Finding the perfect dress is a key ingredient to a perfect wedding. Save the stress and strive for the gown that fits you best. -- Herald file photo

Pick a dream gown for your dream wedding

By the time many women get married, they have been dreaming of the perfect wedding dress since the day they first watched a Disney princess movie.

That’s why picking out a gown can be one of the most important parts of a wedding for a woman. Hilary Korynta, floor manager of Belles and Beaus in Austin, said some women try on dozens of dresses before choosing “the one.” Korynta has some tips for finding a dress that is both comfortable and representative of the bride’s personality.

Herald file photo

1. Bring someone dress shopping with you.

Korynta said bringing one or two trusted friends or family members can be helpful so the bride-to-be can get honest feedback.

“It’s good to bring one or two people with you to help with suggestions,” she said. “More than two can be too many, though. Then it feels chaotic.”

2. Try different styles, even if you don’t think you’ll like it.

Some dresses may look different on the hanger than on someone’s body, so being open to an array of styles could make or break the dress-shopping experience.

“Different styles flatter different body types,” Korynta said.

3. Search for wedding gowns online before shopping at a store.

Dress shopping can be overwhelming. Korynta suggests starting by checking out gowns online first to get an idea of different designs. She also said to start with a few options rather than bringing 30 dresses into the fitting room at one time.

“I usually have girls try on five dresses to start — that’s a good amount,” she said. “Think about maybe coming back (a second time) to try on other things.”

Although some women get lucky and find the perfect dress on their first trip to the store, many women return between two and five times, Korynta said.

4. Communicate with the sales assistants about what you want in a dress.

Every woman wants something different in a gown, from traditional to poofy to glamorous and chic. Korynta said it’s important to communicate with sales staff so they can find dresses that fit the bride-to-be’s personality.

“Vocalize what you want and communicate with the person helping you at the store,” she said. “It’s very helpful if someone tells us. Some people are afraid of offending us, and they won’t.”

5. Don’t compromise comfort to save cash.

“Having it altered by a professional can really make a difference,” Korynta said. “Sometimes you have to pay for that, but it is worth it.”

Some brides end up spending their wedding nights miserable because they choose to wear 4-inch heels rather than have their dress hemmed, but Korynta said the night will likely be much more enjoyable if the woman wears lower heels and spends the extra money on hemming.

“It really is worth the price — then you can really enjoy your wedding,” she said.

Above everything, Korynta said not to worry about the little things.

“Relax and enjoy it,” she said. “Don’t stress about things that aren’t important. You want to like (the dress).”