| When little girls spend their math classes | | | | you pick a gown, you'll see a hundred others |
| daydreaming of weddings (instead of winning the | | | | nearly like it. You'll become a walking encyclopedia |
| World Series -- not to say you can't do both), | | | | on that style of gown. All the better if you still |
| what do they dream of first? The perfect | | | | have room to choose. |
| wedding dress, of course: a gown in white satin | | | | - If you've bought "The One," stop shopping. Any |
| with a bustle and sweeping train, the perfect | | | | more window-shopping at this point will only lead |
| embellishments, and the perfect shoes. | | | | you down the road toward the dreary land of |
| There are few occasions in our modern world | | | | Two-Dress Brides. What you need to do instead |
| where a woman finds herself in a position to wear | | | | is remember that blissful feeling of having tried on |
| a no-holds-barred ball gown, much less a crystal | | | | The One. Go get The One out of the closet, put |
| tiara, and all too many where she's called on to | | | | it on and stand in front of the mirror. You'll |
| wear to a neutral suit or uninspiring "biz-caz" | | | | remember exactly why it's The One. |
| combo. No wonder that with so many brides, | | | | - If you've bought "The One" and can't stop |
| their wedding plans start with the dress. | | | | shopping, get a second opinion. Show your first |
| Many of these brides are lucky. They may search | | | | and second choices to other brides. Be honest -- |
| high and low, braving chilly department stores and | | | | tell them you've already remortgaged your condo |
| pushy bridal shops, but eventually they come | | | | for the first dress, but you think this second |
| face-to-face with The One. They know this is | | | | dress might be It. They'll be truthful, too -- the |
| The One because they start crying, or their | | | | first one was better. You'll feel reassured. |
| mother or friends all start crying at once. | | | | - Don't tell yourself "I'll sell the old dress and |
| Suddenly the rest of the planning ... the theme, | | | | choose a new one." This old saw of the |
| the tone, the right kind of venues ... it all springs | | | | Two-Dress Bride just won't work. You'll never get |
| to life. | | | | more than a fraction of what you paid for your |
| Other brides aren't as fortunate. They've | | | | first dress if you bought it new. |
| searched just as hard, working their way through | | | | - Don't be afraid to aim high -- no matter what |
| shops across three or four states, but they | | | | your budget. Some brides knew from the start |
| haven't found The One. Instead, they've found | | | | they wanted a designer label, but life just didn't |
| three or four Contenders, all of which are | | | | cooperate by making them heiresses. Yet all is |
| serviceable and nice, but not earth-shattering | | | | not lost if you're willing to shop courageously. At |
| enough to tell them that now is definitely time to | | | | any given moment, a better-heeled bride is selling |
| stop the searching and get on with the planning. | | | | her once-used St. Pucchi or Ulla-Maija on eBay. |
| These brides have it harder. | | | | She paid thousands upon thousands, but you, |
| Even if you're the first kind of bride, buying the | | | | smart shopper, will pay half that or less. To take |
| dress is such a momentous decision that you run | | | | this road, you must shop earlier than other brides |
| a risk of falling into that wallet-skinning category | | | | so you'll have a choice of gowns. Always pay with |
| known as the Two-Dress Bride. Here are some | | | | a credit card so you'll have recourse if the dress |
| tips for picking the perfect dress and avoiding | | | | doesn't arrive in acceptable condition, and again, |
| that awful fate. | | | | shop early so you can buy another if necessary. |
| - Bring the entourage, but don't buy. It's fun and | | | | Shop courageously, but not recklessly. |
| useful to bring your mother, friends or sisters on | | | | - Shop online, but never send a check. Bridal gown |
| the dress-shopping expedition. It gives you a | | | | businesses sometimes have a way of |
| buffer against an overbearing sales staff, and it's | | | | disappearing overnight. No matter what the |
| fun to see if your impressions of perfection are | | | | proprietor tells you, never make a purchase as |
| shared by your loved ones, not to mention how | | | | large as a wedding gown without the chargeback |
| they'll love being part of such an important | | | | protection of a credit card. If they say they can't |
| decision. But no matter how enthusiastic everyone | | | | take plastic, move on. |
| gets over a certain dress, don't buy in the heat | | | | - Don't hold out forever for The One. Some |
| of the moment. Give yourself time to reconsider | | | | brides never find The One. What they do find is a |
| and buy with a cool head later, alone. The vast | | | | few dresses they look beautiful in. If you're this |
| majority of dresses are non-returnable, so when | | | | bride, try starting your planning from the theme |
| you've bought it, you've bought it. | | | | instead of the dress. You'll probably eventually get |
| - Don't buy too early unless you must. Bridal | | | | sick to death of dress shopping. When that |
| gowns can take four to ten months to come | | | | happens, "good enough" really will be good enough. |
| from the manufacturer, but there's no reason to | | | | Concentrate on other aspects of the wedding |
| buy over a year ahead of time, unless your | | | | that mean a lot to you, like the venue, the food, |
| chosen style is going to be discontinued. Give | | | | or the inevitable adoration of your soon-to-be |
| yourself some time to sit on your decision. Once | | | | husband. |