Tips
http://shop.soddress.com/home.php?cat=1
Just remember that in the end, it's your wedding, and you CAN do what you want. However, if you decide to wear a mini-skirt short, strapless, backless dress to your super religious ceremony, you may end up coming back to share your lessons learned by writing a wikiHow article on "How To Keep Your Super Religious Parents From Cutting Off Their Monetary Contributions To Your Wedding!"
Don't Try on Too Many.You will always have to try on a few duff dresses before finding one that fits, although trying on too many isn't a good idea either. Maria Yiannikaris, of wedding boutique Mirror Mirror (opens in a new window) advises, "Look for too long and at too many, and your 'perfect dress' moment may well pass. Three or four visits to different bridal boutiques should be enough to find one that makes you look and feel great. Women who make seven or eight appointments can confuse themselves."
If you feel you're most beautiful in a dress, then buy it! No matter what style of wedding you are having or how long before your wedding - you are shopping, if you feel beautiful in it you will shine on the day.
When you actually go to a store, unlike other clothing stores, wedding gown stores will not often have the dresses in your size. You may be making a decision based on a dress which is too large or too small. This is where deciding on a silhouette beforehand can help you. If you know that empire waists are flattering to your figure, it's easier to take the plunge when you're standing in a dress 4 sizes too big with huge clips in the back and trying to imagine how the correct size will look.
Wedding dresses are typically sold by designer and style number, even for the less expensive types, so note which designers you like and the style numbers - this can help you find similar styles that may be more affordable than the exact dress you want.
Another option to consider is renting a dress. This can be a far more affordable way to get yourself a fantastic dress (for the day). The other bonus is not having to clean, store, or ever deal with it again.
If you are lucky enough to have a master seamstress as a good friend and enough time, you have many more options. The first is to make it from scratch. This can be quite costly with certain fabrics being as expensive as a dress itself. Another option is to severely modify a dress. A size 10 wedding dress may be able to be transformed to an 18 by certain combinations of sizes and capabilities. These dresses can be bought at sales for less than fabric.
If finances are really an issue, there may be dresses available through charity organizations.