Find your most beautiful wedding dress in 8 steps

I DID IT

There you are. With a sobbing mother on the right. A consultant with wide-open eyes on the left. And me in between. I look in the mirror. This is it. The very first dress I try on. I don't know why, but it's a feeling that can't be surpassed. I tried it on 47 more times after that. But I already knew those would be futile attempts. The dress is the dress. It's true. You feel it. Anyway, despite knowing better, I put on long and white dozens of times, I went back last weekend. I tried it on one more time and quickly signed the order form. Quite strange.

Even though the first one was spot on, I've certainly stood in many fitting rooms. And, I've learned. For all future brides, here are my wise lessons from the wedding dress quest. This time not the ‘what’ and the ‘where’, but especially the ‘how’.

Maybe this is a totally unnecessary announcement, but in almost every store, you need to make an appointment first. As I said; this is common sense in my opinion. But when I stood next to a very disappointed girl who had just heard that she couldn't step foot on the floor without an appointment, I thought: maybe it's handy to take this tip with you.

‘Everything off except for the panties,’ you probably only hear at the doctor and the wedding dress consultant. And of course, the lady from the store won't care (just like the doctor), but it's not unnecessary to quickly run a razor over the parts that need it.

Since you're standing quite naked among the dresses in the fitting room, it might be nice to leave very sexy thong strings at home. If you have them, of course. Anyway, I recommend a decent pair of panties, preferably in a skin tone and without seams.

Every bridal boutique has a loan pair for you, but I prefer never to wear shoes from strangers. Let alone shoes from many strangers. So take your own heels with you, about the height you think you'll wear on the big day. Immediately easy for measuring.

What matters is that you find the dress in which you see yourself walking down the aisle. You need to get that image, and I think it goes a bit easier with a face in order and neatly combed hair. Besides, everything always looks better with a touch of mascara and a layer of concealer, right?

Of course, you arrive with a thousand printed Pinterest pictures of dresses. You want to try on ‘this one and that one and that one and that one’. But, also trust the possible choices of the consultant where you might initially think: ‘Nah, no, but okay’. That happened to me. The dress is the dress that wasn't on the list.

Even if you've found it, try every model. From long lace sleeves to flowing goddess gowns to puff dresses. Just to see, and you might be surprised at what that puff dress does to you against all expectations!

Yes, yes, yes, it's a cliché, but I'm not talking nonsense. You feel if it's the dress. Really. So trust your feeling, sleep at least a few nights over it, but if the dress is the dress, then it is. Goodness, what a philosophy here. But you surely understand what I mean when you're standing there. Between the tearful mother and consultant.