Shopping for a wedding dress can be the most exciting thing you’ve ever done (after getting engaged to the love of your life, that is). But it’s not easy — that’s for sure. NYC brides have an amazing number of options, but where to start?
1. I’d highly recommend you start by poring through bridal magazines and websites. The knot.com has a place to view many gowns by designer, price, neckline or silhouette. Just tear things out that you are drawn to — for the shape, the fabric, the neckline — whatever. No limits!
2. Most people will tell you to set a budget first, and then start looking with that in mind. If you have self control, and the budget is a reality, I say forget it! Start by “dream dress” shopping. Try on all prices and shapes of dresses to see how they feel on you. You can love something in a magazine that will look terrible on your figure and be surprised by something you wouldn’t expect to love. Don’t have “the dress” set in stone in your head before you start trying gowns on. I began thinking I wanted a romantic dress with lace and it couldn’t be strapless (see below — my gown = no lace and strapless)!
3. I started with the NY Magazine’s Wedding Guide. They have a pretty comprehensive list of Bridal Salons in the city, and it was a great way to start planning.
4. I went to salons that carried dresses I knew I couldn’t afford and tried on very expensive designer gowns: Reem Acra, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier etc., as I knew I’d never get the opportunity to do this again! Then I also went to places like Kleinfield (which was not a positive experience to be honest), and RK Bridal (which was overwhelming).
I tried on the following dresses (all across the board in style and price):
Angel Sanchez
Carolina Hererra
Monique Lhullier
Le Spose di Gio
5. Then I got back to reality and went back to Mark Ingram’s Bridal Atelier where I began. I ended up buying the least expensive dress they carried (at $1770), but I LOVED it! Here is what I ended up buying — a short Romona Keveza gown:
Mark Ingram’s gowns usually start at $3,000, but if you’re not looking for amazing detail and expensive lace, you might be surprised — I was!
LOVE your dress, and it looks fabulous on you. A great buy!
OHHHH!!! I love the one you got. Its cute! I wish I had something cute like that for the rehersal.
wow, a totally different gown! i love it. you’ll definitely get to showcase your shoes with this one! and no need for hemming. very smart 
Miss Onion, I absolutely love your dress- it’s beautiful!! What kind of material is it?
Hey, you’re going to have fun picking shoes, because they will be on display!
Thanks! I’m pretty excited about the dress myself.
Melanie - The shoes in the photo ARE my wedding shoes! They are Cynthia Rowley’s Trilogy and I love htem. They were actually a wedding gift from my fiance’s best friend’s wife. See them here: http://tinyurl.com/36g26h.
Its beautiful!
wow. so cute.
You know what. I started doing the same. Trying on dresses that I couldn’t afford- just to see how it felt.
And I ended up maxing my credit card out and buying my dream dress. I don’t regret it though.
Wow, how gutsy! But it looks super cute on you 
Miss O: Congrats for having your shoe shopping done already! Miracle!
(I recall how fun it was using the store’s nasty dirty sample shoes to dry different heel heights! Smart you, bringing your actual shoes along!)
ladybride — I guess I wouldn’t recommend “dream dress shopping” to brides with a large credit limit! haha. I’m glad you’re happy though.
Melanie — the photo above was actually at my first fitting, not when I tried on the sample, so yeah, they were my shoes.
Funny story — I looked and looked at stores in NYC for shoes and couldn’t find my size anywhere (I’m a size 5). At one place where they sold expensive shoes one sales guy brought out a size 6 and said “try them on” — now I’m barely a 5, so not even a 5 1/2 would be possible unless they ran REALLY small. So I told him “thanks, but no,” and he seriously suggested I “drink some milk and grow!” It’s too insane to be made up.
You look very cute in that dress. However, not so sure it was made for a wedding.
[...] to buy a short wedding dress. After looking at many different dresses at many salons (see my “dress shopping” post), Anju, the wonderful woman helping me at Mark Ingram’s Bridal Atelier said, “I [...]
Miss Onion, NYC/Burlington, VT
Age and Occupation: 26, PR & Marketing and Jazz Singer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Data Analyst
Engagement Date: April 2, 2006
Wedding Date: September 2007
Blogging Since: July 11, 2007
Venue: Restaurant in Burlington
About Me: I didn't think I'd be "that girl," but I am having so much fun planning our wedding (mostly by myself). I'm a PR and Marketing Director for a major jazz festival and camp by day, and by night, a romantic jazz singer and bride-to-be! I hope all my research can help other brides in their planning.
that is the cutest gown! i wanted a tea length but couldn’t find more than a few stores that had them locally.
You look so wonderful!