Romeo finally popped the question and put the ring on your finger. Congratulations, you're engaged! But before you settle into the romantic routine of annoying each other to death, you have to deal with a more pressing problem: What are you going to wear? Here's the answer: a wedding dress. Shoes would be nice, too.

OK, OK, so you could use a little more guidance. Lucky for you that you found us, because with our advice, you'll look back at your wedding photos and say to yourself, "Gosh, I wish I looked that beautiful at my first wedding."

1. SET A BUDGET

Your intended husband may be in the hole for buying you the Rock of Gibraltar that some call an engagement ring. Don't feel so bad. The diamond, as the commercial says, is forever. The wedding gown that you are about to buy lasts for eight hours, tops. Then it spends eternity in storage until your daughter gets married. Rest assured you can get the dress of your dreams at a price that doesn't break the bank.

So how much will it cost? Most people choose to buy a bridal gown that costs in the range of $1200 to $2500. Then throw in these costs:

  • Alterations
$300
  • Veil
$400
  • Accessories like gloves and shoes
at least $100

Now your entire wedding ensemble has ballooned up to at least $2000 and often $3500+. As if you need more bad news, a 50% deposit for the dress is usually required, and the balance must be paid before your first fitting. Some bridal salons suggest the bride-to-be begin saving once she is engaged, but we suggest you begin saving in the fourth grade.

An unfortunate reality is that not every blushing bride can afford the Vera Wang wedding special, so the first step to buying a wedding gown is to plan a budget for the entire wedding that includes a maximum allowance for your dress. Then work backwards and let the end justify the means. Unless 1) you're loaded, 2) your fiancé is a top Wall Street executive or 3) you just knocked over a bank, we recommend that you get a more traditional, well-known wedding gown from an affordable designer. What most people don't realize that it's not the cost of a dress that makes it look nice, but rather, how you carry yourself in that dress. Besides, most bridal salons can take a picture of a designer dress and replicate it for one-third of the cost.

Along with the budget comes the concern of where you should buy the dress. All you have to do is look through the Yellow Pages and find some boutiques near you. Another good source of information is your friends who recently got married and looked fabulous. But whatever you do, you must comparison shop. Bring your ideas to the boutique and see what kind of prices they have.

2. SET A TIMELINE

As you can imagine, it can take a while to get a bridal gown picked out, fitted, and altered, so right after you get engaged, you should make a timeline. It takes 8 to 12 weeks from the time you are fitted until you will receive your dress. Then you have to tack on a couple of weeks for alterations. Finally, the delivery of the gown from the manufacturer can be a problem. If the gown is in stock, delivery is almost immediate; if the gown is being customized - and most dresses are - delivery can take up to four months. So being the nervous nellies that we are, we suggest that you choose your gown at least six months before the big day.

3. RESEARCH DIFFERENT STYLES

  1. Every bride-to-be's first instinct is to hit the newsstands and stock up on bridal and wedding magazines. Good idea. Leaf through the pages, dog-ear them, and tear out the pages that contain the dresses, accessories, hair and makeup styles that you like the best (of course remembering to purchase the magazines first). Put these pictures in a book and carry that book with you into bridal boutiques.

  2. Talk to married friends. No, you're not going to copy 'em, but if they were really happy with their dress (and you think they had a right to be), it would be insane to not consider going to the same place. Besides, if your friends are in the same financial bracket as you, then you know you can get a nice dress and not get stuck eating beans out of rusty cans for the next year.

  3. Ask your friends for advice. Believe us, EVERYONE will have an opinion. Suggestions from overzealous bridesmaids, sisters and maternal figures are annoying, but often helpful.

  4. While we'll do our best to help you out, here are a couple of links that you might want to check out when you get started:

  • www.theknot.com
    This site is perhaps the best on the Internet as far as wedding and bridal resources go. There are links for wedding gown designers and pictures of dresses, trains, veils and footwear are included. There's even a Q&A with a wedding expert.

  • www.ourmarriage.com
    Awww, the name of this web page gets us all misty-eyed. But let's face it: the groom has zero say in what you wear on the big day. Nevertheless, this site is chock full o' advice pertaining to wedding day attire.

  • www.bridalgloves.com
    This site features exactly what it says - bridal gloves. While there aren't many brides who consider gloves an essential accessory, a more traditional or classic bride may want to slip on a pair of silkies to cover her hands before the ceremony. Brides with late fall or winter weddings will want to check out this site. If you need to keep your hands warm on your wedding day, why not do it right?

  • Other web sites include www.theweddingchannel.com, www.bridalonlinestore.com and http://www.bridecouture.com.

4. PICK A DESIGN

First and foremost, don't panic - each salon provides each bride with her own personal consultant. So yes, there will be someone helping you avert embarrassing disasters. Nevertheless, you should ALWAYS bring someone you trust with you to the boutique. Be it a mom, sister, or best friend, you need an honest second opinion from someone who knows you.

In choosing a design, there are 6 things you should keep your eye on:

Color
Length
Silhouette
Train
Mood
Size

Color

Since Roman times, brides have worn white to symbolize purity. But this is the 21st Century and we ain't speaking Roman. So for those of you who want to flaunt your pre-marriage impurities (or are merely looking for a dash of interesting color), select a dress of another delicate hue such as pale pink, blue, ivory or light beige. The color you select will depend upon your own coloring; dark-skinned brunettes look good in ivory or beige, and fair-skinned blondes may find they look better in a white pastel or pure white gown. The rest of us will live a lie and wear pure white.

