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Buying a Wedding Dress - Wedding Guide

Find the dress of your dreams.

If you've just gotten engaged, you're undoubtedly caught up in a whirlwind of parties, phone calls from eager relatives and daydreams of a romantic honeymoon. The wedding is still months away (or even longer)--do you really need to start thinking about buying a wedding dress now? The answer is yes, according to wedding experts. A bride-to-be should allow at least three months lead time for an off-the-rack wedding dress order, and six months for a specialty gown.

Where to Begin
Buying a wedding dress may seem like a tall order. Make it easier on yourself by starting with a few simple questions. First, ask yourself whether you're dreaming of a specific designer for your gown. If so, you can call or e-mail that designer's representative companies, or ask at your bridal shop, for a catalog of the clothier's latest wedding designs.

If designer wear is not in your plans (or budget), think about what style of dress you'd like to wear and find out the clothier terms for that design. You can then look online or ask your local bridal shop for gowns in that style. For example, you'll turn up more accurate leads if you search for an "empire waist" gown than an "under the bustline" gown, and "full skirt" will leave you with more options to wade through than necessary if what you really want is an "A-line".

Savvy Shopping
Many wedding gown shops routinely run sales or specials on their garments. These often run in the early spring, but can also appear at other times throughout the year. Call your local shops well in advance to find out when they are having special sale days, and see if you can get an appointment with a sales clerk in advance for the day so that you won't have to wait for the other brides-to-be who have flocked to get their savings. Be prepared to put about half the amount of the dress down before you leave the shop; usually this will require a credit card. (The other half is generally due when the dress arrives at the shop.)

Also ask about any clearance or "last of its kind" items. Often a dress is not slated for sale simply because others have tried it on and requires cleaning, stitching or some other easily remedied solution. You can save a bundle on such a gown, and since it's not being reordered, you'll be getting a unique look in the process.

Something Old, Something New
Usually, a wedding gown only gets worn once. Two exceptions are when a dress is handed down to family members or a friend, and when a bride decides to sell her dress. You can take advantage of the second scenario by looking on the internet for used or up-for-bid wedding gowns. Make sure you choose a reputable company or seller and that there is some sort of guarantee on the size and condition of the garment.

Because it's rare that a wedding dress will fit every body type, and because many used gowns have already been altered to the original wearer's shape, choose a size larger than you currently measure. This way you can be sure to have plenty of material to take off in alterations; it's much easier to take away material than to add gores, ribbons or lace. With an open mind, plenty of time and a few simple but savvy tips, you'll be sure to wind up with the wedding dress of your dreams.

Written by: Melanie Henson
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