4 things I wish I had known before shopping for my wedding dress

"I had been writing about wedding dresses for years when I bought my own. Because of my work, I thought I was prepared for shopping for my dream gown. A few aspects of my appointment surprised me, though, like the role of my consultant. When I bought my wedding dress, it felt like the culmination of years of anticipation, as I had spent a lot of time writing about other people's gowns. I bought my gown at my first and only appointment, surrounded by a few close family members as I said yes to the dress. The bridal appointment was largely seamless, but there were a few aspects of the experience I wish I had known about before walking into the boutique."

"A dress can look gorgeous and still not be your top choice. Based on my conversations with other brides, I also thought there would be several dresses I disliked during the appointment. I imagined myself feeling extreme about gowns one way or the other, loving or hating them on sight. I was surprised to find I didn't dislike a single dress. Instead, some gowns just didn't feel like me. All the dresses I tried on were beautifully crafted and way nicer than the clothes I wear daily. Seriously, I wrote this article wearing leggings and a sweatshirt covered in dog hair. It seems obvious now that I, of course, thought every dress I tried on was pretty. The key wasn't finding a pretty dress; it was finding a dress that made me feel the most like myself. With Abby's help, I figured out that while the gowns were gorgeous, only one made me feel like a bride. I would have happily attended a red-carpet event in several of the dresses, but only one was right for my wedding day."

A writer who had covered wedding dresses purchased her gown at her first and only appointment, accompanied by close family, and said yes to the dress. The appointment felt seamless overall, but certain aspects were unexpected, including the consultant's role. Despite expecting polarized reactions, the buyer did not dislike any gowns; many were beautiful yet did not feel like her. The decisive factor became which dress made her feel most like herself and most like a bride. With help from a consultant named Abby, she identified the single gown that felt right for her wedding day.

Read at Business Insider