Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping from the Pros

One of the biggest and most important purchases you'll make for your wedding is your wedding dress...."THE" dress. There's a lot of factors to take in and consider when shopping for your dress, so here are some tips from the pros!

J'Aton Couture

Tips from TheKnot: Research which salons are most appropriate for your budget. While the average salon carries lines in the under-$1,000 category, there are others in which the dresses start at $3,000. Save yourself -- and the salons -- time by asking before you make an appointment.

Have a general idea of the formality of your wedding before you shop. Write down six adjectives that best describe how you want to look and feel on your wedding day. Some examples: princess, sexy, sophisticated, over-the-top, classic, boho. This will help your bridal salon attendant pull the most appropriate dresses for you to try on.

When you finally step into that fitting room, keep an open mind. If the salesperson brings you something she says you must try, try it -- even if you detest the way it looks on the hanger. And while certain styles work best on certain body types, it helps to try on all different kinds of dresses, and then decide what shape and style suits you best.

Kenneth Pool

Tips from FrugalBride.com: Before shopping in person, look at all the designer websites & bridal magazines. They have excellent photographs of all their current styles. Consider what style gown you would like for your wedding day.....A-line? Princess Tulle cut? Sheath? Do you desire sleeves, strapless, spaghetti straps?

Reem Acra

Tips from Martha Stewart Weddings: Set a Budget... Shopping without a cutoff point is like driving without a gas gauge—trust us on this. Plan to spend about 10 percent of your overall budget on your dress. But consider this number a starting point. If fashion is more important to you than, say, flowers or music, increase your dress spending and scale back in other places, says Mark Ingram, owner of Mark Ingram Atelier, in New York City. Or, go easy on the gown and shell out for a great photographer or band if those are your top priorities.

Before you hit the shops, think about what kind of dress you want. Pull pages from magazines, browse our Dress Finder, and see our Pinterest boards for ideas. Keep a folder where you can stash tear-outs, fabric samples, and anything else you love, and use your smartphone or tablet to swipe through Pinterest boards. "At most salons, the majority of gowns aren't out on the floor," explains Ingram. "In order to pull the right styles from the back, your consultant needs to get a feel for what you're looking for. The more guidance you can provide, the better!"

On reality shows, brides always bring a whole crew of friends and family members to join in on the shopping fun. And every single time, there's loads of drama. The takeaway? Less is more when it comes to companions. Bring one or two people whose input means the most to you. Otherwise, you'll spend too much time trying on gowns they picked out and steering the conversation back to what you want. If you can't imagine not including all of your friends, "Invite them to your final fitting and make a dramatic entrance for the big reveal," suggests Ingram.

Pnina Tornai

The photos in this post are from TLC's Say Yes to the Dress. If you haven't watched the show, put it on your to-do list! The bridal consultants at Kleinfeld's really give some great advice on buying bridal gowns.

Platinum for Priscilla of Boston