Wedding dress shopping is a momentous occasion in any bride’s life but finding the right dress can be less than a fairytale. We spoke with Michelle Salas, Store Manager at La Soie Bridal, to find out how brides can make their dress dreams come true.

“If you have time, it’s a good idea to shop alone and narrow it down to three or four dresses that you’re really invested in and then bring your family and friends,” she said.

When booking an appointment at La Soie, brides will select silhouettes that they like prior to their appointment and set a price point. Salas adds cost is one of the biggest stressors when dress shopping and that La Soie employees do not show brides anything above their price point.

She typically picks three dresses for the bride and lets her choose two – for a total of five dresses to start. La Soie stocks dresses in sample sizes 4 to 12 and all gowns come in one standard length, if you’re petite, it’s a good idea to bring heels.

“Choosing a dress is more difficult than anyone thinks, it’s really about having an eye for someone’s personality not just what fits their body type,” said Salas.

Salas recommends brides make their dress shopping appointments six to eight months ahead of their wedding date to allow time for alterations and to avoid rush shipping costs. She explains that dresses generally take six to eight months to arrive from the designer and then they go through a series of alterations so that they fit perfectly.

This season, long sleeves are popular and colored underlays in blush, champagne and mocha are also trendy. Low-back dresses are a hit for 2017 but more classic silhouettes like trumpet and mermaid are still very popular. In the end, it all comes down to the bride and what makes her feel the best.

“You know it’s ‘the dress’ when she comes out of the dressing room with that specific glow and smile,” she said.

In addition to dresses, La Soie also carries veils and belts. Salas feels that these accessories really make the dress and that the veil is often the deciding factor when choosing “the dress.” Cathedral length veils add drama while elbow length options put the finishing touches on dresses.

La Soie Bridal is located at 650 East Colorado Boulevard. Visit www.lasoiebridal.com or call (626) 356-9889.