At BrideSave.com, we have noted approximate delivery times for the dresses we showcase. Please understand, you and we are at the mercy of the dress manufacturer. 99.9% of the time the manufacturers are able to meet our shipping deadline. But, if you're going to be cutting it tight on time, go with the dress that has a delivery time well in advance of your deadline. 

Magazines - A Great Place to Start
Buy 2 to 3 bridal magazines. You really don't need more (they're expensive!). More than 3 and you'll just keep seeing the same styles over and over. Tear out pictures of the dresses you like and write on the picture the magazine name and page number it came from! You'll start to notice you are drawn to certain skirt or bodice styles. Maybe you're drawn to beadwork or sweetheart necklines.

What's Your Style?
Okay, so you've got a stack of pages torn from magazines. Now what? 

Step One: Contact your Church, Synagogue or Mosque
This is very important because deposits and payments for gowns are typically non-refundable! Many religious sites impose certain restrictions on what you and your party may wear. Common examples include no sleeveless gowns or no backless dresses. Check into this first to avoid expensive and devastating delays! 

Step Two: Formality
Do you envision a Black Tie wedding or a simple, elegant garden setting? Once you have decided on how formal your day will be you will then be able to begin looking for your gown. Keep these rules of thumb in mind: 
 

	Formal	Semi-Formal	Informal
Daytime	White/Off-white Long gown, train, long veil. Gloves are optional.	White/Off-white/Pastel Long gown, short or no train, short veil. Gloves optional.	White/Off-white/Pastel/Soft Pattern Short or Tea-Length dress, cocktail dress or suit
Evening	White/Off-white Long gown, train, long veil. Gloves are optional.	White/Off-white Long gown, short or no train, short veil. Gloves optional.	White/Off-white/Pastel/Soft Pattern/Brights Long dinner dress or simple gown, short cocktail dress or evening suit

Step Three: When and Where?
Will you be married at your family church in Chicago in December or at the Garden Club in New Orleans in July? One dress would probably not suit both weddings. Think of the style of your church decorated for Christmas with the cold, Chicago wind blowing off Lake Michigan versus the sultry, hot, humidity of a lazy New Orleans July day. I wouldn't want to be wearing a long, satin gown with long sleeves in New Orleans in July! Would you? 

Fall/Winter try: satin, heavy damasks, heavy taffetas, moiré, heavy lace, velvet, heavy beadwork 

Spring/Summer try: chiffon, tulle skirts, lightweight satins, dotted Swiss, lace 
 

Step Four: Know Thyself
Be honest. Short, tall, average, slim, heavy, busty or hippy, there is a dress to complement your figure. 

Most bridal gowns fall into one of five categories:

A-Line or Princess	Empire	Ballgown
Great on almost every figure.	Helps add height to petites. May also be combined with A-Line skirt.	Great on busty brides. Often combined with a Basque waist.

Sheath	Mermaid or Trumpet
Often have a detachable train.	Similar to a sheath. Great for showing off your curves!

Petite (under 5'4")	Think Gwyneth Paltrow, think Room with a View, think long vertical lines. Go for a high neckline, empire waist (if you're slim, try a full-length sheath) with short or no sleeves. No train. Add elbow length gloves and a veil no longer than floor length Try a pouf veil for more height. The long lines will add inches of visual height.
Tall (over 5'9")	Unlike the petite bride, you'll want to break up your natural vertical. Go horizontal. Look for a drop waist. Maybe a wide belt, ruffles or trim that wraps around your gown. Lower necklines and off-the-shoulder. Fuller sleeves also can help. Try a hat or fantastic veil, but don't go for a pouf veil.
Average Height & Weight (5'5" to 5'8")	Your parents were right when it came to average grades, but thank your lucky stars you're considered average here! Most dress designers style the majority of their lines for you. Look to your Grooms height. You may want to follow the guidelines for Tall or Petite Brides to help balance your height to his.
Slim	You have two options, play it up or visually fill-out. If you want to play it up follow the guidelines for petite or heavy brides. You can visually fill-out by going with a heavier fabric (velvet, damask,…), full skirt, slim waist and sleeves. You may consider a blouson bodice as well.
Heavy	Generally, add height. Read the guidelines for the Petite Bride. Go for a high waist or A-Line. Run from flouncy ruffles, clingy fabrics and big sleeves.
Busty	You probably have already learned that you don't look your best in empire, A-Lines or cinched waists. They only add to your bust. Try a V- or high neck. You may even find an attractive keyhole neckline. You may also consider limiting the amount of beadwork on the bodice as it would draw attention to your bust.
Hippy	The most dramatic way to solve this figure flaw is to go Elizabethan. Try a broad collar. Two other ways to solve this are balance or camouflage. To balance, try a hat or big, pouffy sleeves. To camouflage, go with a flared skirt, A-Line or a skirt which obviously requires a lot of petticoat.

What Size Are You?
The number size in a bridal dress is about as important to its actual size as its color is - not at all. At www.BrideSave.com, we show you the size charts from the manufacturer. They're based on your measurements. If you're right on the edge of two sizes, order the larger. You order your gown to fit your largest measurement size. So if your bust equals a size 14, your waist a size 12 and your hips a 12, you would order the 14. Gown sizes may be, and often are, very different than regular clothing. Remember, its easier to cut a dress down than to try to lose that last inch, especially with all the goodies at the teas and showers!