I don’t know about anyone else, but I know when I think about planning a wedding, the first thing that comes to mind is the wedding dress. Maybe that’s my inner girlie-girl coming out, but I love wedding dresses, and it makes me so excited for your that you are about to embark on the shopping experience for a wedding dress!

There are five questions that seem to need answers when it comes to wedding dress shopping…

1.) DO I WANT TWO DRESSES?

In some scenarios, you might want to change dresses in-between parts of the day. IF you aren’t a super-formal bride, you might want to swap out the gown for a sundress. On the flip side, maybe you want wear a minimal formal dress for the ceremony and then swap for a blinged-out dancing dress. It’s all up to your vibe and budget.

2.) DO I WANT TO WEAR WHITE?

Clean, crisp, pure white is of course the traditional weddingware for brides. These days, however, there are so many options: Beige, greige, champagne, even blush gowns are all available. Shoot, you could even venture off into bold colors if you feel it. I have photographed purple, pink, and (two) blue gowns. What matters is that you feel powerfully beautiful in whatever you wear.

3.) WHEN DO I START SHOPPING?

The best time to start shopping for your wedding dress is no later than 6 months before your date. You should expect there to be about four fittings, so you want the dress to arrive in plenty of time for that.

4.) DO I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT FOR IT?

Listen to me: NO. You need to feel like yourself. If you want to lose weight FOR YOURSELF, go for it. But you should never, ever, EVER feel like this is a requirement for your day. If you don’t feel good in a dress, try a different one. So much of “weight” is tied into shape, and even if we lose weight we can’t change our shape. I will never be able to wear a ballgown because I am a bottom-heavy babe. That is totally fine because I rock an empire waist like no one’s business. Knowing your shape and style before you begin might help your search…check out this past post to learn more about wedding dress shapes!

5.) WHAT DO I DO WITH MY DRESS AFTER THE WEDDING?

Well, lot’s of things! I great place to start is with a little dry-cleaning, just to get it back to neutral (be careful, though—not all dry cleaners are created equal, so be sure to find one who can treat the delicate nature of a wedding dress). Some brides preserve their gowns. Others donate them to consignment shops so another bride can look her best. There is also a growing trend of donating them to help make memorial gowns for babies born as angels, which I think is just the sweetest.

What questions do you have about wedding dress shopping? Or what advice can your supply? Drop it in the comments below!

Kayla Lee is a Minnesota-based wedding and elopement photographer. She provides services to elegant, authentic, sentimental couples who not only choose their own adventures, but also live them to the fullest! See more about the KLP Wedding Experience!

On Mondays we educate! Check out the blog every Monday for a new post to help you plan your wedding your way! Find past posts here!