Choosing your wedding dress: the good, the bad, and the ugly!

One of the most important and fun check marks on your wedding to-do list is undoubtedly shopping for your wedding dress. But with so many styles, colors and fabric types to choose from, it can be quite a challenge to figure out just what kind of dress you are looking for! So, to help you narrow down your hunting ground and make your gown selection a more pleasurable process, remember this 4 Cs rule:

1. Cut: what is flattering to YOUR figure in terms of styles available in wedding dresses.
Unless you are size 0 or Lady Gaga, chances are that certain styles just don't work for you, so try to avoid those while choosing your wedding dress. For example, A-line and ballgown/princess wedding dresses are flattering on most figure types, making it almost a default choice for many brides.

Sheath/mermaid/trumpet type gowns, on the other hand, should be attempted only by those with incredibly confident body image (regardless of size or shape), since these styles flaunt the figure, and the wearer should be in the mood to flaunt :P

Empire style gowns can be a perfect fit for a destination wedding or a future mom-to-be, as they are generally lighter, more comfortable to wear, and draw attention away from the waistline.

2. Color: what color fits best with your skin tone and (if applicable) your wedding theme.
If you are blessed with a healthy, glowing complexion - any color will work for you! However, if you have very fair skin, try to avoid diamond white wedding dresses, as they can make you look even paler. Instead, try warmer tone gowns in off-white, ivory, champagne and bronze. If you have a theme wedding, like a masquerade or a vampire ball, break the rules all the way and don on a royal purple, burgundy, crimson, black or any other fabulous shade creation.

 3. Craftsmanship, Comfort and Condition: promise yourself to look for a dress that is well-made (look for quality fabric like silk and stitched accents, not glued), comfortable (that is a very, very important selection criterion, don't settle for dress that doesn't 'feel' right) and impeccable condition (based on what you will be paying for it, don't ever settle for less then pristine). Remember that if you want to resell the dress afterwards, it has to be considered 'worth it' not just by you, but by other people as well, and they will look for craftsmanship, comfort and great condition themselves!

4. Cost: yes, it is incredible how much you are expected to pay for a dress that you will (hopefully) wear only once. And if you have unlimited budget, by all means go to the bridal store with your girl(boy)friends and have a blast shopping for the dress of your dreams. However, if you have to stick to a certain budget, don't let the wedding industry fool you into spending more than what you decided on! But because their persuasion tactics are among the best, here are a few helpful tips on how to get a great dress for a lot less:

Know your rights as a consumer: it's a buyer's market out there for wedding dresses (like cars, there are a lot more dresses made every year then bought, and just like with cars, the price of a last year's model is substantially less, especially when bought 'off hands', which can save you up to 70-90% off the original price tag) but the wedding industry doesn't want you to know that. So, bargain and insist on a deal (but don't be rude :P)! Tip: say it's a last-minute wedding and could they show you their samples/old models/floor models that could be purchased at a major discount. It's very eco-friendly and a win-win situation, really - you will save $$$ and the store will happily unload some of their merchandise. Bonus: you won't have to wait 3-6 month for your gown to arrive :) 

Shop early and/or during off season (August-end of November): in fact, right now is a great time to start! Many of your local bridal attire retailers will host 'end of season sale!' / 'cash & carry'/ 'blow-out sale!'/etc, trying to clear up their gown supply and get ready for new arrivals. Also, keep in mind that you will get better customer service during the off season as the store won't be under the tidal wave of brides. Early bird really does get the best deal!

If store prices are still too much for your budget, consider renting their dresses or buy one online, either from local classifieds ads (kijiji, craigslist. etc) or from ebay (local or international). For the latter, make sure to pick a reputable seller with great track record ('top-rated seller', '95% or higher positive feedback', many previous sales, etc).

Finally, what is the most useful advice we can give? Don't ever settle for less! Listen to your heart and not the sales attendant/your bff/mom/etc, it's not *their* wedding dress afterall. It's yours. And (just like with guys) if it doesn't make your heart beat faster, it's not 'the one'. Period.
Next post, accessories :)