Length

The type of wedding you're having will affect your gown's length. Full-length gowns are fitting for formal weddings. At informal weddings, which are typically small in size and fanfare (and common for a second, third, and fourth+ marriages), the bride can wear a knee-length skirt. The skirt should cover the knees and drape at least one inch below the top of the kneecap. Ankle-length is acceptable too, and it can be very classy, sexy, fashionable and romantic. The veil should coincide with the dress: a shorter veil with a short dress or skirt, and a longer veil with a full-length skirt or gown.

Silhouette

The "silhouette" refers to the shape of the gown and how it hugs your body. For instance, some gowns hang straight down off the hips for a slinky look, while others poof out in a Scarlett O'Hara fashion. When you walk into the bridal salon, don't get intimidated by the various names of silhouettes. Many of them are simply different names for the same style. Here are some pictures.

  • Both Princess and A-line have side seams that run vertically from the underarm to the hem. A-line/Princess shapes tend to be the most figure-friendly.

  • The ball gown (i.e., the Cinderella look) is the most traditional wedding-dress silhouette. The bodice is fitted through the waist with a full skirt.

  • Sheaths are form fitting and slim, very modern and sexy. But if you're going to pull this dress off (so to speak), you have to make sure that you get measured very carefully. A quarter-inch miss here really shows.

  • The mermaid shape is like the sheath with one exception: the skirt flares out below the knee, like a mermaid, get it?

  • The empire silhouette fits like any other empire dress. It has a high waistline that stems from the bust, with a slender skirt.

  • A popular style for many brides today is the two-piece. Think "Gwyneth Paltrow Gets Married.'" The two-piece is very comfortable and trendy. A bustier is a must for underneath the top of a two-piece gown.

Train

Many a woman has fantasized that their wedding gown would have a ridiculously long train that requires 20 burly men to carry. The fact is, however, that it's tough to walk around all day with a massive train. So we suggest that if you want the long train, that it be detachable so that it won't get stepped on, torn, or otherwise ruined during the reception.

Mood

Dresses are also categorized by moods:

  • ROMANTIC - This is strapless or long-sleeved and bares a heart-shaped neckline. Romantic dresses are usually complemented by a long train.

  • MODERN - Also defined as a sheath, it's made of crepe and charmuse fabrics. It's very fitting for a formal, evening wedding.

  • TRADITIONAL - Like the A-line, traditional is also described as a full gown. Petite brides look best in this style because it elongates the bottom. Traditional gowns consist of an abundance of lace, satin, beads and buttons. We're talking poofy, fluffy, big shoulders, Princess Diana.

  • CLASSIC - Lots of satin, little beading. Classic is for the bride who doesn't like to be flashy. It's more conservative.

Size

As with any other wardrobe selection, when it comes to picking a wedding dress, size does matter. After all, you want your dress to look flattering. Designers realize that some of us have all 12 of our ribs and can't fit into a size two wedding dress, or the "perfect size 8." Therefore, there are designers who manufacture size 20 to size 44 as well. These designers include the Diamond Collection, Jasmine, Alfred Angelo, Jim Hjelm and Sweetheart. Ask your bridal salon or assigned bridal consultant for details, or hit the Internet for a peek at their designs.

For brides petite and large, the size of a bridal gown is ordered based on measurements of bust, waist, hips and height. Check this chart out to get an idea. All gowns are ordered in extra length for last minute fittings and alterations.

No matter what shape or size you are, remember that it's your dress, you'll be wearing it, you'll be seen in it, and you will be immortalized in it thanks to the photographers and camera-happy guests. So the bottom line is, choose a design you are happy with, a silhouette you feel comfy in, and don't be afraid to get creative.

5. ACCESSORIZE PROPERLY

Veil

Picking a headpiece (a.k.a. "veil") is like picking a new hairstyle; it must flatter your face, not overpower it. When choosing your headpiece, remember that it must conform not only to the dress, it must also flatter and complement your face.

OVAL FACES: You can wear almost any style headpiece.
LONG FACES: A band or wreath is recommended, as it softens the shape of the face.
ROUND FACES: Again, bands or wreaths work. Tiaras also look elegant on women with round faces.

  • Most bridal consultants recommend the Juliet cap with a short veil for a bride who is slightly overweight or short.

  • A full, puffy veil is flattering with a band or wreath.

  • The long cathedral veil doubles as the dress's train.

  • The chapel veil, which is three yards long, looks best with a long-sleeved, full-length gown.

  • An elbow-length or fingertip-length veil looks best with short-sleeved wedding dresses, or dresses with low-cut backs.

  • If you plan to dance at your wedding, choose a veil that can be snapped off at the headpiece.

Gloves

  • If you wear gloves, wear the style and length of gloves that look best with your dress, and if no gloves look right, go bare-handed (impressive advice, huh?).

  • Silk-lined gloves are best so you can easily slip off the left one to accept the wedding band.

Shoes

  • For the shoes, stick with traditional white silk or satin.

  • It is crucial that your shoes are closed toe and closed back, because a closed shoe means less worry about stocking runs.

  • Pick a heel that suits your height and comfort level since you will be wearing them to the ceremony and reception.

  • Get used to wearing them before your wedding day. Walk around your home wearing your shoes about three times.

  • Take sandpaper, or any other material with a rough surface and scrape the bottoms a bit. The idea is to walk down the aisle, not slip.

Jewelry

  • Jewelry should be subdued. Stud-earrings like diamonds or pearls are common.

  • If you must wear a necklace, wear a strand of 16-inch pearls, a delicate pendant or a choker that matches your dress.

  • On your left hand, wear only your engagement ring.

  • Keep your right hand bare, or wear one small ring on your ring finger.

  • Your wrists should be bare too.

  • Exceptions to jewelry should only apply to the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" tradition. Most brides wear a blue garter belt.

Now you're ready to walk down the aisle. And dahling, you look mahvelous. We just pray that you never have to use that wedding dress again . . .