Many women dream of the day when they can try their dream dress on. To be prepared and make this awaited day run as smoothly as possible, consider these tips so you’re in the know

 Make an Appointment: It is best to call ahead of time to guarantee you will have assistance finding your dress. Try to avoid the weekends when you can, it can be best to go during the weekday when it is less crowded.

 Wear Heels to the Appointment: Bring heels of about the same height that you would most likely wear on your wedding day, that way you can truly imagine how the dress will look on the big day.

 Shop with Enough Time: Generally, you should start browsing for a dress six months to a year before the wedding. That way, you have time to consider your options and can add in some buffer room if alterations need to be made.

 Remember to Factor Other Items into Your Dress: Your budget for your dress may be $2,000 for example, but remember you’ll have extra expenses on top of this for your whole look. You may need alterations and you will need to factor in the cost for shoes, a veil and any other accessories you plan to have.

 Don’t Try on a Dress Outside Your Budget: You know you are going to fall in love with it… so do not be tempted in the first place, do NOT try it on!

 Keep an Open Mind: It may not look like your style, or maybe it looks a little odd on the hanger, but you never truly know what the dress looks like until you try it on.

 Decide Carefully on Who You Want to Bring: Consider bringing a small group of three to five people – mother, mother-in-law, siblings or best friends. Having too many people there might drown out your thoughts and you may end up with no decision on a dress.

 Visit Sample Sales or Trunk Shows: On a budget? You may score that dream dress with a pretty good discount. Bring a good crew and be prepared to scour the hangers quickly.

 Read the Fine Print: Before you dot the I’s and cross the T’s, make sure you review the contract carefully. You’ll want to have a number of things written down so you are prepared – write down your measurements, price of gown, size, date of delivery, designer and the deposit amount.

 Buy a Dress that Fits Now: You may be focused on losing pounds before the big day, but your body won’t drastically change too much in that time frame. It’s also a lot easier to take a gown in than it is to make a small-dress work. You want to be comfortable and look flawless in your dress!