Choosing your wedding dress can be one of the most important decisions you make. Wedding photos will be cherished for years by yourself and everyone else in your family. They will hang on the walls of your home, as well as that of your parents and (eventually) your children. So of course, you want to look your best! Not only that, but you want to look like you, not just another bride. That’s why so many women are choosing to wear dresses that are not white, but black, red or pink.

So when it comes time to making wedding plans, here are a few of our top tips:

Abigail | My Black Wedding Dress

1. Choose the dress that appeals the most to you. Throughout the years, you do not want to look at a photo of yourself and your husband and think, “Ugh. Why did I wear THAT dress? I should never have listened to my mother-in-law.” This is your happy day – so make it yours!

2. If you are busty, but want to downplay it, consider a ballgown style dress, that is structured on top and full below the waist. Consider a higher neckline.

3. If you are pear shaped, choose something that shows off your little waist, but keeps the top and bottom looking proportionate. You want a dress that slims your bottom and plays up your top. Dresses with deep necklines or lots of detail on the bust are a great idea.

4. If you are naturally curvy, consider something with an Empire waist that flatters curves and gives a longer look. Choose fabrics that are flowy and don’t cling to the body as much.

5. If you have a long, thin body type, be sure to choose a dress that accentuates your waistline. This will create an illusion of more curves. Consider a dress that will accentuate the bust, including halter tops, and also has detail about the waist.

Alexandra | My Black Wedding Dress

6. Of course it’s great fun to share the planning with your partner and your close friends, but keep in mind: some people should be kept on a “need to know” basis. If their opinion won’t affect your decisions, there is no reason is asking them for it. Otherwise, you will end up with a bunch of conflicting opinions about every little decision and you’ll work yourself into knots.

7. Say no. If your wedding planner thinks your bridesmaids should wear purple, but you really want them in lime green – go green! Tell the wedding planner to keep her opinions to herself and pick what suits you (and your partner) best.

8. Go with your gut. This is literal for the cake tasting, but also for choosing every other aspect of the wedding. If you instinctively wrinkle your nose at the idea of sunflowers in a bouquet – nix them! Your first impressions are generally right.

9. Keep your partner in the loop. He or she may claim that they just don’t care about the plans, but you don’t want to have an argument the night before the wedding because he didn’t want to serve fish at the dinner.

10. Work with your partner. Planning a wedding is the first, large project you will and your partner will be working on together. You will disagree. You will have fights. You will probably yell at each other over something as simple as the colour of the chair covers. That’s okay! It’s normal. Learn how to work together and get through it, so you both enjoy your day.
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Alright, we can’t just give you 10! Here’s one more – and possibly the most important of them all:

11. HAVE FUN! Don’t forget that your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life, not the day that you run around trying to make sure your new extended family are happy. This is your day. Enjoy it with your partner!