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.