Finding the perfect dress

When I got engaged I couldn't wait to go wedding dress shopping. Most women dream of the moment when they step out of the changing room in the perfect white gown. Picture the scene..you emerge from behind the elegant curtains to greet your Mother and best friends who are sat eagerly waiting for you. An awed silence transcends the room and you steal a shy glance at your Mum who is wiping away a tear, while your friends gush that your dress is "the one".

Well that's what I thought would happen, but unfortunately this never happened to me and, as far as I know, not that many of my friends have had this great thunderbolt moment. Instead I was massively confused by the fact that most wedding dresses look pretty special on and there were several I really liked. I visited four or five different wedding dress shops searching for "the one". They say most women end up buying the first dress they try on and I wonder if it's because it's the first time they have seen themselves in a wedding dress and been transported emotionally from fiancee to bride.

In the end I went for a Maggie Sottero dress because it was flattering, built on an amazing lace up corset and had enough features to make a style statement while still being feminine and bridal. It was the one for me, but still not "the one". In the end I absolutely loved my dress and I even got some tears out of my future Mother in Law when I modelled it for her in the shop.

For any of you about to begin this quest here are a few tips:

• Make appointments well in advance as most wedding dress shops are very busy, especially on Saturdays
• Take a couple of people with you who will be honest with you like you Mum, Sister of best friend
• Wear good underwear as you will need to be helped into the dresses by the shop staff
• Do your hair and makeup and try on veils and tiaras to get the whole bridal look
• Try on lots of different shapes and listen to the shop staff as some dresses will look nothing on the hanger but can be amazing on.
• If you are curvy, a dress built on a lace up corset will give you a great shape

So good luck brides in your quest for "the one". I hope that you find it and if you can find a dress you love that is also reasonably priced, then you're a better woman than me!!!

For more tips on planning your perfect wedding visit http://www.how2ido.co.uk/ to book a wedding planning workshop.