How to Choose Your Dream Wedding Dress 70 Things to Know(31~40)

Is online shopping the only retail therapy you know? It's okay to buy your dress online if you're an avid online shopper; 18 percent of brides in the U.S. do just that. If you can try the dress on in person that's great. If not, check the return policy—especially if you're ordering a few to try on and consider—to make sure you're entitled to a full refund if it doesn't look as dreamy in person.

Nothing is worse than getting to a bridal salon and finding they only stock samples to size 10 and you have nothing to actually try on. (Unfortunately, that's the case for many, even though they sell sizes up to 26.) Call ahead to make sure your shop has plus-size samples for the style and designer you want to try on, or if not, whether they can get some in before your appointment.

Unfortunately, unless you're really lucky, the first wedding gown you try on probably isn’t going to be "the one." But don’t get frustrated if you’ve tried on dress after dress to no avail. Stay patient and keep an open mind until you’re sure you’ve tried on the perfect dress. It might even take multiple shopping trips until you're fully 100 percent sure.

Make sure you stick to a few gowns per appointment/shopping trip. It is possible to try on too many wedding dresses and feel overwhelmed with options. If you’ve hit this point, take a break from shopping and sleep on your favorite choices.

Perhaps you're more the type who wants to look classic and timeless on your wedding day (think lace). Or maybe you're a fashionista who loves being up to the minute on trends.

Even though you may not have a star's unlimited wedding budget, you can still draw inspiration and help create a vision of what styles you want to replicate in your dress. That could mean Serena Williams's trendy cape or the classic lace silhouette of Pippa Middleton's gown.

It's easy, especially for people-pleasing brides, to bend in the moment to what gown your mom, sister, or maid of honor loves on you. But it's crucial that you go with what you love and what feels like your dream dress, regardless of other people's expectations.

That might mean subtle eggshell or ivory, romantic blush, or even a bold print. It may not be right for you, but a survey showed 14 percent of brides would wear a colored wedding dress. Don't be afraid to be unique.

If you want to incorporate a family heirloom, like a relative's veil or a piece of jewelry, into your wedding day look, bring it to all your shopping appointments to find the perfect matching gown.

"You'll feel you have a wide selection if you choose a salon with lots of options in your budget, rather than feeling like you're limited to just a few gowns if you shop at a salon where most dresses are out of your range," Ingram says.