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     From the busy street, she walked confidently through the glass double doors flanked to the left and right by a group of women with intent eyes. They knew what they came for.

      The mission: find a wedding dress for bride-to-be Chelsea Day for under $800. The women came to David’s Bridal in Bowie, Md. to find the perfect dress. They knew it will be a challenge to please the bride, but they were willing to try.

     Day, a 24-year-old from Laurel, Md. is planning her wedding to fiancé Ken Reinhardt on May 8, 2010. The couple has been together for three years and plans to move to Alexandria, Va. after the wedding to be closer to Reinhardt’s family. Day has never tried on a wedding dress before.

     “I want a dress that is going to make me cry,” Day said as she speaks to Deborah Wheeler, her consultant, about what she wants. She said she wants a ball gown for her wedding.

     Buying a wedding dress can be a stressful endeavor, especially when the bride does not know how to find the perfect ensemble. With the guidance of Wheeler, a bridal consultant at David’s Bridal with over 10 years of experience in the wedding industry, brides can use these five tips when considering a purchase.

     “My best piece of advice for brides is to keep their mind open,” said Wheeler. “With an open mind, anything is possible.” Wheeler said many brides come in for the first time and they do not know what they want or what would look best on their body. “It kind of makes my job easier when the bride is not super picky,” Wheeler said.

     One of the most important things to consider when a bride is trying to find the right dress is to discuss what the budget is and not over spend, Wheeler said. Wheeler contributes many showroom floor arguments to people who have not communicated their expectations on the price of the gown.

     “After I find out the bride’s budget, I always ask what the ceremony and reception are going to be like,” Wheeler said. Knowing these details, Wheeler is able to show brides what styles would compliment the overall tone of the wedding. “A larger ball gown typically does not work for weddings taking place outside on a beach,” Wheeler said.  

      Another trick of the trade is shop with trusted friends. While the bride ultimately decides if the dress she is wearing is “the one,” a few extra sets of eyes can give different perspectives the bride might encounter on the wedding day from guests.

     “I do not like when brides come in alone because they lose the experience they might otherwise get with friends or family,” Wheeler said. “When they are alone, brides tend to be less critical and just go with a dress because it is the right size.” 

     Wheeler suggested shopping between six to 10 months before the wedding in order to leave time to consider different options. The extra time also saves money because the designer does not have to rush to complete the order.

     “At David’s [Bridal], we only ask for a few months because we have such a huge stock, but other places need a lot more time because each order is made when the order comes in,” Wheeler said. 

     Day tried on 11 dresses that day, varying in styles from chic silk dresses to others that looked like a cupcake. None of the dresses she tried on that day made her cry though.

     Day walked out of David’s Bridal with a less confident look on her face. Her wedding party looked exhausted as they retreated to Day’s home.