Where to start.

Shopping for the wedding dress is probably the part of the wedding plans you are looking forward to more than any other aspect.

The new season's gowns are shown at a trade exhibition in Harrogate every September, which is when the boutiques choose their new collection and the magazines report on the new styles, and are available in the shops from January.

The majority of bridal gowns bought in the UK are classed as "off the peg" - these are the gowns that you might have seen in a bridal magazine along with a list of stockists, or at a local or chain bridal boutique.

You try on a sample of the gown in the shop, they take your measurements and order the most appropriate size for you which is then delivered to the shop for alterations to fit your exact shape.

Ever wondered what the term ‘designer’ actually means? The majority of bridal boutiques will have a collection of gowns made up from their own "in-house" designer and from a number of "famous name" designers. The more famous the name, the easier it is to sell the dress after the wedding.

There are around a dozen "big name" designers in Britain for whose gowns you can expect to pay between £1500 and £4000. Each has their own unique style, so if you like one gown from a particular designer you may find that their entire collection will appeal. Rather than using stockists these big designers tend to have their own boutiques selling just their own range.

If you are considering selling a designer wedding gown after the wedding be prepared to part with it immediately, and if you are planning to use an Agency, register your intentions early to enable them to let Brides know that it will be coming in. Designer gowns lose value as soon as they are no longer this season's design, so time is of the essence.

If you are planning to have your dress made, it’s still a good idea to spend some time trying on different styles.

Choosing from a picture or paper pattern won’t give you a clear idea of what actually looks good on you. However, remember that dress designs are protected by copyright law and you are not allowed to recreate an exact copy of someone else’s dress.

Think about combining different aspects of different dresses, perhaps the neckline of one, the skirt of another, and the train of a third. Allow at least six months for a wedding dress to be made, and check for last minute alteration costs if you’re planning to lose weight before the big day.

At the end of each season bridal shops tend to sell the end-of-line samples at discounted prices. Any discontinued lines will be included in these sales along with popular designs that have become too marked or damaged. Don't expect to find a spotless sample of a popular design though; the popular dresses aren't discontinued and the samples will be kept until they are too damaged to use.

If you choose to buy a sample then be sure to thoroughly check that you are happy to accept any damage it may have sustained while being tried on in the shop.

Do not go to sample sales if you are wanting the full "bridal boutique" experience. The gowns tend to be sold at cost price and there is no profit margin for sales consultants to spend hours with you. It is usual to have to pay for and collect the dress on the day you purchase it.

There are several sites where it is possible to buy once-worn dresses. Generally they are designer gowns and you have the confidence that you are buying from a business with a reputation to consider, not an individual, so the gown will be exactly as advertised.

If you are feeling brave then you might like to bid for a dress on one of the online auction sites such as eBay. Some of the dresses have never been worn, and may be a style that you have tried on in a bridal boutique but can't quite afford. The named designers sell best - largely for that reason.

If you are planning to sell your gown on eBay, prepare the listing before your wedding day so that it is ready to upload straight after the wedding. You may need to add photos, if for example the dress has got a bit damaged.

This is a great way to find a designer dress at a bargain price but if the dress has been altered, pay attention to the height and shape of the bride who is selling the dress! It may have started out as a standard size 12, but then had several inches taken off the hem or waist.

Most bridal boutiques stock a range of wedding jewelery and this can be the best place to start, not least because you can then try the jewelery and any other wedding accessories with the dress.

While it is more sensible to buy your wedding rings and engagement rings from a diamond specialist or a traditional jeweler, many brides choose costume jewelery when it comes to necklaces, bracelets and tiaras.

There are a small number of wedding accessory shops and in particular specialist retailers for tiars, many of which can be found in the directory pages of this web site.

As with wedding jewelery, there is a lot to be said for buying your shoes in the same place as your dress, however as long as you know what height heel you are aiming for, you can try a sample shoe from the boutique when you try your dress and then shop around if you want something different.

Bridal boutiques tend to stock just the most popular designs and you will need to go to a specialist for more unusual wedding shoes or for wedding boots.

As a final word, don't forget that you need good foundations!

Well fitted bridal lingerie is a must. It will keep you feeling safe, sexy and secure throughout the day. Most bridal lingerie is flesh coloured so that it won't show through your bridal gown, and will give you a smooth contour.