HOW TO BUY THAT PERFECT GOWN

After the proposal and acceptance, the champagne and the news broadcasts to friends and family, comes the daunting realization of the gigantic organizational task ahead. Then, as the list of 'must do's' start to stretch into infinity, you'll soon understand that getting married is also a huge financial undertaking. And one of the main contenders for capital outlay (if you are planning a traditional wedding or even an exotic one) will be "that gown"

It will be hard, but you're going to have to be honest and tell the designer or shop assistant, just how much you are prepared to fork out. Then, if they end up on the floor, clutching their sides and braying like a donkey try somewhere else.

If the shop only supplies bought in gowns, then you might take a close friend with you on your gown hunt. One whose criticisms will be constructive and who will tell you the absolute truth, when you ask; "Well, what do you think?"

You might be very lucky and find the perfect gown at the very first shop you visit. But such things rarely happen. And even if you fall in love with that first dress, it's a good idea to at least flirt with a few others. (Well...how many frogs did you have to flirt with before your prince came along?) Bridal gowns are like men - there might be a better one waiting on another rack. Or you might have to have one designed from scratch. (The dress, I mean).

Take time to consider the small details, as well as the broader concepts of the overall design. Think about harmonizing the veil, the tiara, the shoes and the details that you might want sewn onto the bodice.

How truthful can you be to yourself about your shape? Are you really what you see in the mirror?

Make sure that the style you choose suits the shape you are.
A princess line dress, often has the effect of making the body look longer. While corsets, that have been boned, will accentuate those fuller busts. Sheer, bias cut dresses accentuate slender curves.
Some styles mean that you'll have to think very carefully about the type of underwear you choose. Unless you don't mind the lines and ridges showing through.

Then there is you skin and hair tone to consider when deciding the colour of the fabric - is it to be white, ivory, coloured? Take advice from a designer. Remember, if you look good- so do they. A good reputation is hard to keep; a bad one is hard to get rid of.


If you've got it flaunt it!
A good designer can sometimes create a gown that will camouflage your less favorite bodily features. But even the best dressmakers can't remove or even reconstruct them. Let your designer know if there are bits of your anatomy that you want to accentuate or hide.

You will be wearing your gown for many hours, so make sure that you can move freely and that the gown moves with you. It's important to feel comfortable. You don't want to remember the day as the most uncomfortable experience you've ever had.

If you plan to wear high heels and the floor of the church, or the floor of the reception venue is either perforated or soft, you might take into consideration the damage you could do to the train or the hem if your heels start to sink onto soft surfaces.

Often the design or colour of the bride's gown is reflected in the choice of material used to make the bridesmaids dresses. So it might be useful to have a look at some bridesmaid's dresses in the early days.