It's a really big decision to choose the man you will be spending the rest of your life with. It's almost as big of a decision to choose the bridal gown you will marry him in. However, looking through hundreds of gowns can be overwhelming.  Relax.  You can find the perfect bridal gown to suit your style and personality.  Here are a few tips to start you on your journey toward finding the perfect bridal gown.

Start with the budget.  Most experts agree you should set aside 10% of your overall wedding budget for your bridal gown.  This is not just for the gown.  This includes shoes, undergarments, veil, jewelry, gloves, etc.  You don't need an exact number, but a range is good...for instance $1,000 to $2,000.  Just to be safe, you may want to build in a little wiggle room if your budget can withstand it.

Choose your color wisely.  Of course, white is the traditional color for wedding dresses. However, the modern bride has many more choices than her mother and grandmother did. Today's bride can choose from traditional white dresses, ivory and off white dresses or even go so far as to choose a dress that is a beautiful pastel color.  There are even some daring brides that will choose a red or even a black wedding dress.  It's your wedding.  Basically you can choose whatever you like. However, do keep in mind what colors complement your skin tone.  You don't want to look washed out on your wedding day.  

Choose the right silhouette for your body type.  You will want to choose a gown that highlights your best features and helps to disguise any features you are not particularly fond of.  If you are a petite bride, an A-line dress with vertical seams will help to elongate your figure and make you look taller.  If you are a plus-size bride, a ball gown can help to hide larger hips and empire waists and A-line dresses flow over your body which helps to give you a slimmer silhouette.  If you are very tall, a simple dress with clean lines will accentuate your figure.  It is important, however, to make sure that the dress itself and the sleeves (if you are wearing them) are long enough.