Of all the elements involved in the planning of a wedding, the selection of the bridal gown can be one of the most time consuming. The search for the perfect dress usually gets underway soon after the engagement has been announced and continues for weeks and sometimes months afterward. If you have recently gotten engaged, here are some tips to help you with the search.

Start early
The sooner you start looking for a wedding dress, the better chance you will have of finding just the right one and the accessories to go with it. You will also have plenty of time for alterations. And should you choose not to buy a gown off the rack and customer order one instead, you won’t have to worry about it not arriving in time.

Be open
Don’t pick the dress. Let it pick you. Go ahead and page through all of those bridal magazines. The more you know about what’s out there, the better idea you’ll have of what you want. But don’t limit your shopping to any one style, color or designer. Just because a particular style of dress looks good on the page does not mean it will look good on you at the store. You want a gown that not only appeals to your tastes but flatters your figure.

Bring a guide
Find a trusted friend or family member willing to go shopping with you and help you decide. You need someone who can give you an honest opinion of each dress you try on, good or bad. Choose someone who will tell you what they think, not what you want to hear.

Shop around
Take several days to check out the selection at various bridal shops and try on as many styles as possible. Ask if you can take photos of the gowns that really interest you. If not, bring a notebook so that you can jot down the name of the gowns you like best and where to find them. Don’t trust your memory to keep track of what you like and where to find it.

Keep at it
Continue your search until you find the perfect gown, and when you do, stop! Purchase the dress right then and there and turn your attention to the other tasks on your to-do list. Don’t continue to shop on the off chance you will find something better. Chances are you won’t, and when you return to the store to purchase the dress of your dreams, someone else may have already beat you to it.

Shopping for a gown can take a lot of time. While some brides come upon the dress of their dreams within the first few hours of shopping, most don’t. Prepare for the task to take a while and enjoy!