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 So he finally popped the question and with teary-eye, you said YES! You are now engaged, Congratulations future bride!

Planning your wedding can be pretty exciting and stressful but choosing the perfect wedding gown that you will wear on the day when you’ll finally say “I do” to you Prince Charming will probably be one of the most nerve wracking decisions of your life. Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered.

Donning the most flattering and eye-catching bridal dress is probably almost every woman’s dream, so before heading to the nearest bridal shop, here are few guidelines that will help all girls out there to get started to becoming the most beautiful blushing bride.

PHOTO BY LIZ REYES

FIND YOUR FIT. Determining your body shape plays a very crucial role in finding the perfect wedding dress for you.  Enhance your assets and natural features and downplay the areas that aren’t so perfect. Find a gown that will flatter your figure no matter what size or shape it is. One key to knowing whether the gown is perfect for you is if you feel good and comfortable in it.  Wearing that mermaid or trumpet style wedding dress maybe flattering for your curvaceous body but if you can barely walk few meters while wearing it, ditch it!

PHOTO TAKEN FROM DUDUTA.COM

For brides who are small on top and heavy on the bottom, a ball gown will do wonders of covering your bottom half to give more focus on the upper part of your body. A pear-shaped body should shun away from  tight fitting bottom like a mermaid-style gown as it will help draw attention to your bottom.

If you are a voloptuous bride with  full breasts, a bit of a tummy, and round hips and butt, then a ball gown wedding dress will hide quite a bit and a scooped neckline will help open up your face while displaying your décolletage without being to revealing. Avoid a neckline that goes straight across as it will only make your bust appear even bigger. To hide the little flabs in the middle, opting for an Empire-waist wedding dress will deemphasize your waistline. It helps bring the attention on the upper part of your body and smooth out the middle.

Thin brides make a perfect fairy tale wedding princess by choosing a ball gown and a sheath. Avoid off-the-shoulder and halter neckline if your collarbone is too bony as it would look very unflattering. For petite women, A-line works well for your tiny frame. Find gowns with waistline above your natural wasitline to create an illusion of longer lower half. Shun away from  ball gowns as it may be too overwhelming. You wouldn’t want to get lost in that voluminous skirt, would you?

PHOTO TAKEN FROM THEWEDDINGDRESSES.COM

For summer weddings, whether it be indoors or outdoors, choose a wedding dress that will keep you cool during the whole ceremony. Picking a backless or strapless gown made of lightweight material is definitely the way to go. You don’t want your make up to smudge and look wasted on your big day due to sweat. If you want some sleeves on your gown, consider having a lace sleeves or maybe a short mini wedding dress would do. Mini dresses for weddings are very popular nowadays for modern brides, so if you want to veer away from traditional bridal gowns, then mini dresses are for you. Mini dresses are great for beach weddings or any casual weddings, this can even be your reception dress as well.

If your wedding date falls during the months of November, December or January, don’t go heavy on yourchoice of fabric because tendency is, even if it is cold, once the room or place is packed, it will eventually feel warmer.Also, using light materials can be an advantage if you tend to sweat when nervous

PHOTO BY LIZ REYES

PICK YOUR COLOR. The traditional wedding gown is white but who says you always have to stick to the norm? Current trend right now is to add a splash of color in your wedding gown. Adding some oomph in your dress by adding a soft whisper of  another color can sometimes enhance your beauty than the usual boring white. Adding a colored ribbon, beads or a hint of color in your train looks gorgeous so do not be afraid to experiment.  If you are not that adventurous when it comes to clothing, then going for an ivory or beige gown also works.

THE RECEPTION DRESS.  Some tend to skip this part for practicality, but getting a reception dress is very important for your comfort. Reception dress is still part of the wedding dress selection since this is what you are going to wear for the whole reception ceremony after you first dance with your husband. Having a reception dress is a wise idea if you want to keep your expensive wedding gown in a mint and pristine condition, keeping it away from food, fingerprints and spilled beverages. Not to mention you will have the freedom to dance all night without worrying about itchy layers and accidental tripping.

The general idea is that the first wedding gown you will wear for the matrimonial ceremony will be more formal and traditional while the second gown will be more sexier and fun. Just don’t over do it, choose a short dress that still looks bridal because the last thing you would want is to blend in with the guests once you have made your change.

So, how do you choose the perfect reception dress that will still make you stand out among the crowd? First and foremost, find a dress that matches the style of your first gown. They don’t need to be identical, rather, create an element of contrast between the two to spark interest. Your personal style can be a big factor in choosing the perfect reception dress for you. The fun part in the selection of a reception dress is that this is a relatively a new phenomenon so there aren’t many rules that will get in the way of your creativity. Just keep in mind the venue and formality of the occasion so be wary not to go overboard. If you picked the right dress, whether it be short or long, you can still wear it in the future for other events.

PHOTO TAKEN FROM WEDDINGBYCOLOR.COM

GET SOME HONEST TO GOODNESS ADVICE. Troop to at least three bridal shops with your girl friends or a mix of girl friend cousin and wedding coordinator if you happen to have one. Just make sure that these people will actually let out honest to goodness opinions on your choice of wedding gowns.

These people should have the courage and concern to tell you that your arms looks flabby with that spaghetti strap and your hips looks a little bigger on that mermaid style gown. On the other hand, even if you’ve been dreaming of wearing a ball gown for your wedding since you were a kid, but sad to say the style doesn’t flatter your figure and well, height, it’s time to open up your mind when shopping for your dream dress. Step outside of the box and try various styles, ask your friends for opinions. You may not know it but they may have better ideas than you actually thought. Show what you’ve got instead of hiding it, after all it is your big day and there’s no other option but to look fabulous.