BRIDAL ATTIRE Allure Couture - C485 available at Galleria Gowns hint, this magazine has tons! 20 | TODAY'S BRIDE +12 MONTHS UNTIL "I DO"