You have many options when it comes to buying your special white dress. No matter what your style,budget, or time frame, you have plenty of places you can go searching. Narrow down the styles you like by checking out places like theknot.com or bridal magazines and know what you like before you go in. Also know that what you like might not be the best for your body type, so you need to have an open mind. Now that you have your style down, where do you go next? Should you go to a bridal salon, vintage shop, online, or off the rack store? Well here is a basic rundown of the differences and what to expect from each kind of place. 

Bridal Salon- Can be specific to one designer or a few select designers. You can expect to get one on one attention with consultants that can help you choose additional styles that you might not have even considered. If you go to a larger salon such as Kleinfeld or Bridal and Formal, they have trunk shows with specific designers or certain weekends where you can even get one on one time with the actual designer and even get discounts. Usually you’ll need to wait to have your dress ordered which can take anywhere from 4-8 months to come in or sometimes you can pay a rush fee if you need it faster. Often they will offer discounts on accessories you buy from them as well. 

Vintage Shop- If you want a one of a kind vintage look, this could be the way to go. But since there is a limited selection, what you see is what you get. They most likely won’t offer your dress in a variety of sizes. You can always do alterations and add or remove things as you see fit but sizing will be difficult. Price-wise it can go either way. Sometimes you can find an amazing deal and walk off with your dream dress for $250 or you can spend $3,000 for the vintage lace and antique detailing. You can also expect to pay a pretty penny for alterations to ensure that your dress fits you like a glove. 

Online- This one is tricky. A lot of online distributors sell knock offs or replicas of designer dresses. But BEWARE. Look for “Certified Distibutor” badges on their homepages. It might appear as though you’re getting an amazing deal from an online store, however many times people get ripped off with dresses of inferior fabric, fit, and noticeable flaws. You can look try places like Weddingbee.com where they have forums in your city and you might be able to find someone selling their old dress. A dress worn once and you can end up with an incredibly expensive dress for a fraction of the original cost. Also note, sizing can be off as dresses have already been altered for the first bride or on some sites they aren’t true to their sizing guide. You have been warned.

Off the Rack- They have a wide selection for all shapes and sizes and they carry them in the store. So instead of trying to squeeze into a sample size and get an idea of what it might look like, you can actually try on the dress in your size and even take it home that day. The downside is that your dress won’t be anywhere near one of a kind. It’s mass produced and not always of the most luxurious fabric but they are often a pretty great price. You can also get discounts on jewelry and accessories for your day, as well as on your bridesmaids dresses. Many times stores like this have big sale days like the $99 sale at David’s Bridal, where many dress prices are greatly reduced by hundreds of dollars. 

Good luck and happy shopping. Also remember to have fun! This is your special, once in a lifetime dress. It should make you feel amazing and excited. I bought my dress when I could say in my head, this is THE dress that I see myself walking down the aisle in towards my amazing fiance. And don’t feel pressured to buy anything even if you’re in love with it. You should feel 100% confident in your decision and your consultant should not make you feel rushed. Take your time and enjoy! You’re getting married!