Wedding Dress

OVERWHELMED

You're not doing too bad - I haven't even been shopping yet!  Flowers, catering, reception and ceremony isn't a bad start!  Sucks about the photographer though.  I'm actually starting to feel like I'm way more behind than you!

I think getting the dress at .least 6 months in advance is a good idea then you have time for alterations, etc.  My sister in law though had a woman working in a bridal store be really rude and snarky with her that she was shopping for her dress far too late and maybe she should call the whole thing off!  It was still over 4 months out!

My wedding is May 23 and I have not started dress shopping yet- I will do that in Sept-October. I have been looking online at styles and designers- I think you are okay . Most of the brides I know dress shop at the 6-8 month mark.

I was backwards from you all and shopped for my dress first! But its cause i was so excited. :) But did eveything you guys did first around 6-8 months with the exception of the hall.. LOL maybe i should have been talking to everyone before i did this.. LOL.. but all works good and its 2 months away and now im on schedule i guess.. Well mine anyway..

ok, I want you to take a few deep breaths and relax some, it's going to be ok.... now I have went to a dress fitting once, and it had me more confused than before I started....  You have to figure out what style of wedding dress will look best with your body type.  I posted this question on my blog, recently I figured out what the best style for me is, now I can really go dress shopping.  Just do a little more research and when you go to your dress fitting, tell them you want to try on all of the different styles of the wedding dresses.

Well if it has to be ordered make sure you give your self at least 6 months before the wedding since it takes FOREVER to come in, in the first place and then you have to have it altered and pressed!!! So really you have plenty of time!!!

I take that back you should start looking soon and order it in about a month!!!

It's ok you're not behind.. You still have almost 300 days to the wedding. There has to be a photographer out there that isn't booked. There are tons of photographers, its just not always easy to find them. Now is the time to start looking for a dress though, that should be high on your list of priority, because depending on the designer, dresses can sometimes take up to 6 months to come in and then you need time to have alterations done. Now is a great time to start looking, because a lot of bridal stores are clearing out spring 2008 and some summer 2008 collections to make room for fall 2008 collections, so you could probably get a pretty sweet deal on a dress. Signup for www.weddingwire.com, it gives you an interactive list of what you need to do each month, and gives you a deadline for when certain things need to be booked. I researched some photographers in your area for you:

www.unforgettablephotographybyanna.com
http://www.kennettphoto.com
http://www.krebsstudio.com
http://www.voegelestudio.com
http://www.artisticexpressionsphoto.com/
http://www.edfergusonphotography.com/
http://www.garyluttrell.com/

Hope that helps you out! Remember don't stress, you still have lots of time!

Hey, just read your profile and I am from Aviston, Illinois too!  

I'm getting married in April and I have the hall, caterer, cake and ceremony booked. Bought my dress 2 -3 months ago. It is hard to find a photographer that is not booked in our area or isn't overly expensive. I'm guessing you have already tried the recommendations from AMCS76 since they are the most popular in our area. Depending where you get your dress it can sometimes take up to 6 months to get the dress in so I would start looking. I got my dress at Clarice's Bridal in St. Louis. I would highly recommend them.

I ordered my dress at 7 1/2 months and I am glad I didn't wait any longer. My bridesmaid dresses were ordered at 61/2 months and we lucked out, there is a 6 month minimum for the dresses we chose. We will get them hopefully just in time. I think the earlier the better so you don't have to stress about it.