The dress is one of the highlights of any wedding and you want to make sure that you look as beautiful as you possibly can. Don't compromise on what you want, there will only ever be one first time you get married and you want it to be absolutely perfect.
Consider what it is that you want the dress to look like before you go looking. This will help you narrow down the search, saving you time and effort.
There are so many options to consider, things like the colour are not as straightforward as they appear, there is pure white, eggshell white, cream, off white, pale white, the list is endless.
Next consider things like the length, do you want it floor length with a train or short? It helps to consider your venue when thinking about this, if it's a small intimate ceremony, your 30 metre crepe avalanche of a train might not be the wisest course of action. Think about the time of year that you're getting married, summer means less fabric, winter means more.
Veils are also an vital part of any good dress. You need to think about whether or not you even want one. If you do, you could go the frilly route, or keep it plain and simple, whatever you decide, make sure that it matches the dress. This is a personal thing between you and your groom, and you might want to have a chat with him about it, he is lifting the thing after all and if he doesn't fancy having to use hydraulic moving equipment to do so, you should take cognisance of that.
Something that you should not forget about is the garter. This is a tradition and if you decide to do it you should give some thought to it. Because it is not part of your dress as such and no one will see it until later, you can make it pretty much anything you want. Personally I prefer to strike a balance somewhere between conservative and common strumpet. Don't be afraid to have a bit of fun with this as it is a very light-hearted exercise.
Your body type is also important to consider when choosing a dress, if you have a great cleavage, then a plunging neckline might be the way to go. If you are more flat-chested, then perhaps something with a push up element is a good idea. There are so many different cuts of dresses, some new, some classic. Shop around and decide which one is the dress for you.
It all boils down to personal preference, if you've been smitten with a particular type of dress since childhood, then by all means explore it. Ultimately, the dress that you feel happiest wearing is the one that you will look the best in, and be more likely to never forget.
