Wedding Planning, Part XI

I think this goes without saying, but in case it does not – it wouldn't be a wedding without the fancy dress. And though I am male and have never, nor will ever, need to purchase a wedding dress for myself, I do believe I can offer a bit of advice as a third-party observer. So here goes – my tips for purchasing the correct wedding dress. (This should be interesting...)

First, start dress shopping in your own closet. Now, that's not to say that anyone is expecting you to dig out that hideous peach-colored bridesmaid's dress with the bows and the bonnet, bleach the thing white, and call it your wedding dress. No, when I say “start shopping in your closet,” I mean - try on the dresses you already have. That way you can jot down notes about what you like and what you don't like. This will help you define exactly what you are looking for in a wedding dress, as well as help you identify any potential problems that could lead to rather embarrassing wedding day wardrobe malfunctions...

Second, consider such details as the wedding location, time of year, dress codes, and wedding theme. These factors will determine some of the other details about your dress. For example, if you're planning on a January 3^rd, Hawaiian-themed wedding at your local Catholic church, you might want to forgo the grass skirt and lei. Not only will it be far too chilly outside for such a dress, but I'm pretty sure most Catholic churches frown upon sleeveless wedding dresses. And have you ever tried to find a coconut bra with sleeves before? Not easy...

And finally third, never go dress shopping alone. Take a friend or two along to provide honest feedback on all the dresses you try on. Furthermore, make sure that at least one of those friends is not one of your bridesmaid. Let's be honest here, your bridesmaids are undoubtedly a little ticked off that you're making them once again wear those hideous peach-colored bridesmaids' dresses with the bows and the bonnets. And do you really trust a couple of ticked off friends to give you honest advice about which wedding dress doesn't make your butt look big?

So I hope these tips have helped a bit. And until next week, I wish you good luck in all your wedding plans!