North East bridal boutique Amore Brides talks finding the perfect dress

Want to know what you should and shouldn't be doing when it comes to finding the perfect gown? We caught up with Sunderland-based Amore Brides to talk the dos and don'ts of dress shopping…

DO… GO TO A BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
The staff will have a wealth of experience, and will often choose the perfect gown for you that you may have previously overlooked.

DON'T… TAKE LOTS OF PEOPLE
You don't need an entourage! More people means more opinions – and it can get confusing. Take one or two people you trust at the most.

DO… CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET
Remember that bridal boutiques stock dresses to suit a wide range of budgets, and will often sell off the peg.

DON'T… WEAR MAKE-UP OR FALSE TAN
Bundles of make-up may make you feel more confident, but will come off very easily on gowns and can be difficult for the boutique to remove.

DO… HAVE AN OPEN MIND
What you like in a picture, you may not like on you – so don't be disheartened if the gown you thought you would love isn't right.

DON'T… TAKE THE KIDS!
They'll become bored very easily, and you and your party won't be able to focus on finding your dream dress if you're also looking after a toddler.

DO… ARRIVE NEUTRAL
By this we mean wear neutral-coloured underwear, so you aren't distracted by black bra straps.

DON'T… GET SNAP HAPPY
Mobile phone photos will never look as good as the ones taken by your photographer on your day. Plus, the sample gown won't be fitted to you perfectly, so may not look its best.

DO… ENJOY YOURSELF
This is the most special gown that you will ever own, so enjoy every moment of choosing it – and never feel pressurised to buy.

DON'T… SHOP EARLY
Designers discontinue gowns, so if you find the perfect one and go back a year later to order it, it may not be possible to do so.

For information on Amore Brides visit https://amoresunderland.co.uk