1. Use wedding magazines or the Internet for inspiration and ideas on styles, trends and prices.
2. Set a budget and stick to it.
3. Allow plenty of time to find and order your dress. It may take you a while to find one and most dresses have to be ordered three or four months in advance.
4. Try on as many styles as you can. Some dresses look plain on a hanger and great on a body.
5. Start out with a general idea of the kind of dress you like: traditional, straight, empire line, princess line, etc.
6. It may seem silly, but be certain to check out the view from behind. Your wedding guests will have an uninterrupted look at your back and you want to look good.
7 Be practical - a huge skirt or an extremely long one will be hard to maneuver in a tiny church or on the dance floor.
8.Consider the season of your wedding and whether it will be indoors or out. Late Spring or Summer ceremonies call for cool silk, chiffon, pure cotton or lace. Late autumn and winter weddings demand warm, heavier fabrics such as brocade, velvet and satin.
9. Always take at least one other person with you (two is best) when shopping for your dress, so that you know what the dress looks like from every angle.
10. Try on a veil with the dress to get an idea of the complete look - a short veil may turn a dress from ordinary to extraordinary, while a long veil might not work at all.
11. Think about your shoes and any other accessories you may need to set off the dress and add that finishing touch. Are they in your budget, too?
12. Remember that most gowns run small and it is normal to need a couple of sizes larger than your normal clothes size, especially if you are well endowed or have broad shoulders.
13. Allow ample time for fittings and always make an appointment; gowns and slips have to be pressed ahead of time. Remember to bring the shoes and bra that you'll be wearing with the gown.
14. When your wedding gown is complete, it will be pressed and packed neatly. When you get it home, take it out and hang it in a protected spot until the big day!
15. Remember to relax and have fun! You don't have to do it all in just one day.

Shape & Style: Choosing Your Bridal Jewellery
When it comes to selecting your bridal jewellery, the type of hairstyle you will be wearing, whether or not you will be wearing a veil and even the shape of your face will play a large role. If you are wearing a headpiece such as tiara or crown, then your earrings and necklace should coordinate with those pieces. For example, a pearl necklace and earrings will complement a pearl headpiece.

When it comes to choosing the necklace, you want to pay attention to style of the gown and its neckline. A high neckline won't require any type of necklace. A V-neck will enjoy a drop necklace. Off the shoulders will be complemented by a choker or smaller necklace that enhances the shape of the neck. The more elaborate your gown, the more elaborate the jewellery should be to accent it. If your dress is simple
with few accents, complement it with simple jewellery.