Congratulations on getting engaged!!! I know once I got engaged, the first thought on my mind was get that dress.

Finding the perfect wedding dress is kind of like finding a mythical unicorn. It can be overwhelming, stressful, but also a grand adventure.  So I got together with Jessica, owner of Southern Charm Weddings, a bridal boutique in Silverdale, Wa, to get the lowdown on dress shopping.

First, however, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I totally cried while wedding dress shopping. And not the kind of crying that starts when you realize how beautiful you are in your perfect dress.  I was crying the ugly tears that come from the stress of feeling overwhelmed.  And there were a few things that both helped me get through this stress and also made the feeling worse.

I bought my wedding dress at Lillian Lottie Couture in Scottsdale, Arizona.  They served me mimosas and were absolute gems through the entire process.  I also went to another high end wedding boutique, who I’ll do the courtesy of leaving nameless.  I asked them for some water, as it was May in freakin’ Arizona people.  And you know what they told me? You’ll have to go next door to Yogurtology if you want water. UHM WHAT? So you know what I said to them? uh BYE Felicia! (pun intended). And for me, at the end of the day, it didn’t matter how gorgeous their dresses were, I was not going to give them a single penny of my money.

When I moved back to Washington, I connected with Jess at Southern Charm Weddings. She is an absolutely wonderful person, who has such a passion for brides and providing great service. I know that every bride that enters her doors gets treated like they are the most important bride on the planet.  And that’s how a bride SHOULD be treated. Because girl you deserve it!!

So without further adieu, here are 4 tips to finding  the perfect dress for your big day, without all the stress, straight from Jessica.

1) Make your appointment at least six to nine months before your wedding day.  The dresses in most boutiques are samples for trying on, and each order takes about twelve weeks to arrive at Southern Charm Weddings.  Please note, that each boutiques process is different, and at some stores your dress could take 6 months or longer to arrive, so be sure to confirm with your individual store when making your appointment!!

Here is the process: the bride comes in for her appointment, tries on to her heart’s content, and finds her perfect dress.  Then we order the bride’s gown in her size and color choice, which makes the process special for each bride to know that she is the only one ever to wear her dress!

Also consider the time you will need after the dress arrives to get necessary alterations completed!

2) Bring to your appointment only those closest to you whose input you value and cherish.  Too many opinions can lead to bickering, which can create unnecessary stress.  We don’t want anything to detract from what is important – YOU! (See any episode of Say Yes to the Dress on TLC for proof LOL)

3) Don’t shy away from trying on styles that you think won’t look good on you.  Once in the store, many brides have fallen in love with dresses that they had preconceived notions about not being the right silhouettes for them.  If you feel drawn to a dress, for whatever reason, give the dress a chance because you will know as soon as you put it on if it’s the one.

4) Simply put, have fun!  We love for brides to laugh and enjoy their time in the boutique with us.  Dress shopping should be a wonderful and joyful experience!

And here’s a fifth bonus tip from Felicia: If the boutique doesn’t treat you like the Queen that you are, be like deuces I’m out because #aintnobodygottimeforthat.

**All dresses and veils shown in this blog post are dresses from Southern Charm Weddings! They are to DIE for, so if you are in Washington, check them out!!!