the fashion countdown

When it comes to planning your wedding, having something to wear is a pretty important detail—and one you need to start working on early. The average bride starts dress shopping 9 to 13 months before her wedding. And once you’ve found “the one,” your work doesn’t end. It’s just the beginning of your dress-related to-dos.

13 months to go

set your gown budget

Maybe you have $4,000 set aside for your look. That doesn’t mean you can buy a $4,000 wedding dress. You’ll need to add on taxes, alterations and possibly shipping. And don’t forget to set aside part of that budget for extras like your shoes, veil and jewelry.

do your research

Before you start shopping, figure out what style you want. Your venue can help you narrow that down, suggests Mark Ingram of Mark Ingram Atelier.