Navigating a sea of dresses to find the perfect wedding gown

Finding the perfect wedding dress is what every bride dreams about. All the other details of a wedding come later. The dress is the showstopper. It's what you'll see in photos for years to come. It may even become an heirloom--that's pressure!

There's a lot that goes into choosing the right dress, and it isn't an easy task. Committing to one dress can be heart wrenching; you have to leave so many beautiful options behind in going with the one perfect gown. But when you find the right dress, you'll know it. That dress will feel perfect.

When I was shopping for my wedding dress last fall, I had a good idea of what I wanted before I went to the bridal salon: a dress that was simple, had straps or sleeves, and didn't poof. But even though I had a picture in mind, going into the store to try on dresses was overwhelming. They were all so beautiful, and I found myself looking at gowns that weren't at all like what I wanted. I tried my best to describe what I liked to the sales lady who came to help me, but I ended up trying on dresses that weren't my style and were far from my price range. Even the glitzy, poofy dresses looked good at that point.

Eventually, I tried on the dress that was right for me. It was off white and simple, with an empire waist and a deep V in the front and back. I knew it was the one I would wear down the aisle, but I was still torn when I left so many beautiful gowns hanging on the rack. It's silly, but I almost felt that I had hurt their feelings by not choosing them. One in particular still comes to mind: a gorgeous modified A-line off-the-shoulder gown with a bit of a train. I tried that dress on and felt like a princess. When it came down to it, however, the simpler dress fit with the style of my wedding better. It was closer to what I had envisioned from the start. And, as a bonus point, it was about $2500 cheaper than the modified A-line gown. I was sold.

The best advice I can offer to brides shopping for their wedding dress is this: know what you want when you go in the store, but be willing to compromise. I had a picture in mind, and even though I was distracted by the other beautiful gowns, I eventually left the store with a dress very close to what I had envisioned. I'm happy that I kept my options open and tried all kinds of gowns, however. In the end, the other dresses showed me that what I imagined from the start was right for me. They were all beautiful, but only one seemed perfect.