You’ve never bought a dresslike this before so here are fivethings you should considerbefore starting your shopping

•Don’t Bring anEntourage - a wedding dress is apersonal statement of who youare as a bride, too many opinionsand the dress becomes less andless about your preferences. 1 or2 trusted colleagues (whetherthat is your mom, sister or afriend) keeps the focus on yourdream wedding dress.

•Buy from anindependent Full Service BridalSalon – for the most importantgown of your life, don’t just trustit to anyone – the online site orthe high pressured commissionpaid sales clerk at a chain storeare not with you through thewhole process - Fit iseverything – trust an expert infittings and alterations to help

you pick the right dress for your body andto be there with you through the fittingprocess.

•Know Your Budget – nothing is worsethan falling in love with a dress you can notafford – what started as “just try it on for thefun of it” becomes a nightmare when youcannot have it and nothing else compares toit and that is no way to start your weddingplanning.

•Consider the Spirit of the Wedding -venue, weather and formality of thewedding should be considered whenchoosing your gown – if your venuescreams “ultra formal” your gown shouldtoo or you may want to avoid fur and lushfabrics for a beach wedding

•Live your Fantasy – This is your dreamand your big day so enjoy the process andwear what makes you feel beautiful – in theend that is what matters, you want to giveyour best self to your groom.

SEditorial provided by Sandy Slama, owner, Sandra Rose, llc

5 things to know about shopping for your wedding gown

Find a gown they all will loveClose friends and family members are an

important component of a couple’s weddingday. Individuals who are especially close tothe bride and groom are often asked tobecome members of the wedding party,which means a bride-to-be will be askingone or more women to play an integral rolein the celebration. To set these ladies apartfrom other guests at the wedding, they areoften asked to wear coordinating bridesmaid

gowns. Selecting a style and color that is fittingto the unique people of the bridal party can be

challenging, but it’s not impossible.As if choosing your maid of honor wasn’t tricky

enough, you now must make a host of other decisions aswell, all while playing stylist to the wedding party. Fashionsense is as unique as a fingerprint, and it is unlikely thebridesmaids will be able to agree on every aspect of thegowns they will be asked to wear. However, there areways to narrow down the choices and be asaccommodating as possible to their needs.

Size mattersThe body shapes and sizes of the women in your

bridal party will be different, and this should be kept inmind when selecting a gown style and cut. There arecertain dress shapes that are universally flattering, such asA-line. Try to avoid gowns that are extremely form-fitting,as only a few of the bridesmaids may be able to pull offthis look successfully. The remainder could be left feelingself-conscious and uncomfortable. Plus, form-fittingclothing will be restrictive and can be difficult to movearound in — particularly considering the gown will beworn for an entire day.

Flattering ColorAs a bride you may have a colorscape in your mind

for the wedding. But what looks good in table linens andflowers is not always the right choice for clothing. Takethe skin tones and hair colors of your bridesmaids intoconsideration before choosing a dress. Green- andyellow-hued dresses may not look nice on women witholive skin tones, while very pale colors may wash outwomen with fair skin. Those with dark skin may need abrighter-colored dress.

6 S Wedding Planner 2014