After you get engaged, searching for the perfect wedding dress is probably pretty high on your to-do list. You might be wondering what your dress appointment will be like and how to prepare. We’ve compiled some helpful tips here so you’ll know what to expect as you get ready for your dress appointment.

Keep an open mind. Be prepared to fall in love with a style you didn’t expect. Some brides come to their appointment knowing exactly what they want in a wedding dress while others need a lot more guidance. Whichever category you fall into, be sure to keep an open mind. You may be surprised by what you end up liking the most!

Capture your style. Since picking your dress is one of the things you do early on in the wedding planning process, no one expects you to have every detail of your wedding figured out. However, it’s a good idea to have some idea of how you want to look and feel on your wedding day. If you’re having trouble, think of 2-3 adjectives such as glamorous, comfortable, romantic, graceful, vintage, classic, etc. You can think back on these adjectives during your appointment to help guide you. You can also save pictures of your favorite styles and share them with your consultant. And if you already know a few details like your venue, colors or a theme, it’s a good idea to mention them to your consultant before you start trying on dresses. Your consultant can help you pick out a dress that fits in with the look you’re going for. Any information you can give her will be helpful in your search.

Know your budget. You’ll want to have a good idea of how much you want to spend on your wedding dress, including your alterations. Most brides need some amount of alterations for their wedding gown, even if it’s just getting the dress hemmed. There’s no way to know exactly how much alterations will cost, but we have several businesses we recommend with varying prices ranges depending on your needs. During your appointment we will stick to the dress budget you tell us, so you don’t need to worry about overspending

Narrow down the group. Instead of bringing your mom, sister, in-laws and all of your bridesmaids to your dress appointment, try to keep the group smaller. It can of course be nice to have support and advice during your appointment, but it can get loud and crowded in the fitting room. Plus, you might run into having to field lots of questions and opinions about your choices which can be distracting. There will be plenty of other exciting events that everyone can be a part of, but we recommend making your dress shopping a more intimate experience.

Bring the right undergarments. Since you’ll be trying on an array of dresses during your appointment, be sure to wear suitable undergarments. Avoid brightly colored or printed undergarments that may show through the wedding dresses. We recommend nude, fitted underwear and a strapless bra if you have them. You can also bring Spanx if you are interested in trying on more fitted gowns and want a smooth look.

Bring your accessories. Along with wedding dresses we also sell an array of accessories such as jewelry, veils and garters, but if you already have some of these items, you are welcome to bring them along. It may be helpful to try on your veil or shoes with your favorite dresses to get the full picture.

When it comes to wedding planning and finding your perfect dress, it helps to be prepared. We hope these tips have helped you get ready for your dress appointment and we wish you the best of luck!