How to bag the most gorgeous engagement dress

Your dream is almost on the verge of becoming reality as you are getting engaged. You have started planning for the perfect day. Except when you do start, you soon realize that the reality is that funds are not endless and you have to work within a budget.

That budget must cover so much, fees for rental of your ceremony decorations, catering/food, bar, flowers, music, photography, video, invitations, engagement rings and a myriad of other miscellaneous costs. So how much is then left for your engagement dress?

Not many of us have the luxury of spending extravagantly on a designer engagement dress. And even if you could you might prefer to allocate less towards the dress and use a larger portion of your budget for more elaborate things.

Tips to remember while choosing a perfect engagement dress-

• Make notes of what kind of styles and colours you like the best. Sometimes you find a style in a magazine and when you try it on, you find it isn't really how you imagined it.

The best thing to do is to go by your measurements and ask dressmakers for the bust, waist and hip sizes that make up the size in general.

• Once you have got an idea of the styles you like and the size you need, then you can begin searching for your engagement dress. It's best to purchase your attire before shopping for accessories. Certain elements of the dress will help you choose the best accessories to match.

When you start looking for a gown it is better to find one that either fits perfectly or is just a little bit big. If a gown is very tricky to alter then this will reflect in the price of the alteration. So remember your dress budget needs to be for the dress itself and any alterations needed.

• Whether or not you are working to budget, everyone enjoys the feeling of accomplishment when locating and acquiring a bargain. These days it's not so hard to come across a bargain with little effort. The best way to start is to have a look in some bridal shops.

One of the best ways to bag a bargain is online via the internet. Some sites host new dresses and some nearly new. The one thing to be careful with online is getting the size right. Make sure you ask for their guide to "how to measure" and ask them how they determine the sizes as you won't get to try it on before you buy.

• It is vitally important you order in time, especially if you are not ordering a standard engagement dress. Most suppliers insist on 6 to 8 weeks. So bear that in mind when placing your order.

Buying your dress should be fun. Make sure you have a friend with you who knows you well enough to give you an honest opinion. And remember if it is too much over your budget you are bound to find a similar dress elsewhere that has your name written all over it. So, good luck and Happy Bargain Hunting!