Don't start trying on gowns until you've confirmed a few logistics: What time of year will the wedding take place? Where will the reception be? This will keep you from buying a dress that won't feel right on the day of (velvet for a garden wedding, a billowing skirt for a reception in a tiny restaurant). But don't wait too long to begin shopping. It takes four to six months to have a dress made and fitted, sometimes longer for one with intricate handwork. If you start shopping eight to twelve months in advance, you won't feel rushed -- or encounter rush charges.

It's important to establish your budget before setting foot in a store, that way you don't get your heart set on something you cannot afford. It's important you find a dress you love, but also doesn't use up your entire budget. "Brides want to see what they are getting for their money. They are much more self-conscious shoppers than they used to be," says designer Vera Wang.

Most bridal boutiques require appointments, which will ensure that you'll get the personal attention that is part of what makes buying a wedding dress so special. Treat the appointment as the important event it is. Don't try to squeeze it in on a lunch hour; don't go straight from the gym. Bring someone who will enjoy sharing this experience with you, such as your mother or a bridesmaid, but don't show up with an entourage; too many opinions only detract from the one that counts -- yours.

At the boutique, you will be ushered into a large dressing room, where the first step is usually discussing your wedding plans with your saleswoman. Bring pictures from books and magazines of dresses and details you admire.

Your saleswoman will probably bring dresses to you one at a time. They will be sample sizes (sizes eight or ten). Don't worry if you're larger or smaller: After the saleswoman helps you into the dress, she'll either clip it or hold it closed in back to approximate a fit, giving you an idea of how it will look in your size. And keep an open mind; many women are surprised to discover what really suits them best.

Learn all about the most popular wedding dress silhouettes and what body types they work best for, then browse the latest designer styles.

What type of event you're hosting will also play a role in what type of dress you should wear. Whether you're hosting an event during the day or the evening, we've gathered ideas on what is appropriate for a semiformal, formal, and informal affair.

The right dress will satisfy both your head and your heart -- as well as your budget. Consider practical matters: You may wear this dress only once, but it will be for a long, important day, and you'll feel more beautiful if you're comfortable. So lift your arms, as you will when you're dancing, and try sitting down and standing up, as you will probably do many times during the reception. Is the dress unbearably heavy or cumbersome? Does a corset-like bodice feel too confining; is a charmeuse slip dress too revealing? Does the fabric seem inclined to wrinkle at your waistline or gape at the neck? Remember that some of these problems will disappear when the dress in the right size is fitted to you. If there's a specific feature you don't like, talk to your saleswoman. The manufacturer or the boutique's seamstress can work wonders: Puffy sleeves can be deflated; plunging necklines can be raised.

After you've made your decision, your measurements will be taken. Even if you're planning on losing some weight, the dress should be ordered to the size you are on that day, since it's much easier to take a dress in than let it out. At many stores, you will leave a deposit of 50 percent at this point, with the remainder due after your first or last fitting. After the store orders your gown from the designer, it takes a few months to be made. The store will call you when it comes in, and at that time you'll make an appointment for your first fitting, six to eight weeks before your wedding (if you need your gown in advance, for a formal portrait or another similar occasion, tell the boutique ahead of time).

Accessories can be purchased from most bridal boutiques when you choose your gown. But it may be a good idea to make a separate appointment, still well before the first fitting, so you can give your full attention to selecting them. On that day, consider visiting your hairdresser first for a wedding-day trial run; this will make choosing a veil and headpiece easier. Some people prefer to shop around for accessories, buying shoes at a shoe store and stockings at a department store.

Regardless of where you buy your accessories, it is important to have them in time for your first fitting, where you'll try on your entire ensemble. After having dreamed about this dress for months, you may have misgivings on seeing it for the first time -- it still may not fit or look like you've envisioned it. Relax -- this feeling is common. Trust your judgment, and let the seamstress do her work, pinning it for a perfect fit. This is the time to make sure you feel comfortable in the dress, to anticipate problems and find solutions; if your bra straps keep sneaking into view, for example, the seamstress can put in lingerie loops to keep them in place.

The alterations will be made before you go back for your second fitting. When you try on the dress this time, it may be just right, or it may need further tweaking. Tiny changes may be made while you wait, or you may need to go back again for one or more additional fittings. Make sure you try on the dress after the very last stitch is in -- you don't want any surprises on your wedding day. At your final fitting, bring the person who will bustle it for you, so she can be shown how to operate the ties, hooks, loops, or buttons.

The finished gown will be pressed and packed with lots of paper and often a body form to help it keep its shape; you can take it with you or have it shipped. At home, carefully remove it from the garment bag or box, and hang it from a high spot where it won't be disturbed -- or spied by your fiance. You, on the other hand, will be peeking at it several times a day. How can you help it? The cake, the flowers, and the band are still just images in your mind, but here, at last, is something you can touch, something that makes it all feel real.