As a young girl, it can be safely assumed that a bride did not "play wedding" and dream about choosing a caterer, reception locale or ceremony music. Instead, she was envisioning her wedding dress which would, of course, be one of the most important pieces of her future big day.

Now the time has come to choose the dress she will don on her big day! Luckily, the Ohio bride has a variety of dress shops she can visit around the state, from the small boutique to a wedding store extravaganza.

Shopping Around the Buckeye State

If you are a bride living in the Cincinnati area, then you may want to consider traveling a short distance over to Covington, KY, to visit Donna Salyers' Fabulous-Bridal Boutique. Donna Salyers' features several designers and also holds trunk shows throughout the year. Another option in Cincinnati is Bridal and Formal, and a little across the way in Dayton is Sharnett Bridal and Prom.

A few more bridal stores to consider:

• All Brides Beautiful in Hudson.
• Catan Fashions in Strongsville.
• Cleo's Bridal and Formal in Columbus.

Ensure Wedding Dress Safety

Shopping for your wedding dress should be an absolutely dreamy experience, and in order to keep it that way you may want to keep a couple things in mind when shopping around for your frock:

Shopping Online: This is perfect acceptable; in fact, some brides have found fabulous deals on bridal Web sites. But be sure you ask if the authenticity of your dress can be certified by calling the shop which you ordered from. Don't rely on Web images to ensure you get the dress of your dreams.

Authorized Retailers: Make sure your bridal store is an authorized retail shop. That way, you can ensure the safety of your purchase and feel confident that you will be wearing exactly what you want when you say "I do!"

Keeping Your Dress Forever

When your special day in the Buckeye State is over, you want to ensure the preservation of your dress. Ask around for preservation referrals. If no one can dig one up, then be sure to do your research. After your dress has been cleaned, keep it that way by wrapping it in acid-free tissue paper instead of plastic. Then, place it in an acid-free box and place it high up on a shelf to avoid damage from flooding or moisture.
You will be happy you took the right steps to safeguard your dress when you can show it to generations of brides-to-be for years to come!

A Dress that Suits You

Make sure the dress you choose is one that suits your needs and comfort level. Listen to other people's opinions, but don't let them influence you so much that you choose a dress someone else likes more than you do. This is your day, so make sure your dress represents you.