Wedding dress shopping is as exciting as it is intimidating. Standing in front of a mirror with your closest friends and mother picking apart about how you look in a type of dress that you have likely never tried on before, faced with the task of choosing perhaps the most important piece of clothing of your life... sounds like a breeze, right? Although it's such a wonderful experience, it's ok and expected to feel anxious about your bridal appointment. As wedding dress designers, we want a bride to feel comfortable and natural so that nothing stands in the way of them getting matched with that perfect dress.

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We've compiled a few tips from some of our trusted retailers around the world to help prepare you for your appointment. Take a deep breath and read on... and then book that appointment and get ready to fall in love and say yes, again, this time to a dress.

Choose your crew wisely.

We understand that you want to share this moment with your family and friends, but beware of how many you invite to go wedding dress shopping with you. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by everyone’s opinion, stick to a group of 3-5 guests. Set a few ground rules too. You will need honest opinions but also useful input. "I don't like that one as much," is not helpful. "that dress feels too flashy and dramatic for a barn wedding," is more effective. Help them help you!

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Go with your instinct.

The wedding dress you choose is what you’ll be standing in when you say “I do” to the love of your life, so make sure it’s one you’re completely head over heels for. It doesn’t matter if your mom or friends don’t agree on the style you’ve chosen. Stand up for yourself and listen to your gut. If you feel beautiful in it, you’ll exude confidence and beauty on your wedding day and everyone will see that.

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Trust the experts.

The key to finding your dream wedding dress is to go to a well-trusted, full-service bridal salon. They have experienced consultants that will guide and help you find your dress. During your appointment tell the consultant what your budget is, whether you have any body concerns, and tell her exactly how you want to feel on your wedding day. She’ll then take all of this information and will scour the bridal salon to find one that fits all of your needs. Keep in mind that your consultant has been dressing brides in all shapes, sizes, and budgets for years and is the most qualified person that can help you make your decision.

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Don't expect tears.

Don't expect your mom or bridesmaids to tear up once you've found the one. Not everyone will be overly emotional and even though their cheeks are dry believe them when they say you look beautiful in it.

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Stop looking.

One of the worse things you can do is to continue to look for wedding dresses after you've found the one. It's normal to have doubts about your wedding dress, but when you do start to have these doubts remind yourself of the reasons you chose it. Remember that you stood in the bridal salon with it on and pictured yourself saying I do, cutting the cake in it, and twirling the night away on the dance floor. This was the dress that gave you that unexplainable feeling. Don't forget that!

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So now, start here.

Scroll through our Justin Alexander and Signature dress galleries. Keep up with our blog for helpful posts like how to choose a neckline that's right for your body type, trend features such as wedding dresses with beautiful backs, and inspirational posts about some of our style muses on the red carpet. When you're ready, find a store and book your appointment and feel confident that you'll be matched with the dress of your dreams.

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