Choosing Your Wedding Gown One of the most important decisions you will make when planning your wedding is selecting "the perfect gown," meant to dazzle your man. Whether you know exactly what you are looking for, or if you're beginning your search with little more than a general idea, there are several things you should consider before purchasing your gown.
Remember, when planning an elaborate church wedding or a simple intimate affair, your gown should reflect your personality, taste and style. Traditional styling is never outdated. "Something old" is still "something new." The exquisite formal weddings of days gone by, celebrated by your grandmothers, are very much in style today. Although your mind may be made up and your heart set on one particular gown prior to going shopping, be sure to try on several different
styles. After all, this is a once-in-lifetime event. Choosing the perfect gown should be fun! Many bridal shops will not allow you to take pictures of their gowns, but be sure to take a camera along, just in case permission is granted. Not only will having a picture, "in hand," be helpful in making your final choice, but after trying on several gowns, they may all begin to look alike. It was my experience, as a bridal shop owner for more than 22 years,
that many brides would return later, searching for the perfect gown they found in my shop, only never to find it again. I cannot begin to tell you how often the bride "put together" in her mind, the perfect gown, after trying on so many. Remembering, the skirt of one gown, the train of another and possibly even the bodice of a third, she would be unable to "find" it again. One final point. When you find the "perfect gown," buy it. Period . . . End of story . .
. Stop looking. Buy it that day! Especially if the gown you "simply must have" is on a sale rack or is a one-of-a-kind sample. I can tell you from experience, weeks may go by and no one will look at or try on a particular gown. Then a bride steps through the door, falls in love with the dress, assumes it will be there when she returns later, at her leisure, and time after time, that very gown will sell to another bride hours later. Don't be
disappointed. Buy your gown when you find it! Whether shopping with your mom, best friend or alone, it will be helpful for you to have a basic understanding of the various gown styles. The following terms and descriptions will assist you in explaining to your bridal shop consultant exactly what you are looking for. | 
