Congratulations! You just got engaged, you've nailed down your date, secured your venue, and now you are wondering just how soon you should go wedding dress shopping. It is always a good idea to give yourself as much time as possible before your wedding day when ordering your wedding dress. Whether that's six months, one year, or more, earlier is always better when it comes to ordering a wedding gown if for no other reason than your own peace of mind.
Once you get engaged, start shopping as soon as you can, but be ready to buy once you find the dress that you love. Some dresses are only offered during trunk show events, or may be discontinued in the near future, and you would not want to miss out on your dream dress because you waited too long to order it. 
Couture wedding dresses can take up to six to eight months to arrive from the designer company. If your wedding is sooner than that and you are hoping to special order your wedding gown, ask your consultant what your options are and if rush ordering your wedding dress will be required. If you are buying your wedding gown off-the-rack, try to schedule a few months, if possible, for your alterations to be completed. At Bella Bridal Gallery, we offer in house alterations, which gives our brides more flexibility in their alteration timeline. 
Ideally, 18-12 months before your wedding date you should be researching different styles that you like. Consider your venue and what you think you will be comfortable in on that day. Think about what speaks to your personal style. Are you a glam bride or a boho bride? Is your wedding in a cathedral or on the beach? All of these things can help you narrow down your style and give you an idea about what kind of dress you will be looking for. Search Pinterest and bridal magazines for inspiration that may be helpful to you and your bridal consultant once you start shopping.
12 months before your wedding date, you should start making your try on appointments. Start with one appointment at a time. Going to multiple appointments in one day can be overwhelming and confusing for brides. If you do not find the dress of your dreams at your first appointment, schedule another one for another day. Bringing more than three people with you to your appointment can be discouraging for brides because too many opinions will sometimes make it harder for you to remember what you truly want. It is important to keep an open mind, but to also stay true to yourself.
Once you find your dress don't be afraid to say YES! It is a wonderful thing to find a dress that you love, and with the help from the right consultant, it should be a fun and easy process. Do not feel like you must keep shopping just because it is fun for your group. Include them in bridesmaid shopping, looking for accessories, and at your fitting appointments. Remember, the more dresses you try on, the more confusing it tends to be. 
After you have found your dream wedding dress, start looking for your shoes. You will need them before you can start the alterations process. You will typically have three fittings, with the last one being just before your wedding day to make sure that everything is perfect. At Bella Bridal Gallery, once you have purchased your wedding dress with us, we will send you an invitation to shop for your accessories, such as your headpiece and veil, as well as your bridesmaid dresses with us. Bridesmaid dresses can take up to 4 months arrive, so it is a good idea to shop fro them about 8 months before your wedding. 
After your wedding, Bella Bridal Gallery offers professional cleaning and preservation services. If you choose to have your wedding dress cleaned and preserved, it will be expertly cleaned, thoroughly inspected, moisture and oxygen controlled, acid neutralized, and sealed in a package with a window so that you can still see your beautiful dress without any worry that it will be damaged. 