10 rules of dress buying

1. While it may seem limiting to have to put a ceiling on your spending, the amount that you decide to spend on your dress can provide a good opportunity for you to narrow down the choices. Through thorough research you can become familiar with what is on offer from the different shops and designers in your locality. It’s definitely best to have an idea of price in your mind before heading off on those initial appointments.

2. The ceremony, be it formal or informal, will be one of the chief factors to bear in mind when buying your dress. Picture yourself saying your vows and imagine the atmosphere that you will have worked so hard to create. At this point, your guests will be focussed on you more than at any other time.

3. Remember to maintain a practical approach where the weather is concerned. We all know how difficult it is to predict the weather, but you don’t want to be too hot or, on the other hand, to shiver your way through the proceedings.

   So many options are available so you can always wrap up in winter, to be gloriously revealed once safely indoors. Or if you want to cover up in summer choose a sheer, weightless fabric to do the job.

4. The reception is where the party really starts to get under way, so you won’t want concerns about your dress stopping you from having fun. To get the best from your venue, be it a hotel, village hall or decorated barn, be sure of the environment that each will provide. Coir matting can do loads of damage to trains of delicate tulle and chiffon, and high heels can throw you off balance when they sink inelegantly into grass!

5. When you’re shopping for your dress, keep at the forefront of your mind an image of the overall look that you want for your wedding. From the smallest of details to the major ingredients, the approach to wedding design seems to be an ever more coordinated one. You can always get away with a peculiarity or two, but the style of your dress should harmonise happily with the rest of your arrangements.

   Monochrome minimalism and sugar candy froth might leave your guests feeling a little confused, unless eclectic eccentricity is the theme of your big day!

6. Be honest with yourself about your body shape, but not brutally so. And also think about your colouring. It saddens me to tell you that nine out of ten brides cannot wait to divulge intimate secrets about their most hated body parts. In nearly every case, this negative self-image is completely without basis.

   It's straightforward for a designer or sales assistant to show you examples of dresses that will play down your less favoured bits and accentuate your best ones. You'll see too that dresses come in a variety of shades and if white doesn't suit your complexion then choose one of the many versions of ivory or cream that are available. Alternatively, indulge your adventurous side and go for your favourite colour.

7. Remember that your wedding will be a gathering of friends and family, many of whom you may not have seen for some time. Don't get too carried away with the theatre of the occasion and dismiss comfort from your tick-list when buying your dress.

   If you live in trainers and cotton lycra, either be prepared to practise in your heels, or think twice about departing so dramatically from the norm. If you become overwhelmed by the choice of gowns, stop to gather your thoughts by analysing just why a certain outfit always makes you feel a million dollars or wins you lots of compliments. Then use your conclusions as a launch point from which to forge ahead.

8. For the majority of brides, the selection of accessories follows naturally after the decision on the dress. However, frequently brides are lucky enough to be able to use a family heirloom or a traditional piece as the focal point around which to build the rest of their wedding look. An antique tiara doesn't demand a dress from the same era, but make sure that you decide where your emphasis will lie in order to ensure that the features of your dress and those of your accessories don't conflict.

9. Strictly speaking, your attendants shouldn't have a direct effect on your buying decision, but ultimately their opinions may well influence your final choice. Be warned! While only the most confident among you should go shopping for that dress alone, do limit your party to only the most trusted and constructive of pals.

10. Let the shop assistant know what stage of your dress search you have reached. If this is your first session with different styles, you won't feel pressured into making a commitment that you're not ready for. Bring your imagination into play, perhaps to envisage a bespoke design or to picture the dress that you are trying on as a perfect fit (despite it being a size up or down from your own).

    Dresses may take up to six months to come in, so your relationship with your designer or assistant will have plenty of time to evolve. Be clear about what is included for the price and what services will be charged for as extras, for example the alterations. This will give you the best chance of seeing the process through to a smooth and brilliant conclusion.

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