One of the first things you will want to do once you have chosen your date and arranged for your ceremony and reception will be to select your Wedding Gown. The gown you choose will depend somewhat on the season of the year, time of day and formality of your wedding. Most gowns are special ordered and custom fitted so you will want to allow plenty of time, at least four to six months.

Looking through bridal magazines and narrowing your choices to a few styles that you know will be most flattering should help you as you shop for your gown, probably the most important dress you will ever buy. Budget at least five hundred dollars, although, many gowns can cost as much as several thousand dollars.

The following list of terms should help you define your personal style and guide you.

Dress Styles:

• Ballgown -- full skirt gathered just below the waistline.
• Princess -- vertical seams from shoulders to hemline, fitted, curving outward at the waist.
• Antebellum -- full skirt with fabric gathered and draped to create flounced pickups.
• Mermaid -- narrow, form fitting gown with a skirt that flares at or just below the knee.
• Sheath -- narrow, long lines, straight and closely fitted.

• Dropped waist -- falling several inches below natural waist, skims the hips.
• Empire waist -- high waistline that begins just below the bust.
• Natural waist -- cinched in just at the natural waistline.
• Basque -- slightly elongated and comes to a point or dipped in the center front.
• Curved Basque -- elongated and rounded at center front.

• Jewel -- circles around the base of the neck.
• Sweetheart -- dips to a heart shape at the bustline.
• V-neck -- dips in center front.
• Strapless -- bodice without straps or sleeves.
• Scoop -- low, round neckline.
• High Collar -- loosely around the neck like a choker.
• Portrait -- off the shoulder, draped or dipped in the center.