When you first get engaged, the very first thing that you do (besides tell everyone you know the great news!) is begin trying on wedding gowns. It’s one of the most memorable processes to look back upon as part the hectic and wonderful journey to your big day. In most cases, the bride-to-be takes her mom, sisters, bridesmaids, or close friends for their advice and input in choosing a dress. As you well know, bridal gowns can embody the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is no accounting for taste! For this reason, it’s always important to have a second (or eighth!) opinion.

But sometimes having too many shoppers with you can cause more stress than their opinions are worth. Too many people can mean too many opinions and voices, which may frazzle any bride-to-be! Many of us have experienced being in a bridal shop and seeing the poor bride-to-be so stressed out that the joy of searching for the right dress is clearly fading quickly. That is not where you want to be! Be very choosy about the people that you take wedding dress shopping with you. If a really close friend is the type to not be open to styles other than her own, then do not aggravate yourself by taking that individual on your most important mission. Make sure that you respect and understand the style and aesthetic of those who you do bring along, because it will be hard for you to value their suggestions otherwise.

As excited as you might be to go wedding gown shopping, don’t just jump in and shop with anyone. Choose the right support team when you set forth to accomplish this task. More often than not, the best idea is to take smaller groups at different times. This way, you get the maximum exposure you can to your friends’ wonderful suggestions, and lessen the stress on your part. This way you’ll prevent your friends from getting sick of many long shopping trips with you, and you settling on a dress you don’t truly love just to shorten the process for them! Remember that even your most devoted bridesmaid is not as intent as you are to find the perfect dress. Rotating who you shop with is a great way to always have a shopping buddy who is excited about helping you.

In creating a good shopping experience for yourself, you may have to exclude people who would be offended to find out they’ve been left out of the process (overbearing mothers included). To prevent awkwardness, just tell them that the dress found you! It was in the window at the mall you happened to be having lunch in and you could not resist and had to at least try it on. When you did, the clouds parted and sunshine rained down, telling you that it was THE dress. You were so sorry that they were not there, but you’re sure there are a ton of other wedding preparations you can include them in!

So have fun! Grab your favorite gals and start trying on gowns to your heart’s content. Just like how you knew when you met your hubby-to-be, you will know you’ve found the dress makes you feel like a goddess on the most special day of your life. Never settle!