Shopping For Your Gown: The Survivor's Guide

Your gown is the first big decision that you’ll make. And it has to be perfect, right? Shopping for it should be fun and wonderful? Well, follow our guide to make the most of your gown shopping experience.

#1 – Start with mimosas. Sound crazy that we're suggesting alcohol in the morning? Believe WM, taking the edge off will help. Both you (and your mother) have probably spent some time imagining this day. Easing into the reality of it can be a good start.

#2 – Make an appointment. Call ahead to determine whether the salons that you're interested in take appointments. If they do, you can be sure that you'll have your sales person’s help and full attention. If you have any sense of the style gowns you'd like to try, let her know over the phone. She can pull some for you to start with before you even arrive.

#3 - Don't go on a Saturday. Take time off from work. It's worth it. On Saturday, the boutiques will be mobbed with girls trying on gowns. You'll wait for a fitting room, you won't get enough attention from the sales staff and the dress you're looking for might be in another fitting room or on another girl. If you HAVE to go on a Saturday - go first thing in the morning.

#4 - Don't expect to take pictures. Many brides want to remember the gown when they're home. After all, they can run together. Because there is a huge probability of inferior copies and knockoffs online, most salons won't let you take photos of the gowns. And they shouldn't. They have to keep the lights on and pay rent, so they're focused on not losing business to competitors.

#5 - Bring a snack and some juice. You'll have to consume it far from the gowns, but you'll likely run out of steam before you run out of gowns to try on. So bring some sustenance.

#6 - Don't wear a sports bra. Wear a strapless, backless bra if you already have one. If not, any strapless will do.   It will help you envision how the dress will actually look on you.

#7 - Style your hair and put on some makeup. If you're trying to get a sense of your overall look, you'll likely be distracted by the dark circles under your eyes and that untamed mane. Today is the day to devote a little extra attention to your face and hair. Some pearls or diamond studs on your ears won't hurt the shopping process either.

#8 - Take your most positive support people. One or two good friends are all you need here. If your mother can't be positive, don't take her. If your best friend is a little jealous that you're engaged first, leave her at home. You need friends that can be realistic, helpful and positive. Not friends with agendas.

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