How is the planning coming? You still having fun? Wait - don't answer that. I still have a few more tips to help you get through your wedding planning unscathed and smiling...

Choosing The Right Wedding Dress

When I went shopping for my wedding dress, I was lightly obsessed. I'd seen a magazine ad for this sleek, buttons-all-the-way-down-the-back- ivory dress that I was dying for. It was cut in a 'fishtail' style and it was so incredibly perfect.

Well, it was perfect on the model anyway.

When I started going to all the bridal shops, I went straight for the fishtail rack and then hit the dressing rooms. And...heartbreak. The whole fishtail thing just didn't work on me. I didn't look lithe and modern, I looked like I was wearing an odd mermaid costume. Not exactly the style I wanted for my wedding day. So I expanded my search to a broader range of dresses and ended up buying a completely different gown that I felt great in, and which fit me and my style perfectly.

The lesson? Don't sink into a 'heart set' before you've even tried anything on. You will set yourself up for frustration and waste a lot of time. Fall in love with as many magazine pages you want, just don't limit yourself to trying on just that one style. Yes, like most things in life, appearance does count when it comes to picking your wedding dress. Any woman bothering with a wedding gown at all will want something pretty special-looking.  Just make sure you test-drive that puppy for comfort, before you buy it.  Walk around in it with the same style shoe you'll be wearing, to see if it feels right. Do a 'sit test' and make sure it doesn't pinch or leave you exposed in anyway.  And by all means, be sure to do 'hug test' too. Make sure it doesn't bind you when you're receiving all those well-wishing hugs or worse – during the first kiss with your new husband!

(Here comes the clever segue...) If the most binding thing you have going right now is your budget, take heart! I've arranged for you to get the following discounts from us, as well as our sister sites:

- 10% off all wedding rings at ElegantWeddingBands.com
- $5 off any order at QualityBridalShoes.com
- $5 off your first order at MyWeddingFavors.com

Simply enter in "tip4" during the checkout process on any of the 3 sites to receive your discount.

Click here for tip number 5, "Losing Wedding Weight and Other Crazy Notions."

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