Most of us have been dreaming of our wedding day since we were little. One of the most important parts of making that dream come true is wearing an amazing gown. Everyone wants to feel like a princess on their wedding day. Unfortunately, the reality of shopping for a wedding dress can make your dream feel like a nightmare.

Start early. This gives you plenty of time to select a dress that works well for you and to have alterations done so that it fits like a glove. Don’t forget to take someone with you whenever you try on dresses. After you’ve put on gown after gown, you may lose the ability to look at them with a critical eye.

Choose someone who you know will be honest about the way you look in a gown. They should be willing to tell you whether or not a dress is flattering on you, and to help find ones that are.

Collect pictures before you make an appointment, so you’ll have a good idea what type of gowns you prefer. It’s also a good idea to find out your figure shape and what flatters it before you go shopping. That will allow you to rule out types of wedding dresses that don’t look good on your shape.

Select a price range well in advance, and stick to it. Don’t let enthusiastic sales people talk you into a more expensive dress, or bring you gowns that are well out of your range. If you’re looking for a budget wedding dress, consider second hand stores, simple dresses, and online ordering.

Looks aren’t all there is to getting the perfect dress, either. Any gown you’re going to be wearing for most of the day should be pleasant and comfortable to wear. A wedding dress that pinches, itches, or rides up will be extremely hard to deal with after an hour or so, and you’ll have to wear your dress all day!

Remember to talk to your seamstress early on. She should know that you’re going to need alterations, allowing you to have yours done properly and without rush charges. This gives you the best chance of a good fit without breaking the budget.

Choose your dress according to the venue and season, as well. A long train may work well indoors, but it’ll pick up leaves and debris if you’re going to be married outside. Consider the heat or chill of the season and pick a dress that covers you accordingly - you’ll be a lot more comfortable.

Be realistic about sizing, too. Most of us expect to slim down and look great on our wedding day. However, our bodies won’t necessarily cooperate - if you’re planning to reduce before your wedding, pick a realistic size.

Remember that it’s much easier to have a wedding dress taken in than let out, and stop dieting after alterations have been made. That ensures a perfect fit on your big day.

Last, and most importantly - don’t let shopping for your wedding dress stress you out. If you’re not having fun trying on all the dresses out there, take a break. Your gown is supposed to make you feel beautiful, not tired and worn out!