Many woman who become engaged are so excited about their future nuptials, that they have absolutely no idea where to begin! Although there are dozens of things to think about before your big day, here are a few important ideas and tips to keep in mind when deciding the attire for the wedding. Thanks to Charlotte’s Bridal: Weddings and More, here is a time-line/checklist for you to consider when planning all the attire.

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Six to Twelve Months Before the Wedding:

• Find and order the perfect gown
• Start to look at Bridesmaid gowns and Mother of the Bride gowns

Four to Five Months Before the Wedding:

• Order Flower Girl gowns
• Order Bridesmaid gowns
• Order Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom gowns
• Call for estimated delivery date of wedding gown

Three to Four Months Before Wedding:

• Order invitations
• Choose and order bra and petticoat
• Order shoes

Two to Three Months Before the Wedding:

• The wedding gown should be in soon, so be sure to set-up an appointment to try it on
• Book an appointment with seamstress for wedding gown and Bridesmaid alterations
• Choose veil and jewelery

One to Two Months Before the Wedding:

• Have wedding gown and Bridesmaid gowns altered
• Set up an appointment to have all gowns pressed
• Finalize men’s formal wear – Tuxedo Rentals

One Week Before the Wedding:

• Drop gowns off to be pressed

The Week of the Wedding:

• Pick up the pressed wedding gown on the scheduled date
• Pick up tuxedo rentals

After the Wedding:

• Think about finding a company who can preserve your gown (Charlotte’s Bridal can preserve gowns)

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Over a dozen vendors in the ‘Bridal Attire’ category, both in Bravo!’s Wedding Guide & online at www.bravowedding.com, offer their services ranging from custom dress design, alterations, accessories and more. For full service bridal salons in the Portland/Tigard area check out Ania Collection Couture Bridal Boutique, Anna’s Bridal, Charlotte’s Weddings & More, Magnifique Boutique, or Rosewood Bridal. For those of you looking for more destination shops, be sure to check out Bella Brides in Bend, OR, or The Hostess House in Vancouver, WA.

After selecting the dress, be sure to finish your look with accessories, shoes, and/or a veil. Custom veils can be designed at August Veils located in The Bridal Loft in N.E. Portland, or Love, June. And for all those things in between, The Wedding Cottage can provide you with guest books, toasting flutes, candles, cake serving sets and more, while Enchanted Custom Corsets & Fine Apparel can give you that stunning silhouette who’ve always wanted.

Now that you are all set, be sure to not forget the men involved! A Formal Affair Tuxedo, Duchess Clothier, and Mr. Formal can make all the men in your bridal party look like a million bucks! Each establishment offers a range of suits, tuxedos, ties, vests and more to match the style of any wedding.