Preparing for your wedding is a special time in every woman’s life. Little girls and grown women dream of the day they’ll go to local boutiques to try on bridal gowns. In Toronto, Bella’s Brides welcomes brides of all ages, sizes, and budgets to find their dream wedding dress. After years in the business, we have the perfect recipe for success when it comes to preparing for your bridal boutique appointment. Here are five tips you’ll want to follow to have a bridal gown appointment that is fun, productive, and stress-free.

1) Do research first.

Before booking your bridal boutique appointment, do some research. Start by looking at different styles of wedding dresses and identifying some that you like. Look at things like necklines, lengths, beading, and other details as you start a list of likes and dislikes. A popular starting point for many brides are bridal magazines, and you can find lots of great websites online, too. Collect photos and bring them to your bridal boutique appointment so that your consultant can help you pick a few dresses to try on.

2) Pick your company carefully.

You may be thinking about bringing a big entourage to your bridal boutique appointment, but you could just be setting yourself up for a frustrating experience if the group is too big. We recommend coming with just 2 to 3 people. Most of our brides prefer to invite their mom, sister, maid of honor, or even best friend. Remember, you don’t need lots of opinions or drama when it comes to picking your wedding gown. Your guests are here to give you an honest opinion, help you feel special, and make this exciting part of the planning process fun and memorable.

3) Don’t over-schedule yourself.

We recommend scheduling just 2 to 3 bridal boutique appointments in the Toronto area in the same weekend. Over-scheduling yourself can cause you to feel overwhelmed or rushed. You won’t have the time–or energy–to consider and appreciate each wedding dress if you’re worried about rushing to the next appointment or are still thinking about a gown you tried on 3 hours ago.

4) Don’t come hungry.

If your stomach is growling, you won’t be able to focus on the wedding dresses. Make a day of bridal gown shopping in Toronto fun by enjoying a snack or meal with your party beforehand. (Don’t eat too much, though!)

5) Relax!

Do your best to relax before your bridal boutique appointment. Don’t let yourself be stressed beforehand! If you’re angry about something or in a bad mood, take some time to calm down and re-center yourself. Take a relaxing bath, meditate, or just swing by your favorite coffee shop–whatever calms you and makes you feel good. Arrive with an optimistic attitude and you’ll have a wonderful experience that you’ll look back on fondly and will cherish forever.