Wedding dress shopping is not always glamorous and if it’s your first time (and chances are, it is) there a few common mistakes you’re likely to make. While some mistakes are hardly worth the fuss (leave your black lace knickers and don’t even think about tanning), others are a little more major. So, as you’re gearing up to buy what will probably the most expensive white frock of your life, here are the mistakes you can make wedding dress shopping. Oh, and how to avoid them.

Obviously you’re over the moon about your engagement. However, try not to let that excitement convert into early shopping. For the most part, bridal gowns are released seasonally, so October and April. Bridal buyers get a sneak peek about a year before they become available but if you’re planning on a long engagement, don’t rush into it. If you do chances are you’ll end up with a dress you’re not so in love with come the wedding.

If you’re looking for a yardstick of when to shop, give yourself a 10-month headstart. With luck, you’ll have decided on your dress about eight months in advance. That’s plenty of time for production, alterations and final fittings.

Traditionally, you would need a 5-6 month lead time for a wedding dress. However, like everything else, the internet has made the whole process better. There are plenty of reasons to shop for your wedding dress online. Plus, chances are, if you’re ordering your dress online, you won’t need to wait for production. The dress will arrive just like any other order and then you can go to town with fittings and alterations.

Hot tip, once you’ve got your dress, stop looking. You’re going to be making a lot of decisions and this is just one of them. Stick to your intuition.

Leave the entourage at home

Keep your crew small and intimate when wedding dress shopping. More people means more opinions, and already the only one that matters is your own. It only takes one negative voice, or worse a small spat, to ruin the positive tone of your appointment.

Get real about your budget

Be honest with yourself, you have a budget, you know what it is. Don’t go into an appointment planning on blowing things out of proportion. That doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible about how much you are willing to spend, but having a top-line number in mind will prevent things from getting out of hand. The best trick is to ask yourself what price tag would turn your “dream dress” into a gown that’s not for you.

Knowing exactly what you want

Chances are you know what you want in the wedding dress department. You’ve done your research and you’ve created a vision in your head of how you want it all to look. Try to enter into the dress shopping process open-minded. Try on as many different styles as you can without getting overwhelmed. Think about basic silhouette descriptors, but try not to go beyond that. You never know what kind of gown you’re going to fall in love with.

Going custom isn’t for everyone

The process of designing a custom wedding gown is long and requires a succinct vision. You also need to be firm with what you want. You probably won’t see your finished wedding gown until very close to your wedding date so you’re going to want to hope you gave a very clear brief. If you’re indecisive or not that well-versed in fashion, don’t go custom.

Trying on too many dresses

At a certain point, every white dress will look the same. Brides who try on too many gowns can forget which shapes and silhouettes they were drawn to in the first place. Plus it’s one sure-fire way to overwhelm yourself with choices.