Most brides start their wedding gown search by looking through thousands of pictures of wedding gowns. The second step is knowing where you can find some of the lovely wedding dresses you have seen. For your convenience, we have compiled below a list of different locations you will want to consider when looking for your wedding dress. Also, ask your friends or others you trust for referrals of local bridal salons in your area. Finding sales people who are knowledgeable, accommodating and helpful will make your wedding dress purchasing experience much better. You'll also want to ask for references of any seamstress you are considering to determine if he/she is an honest person. Our list of where to find a wedding dress includes:

Bridal Salons:

Bridal salons are local shops specializing in wedding gowns and apparel. They are generally small boutiques that offer many little perks, such as free drinks, personal attention, large dressing areas with comfy chairs, on-site alterations and more. With the perks come higher price tags as well. While you might pay a little more at a bridal salon, you should be benefiting from a knowledgeable sales staff who can help you find the right wedding dress for your wedding. Because these shops specialize in wedding gowns, the sales staff can give you advice on the most flattering wedding gown styles and their "expert" opinions on jewelry and other accessories, such as veils and head pieces. You will most likely need an appointment to come and view the wedding dresses, so call ahead and try to book a time when you will get the most attention. Remember the shops will most likely be busiest on the weekends.

Bridal Warehouses:

If rolling up your sleeves and "digging" through hundreds of wedding gowns for a wonderful bargain interests you, a bridal warehouse is for you. They are generally large discount stores filled with wedding gowns you can buy off of the rack. If you don't have much time before your wedding, you might be interested in this because you don't have to order a wedding dress and wait for it like at a salon, you take the wedding dress home that day. Of course, you most likely give up the personal attention from a bridal salon sales staff and the convenience of on-site alterations, but the monetary savings can be significant (over 50% in some cases).

Consignment/Vintage Clothing Stores or Ebay:

Many consignment and vintage clothing stores offer beautiful, slightly-worn wedding gowns at unbeatable prices. While the selections may be limited, the prices are well below original price tags. Call around to up-scale consignment stores in your area to find out if they have a wedding dress or formal dress section. You may find some wedding gowns that were never even worn! If you are looking for an antique wedding dress, consider the vintage clothing stores in your area. You might find a wedding dress that needs only slight restoration to be worn on your wedding day. Appointments are probably not necessary but calling ahead for selection inquires may save you some time.

Department Stores:

Many department stores have a formal and/or bridal dress section of the store. Their inventory may not be as extensive as a specialty shop, but you should be able to find a range of styles from traditional ball wedding gowns to simple silk and beaded sheaths. Best of all, department stores are known for their sales. Call ahead to the department store's bridal department to inquire about upcoming sales. Just remember if you do plan to purchase your wedding gown at a sale, you won't be alone! If it is a well advertised sale you can have lots of competition, but the savings could be worth it. If you are interested in a particular designer, call ahead to determine if the department store represents that line. Many department stores such as Nieman Marcus have exclusive relationships with certain vendors. Most bridal departments require appointments to try on wedding gowns, consider making a day of it by planning to complete a bridal registry at that particular department store to save yourself another trip later.

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Renting from a Bridal Boutique:

If your wedding gown budget is $500 but your heart is set on a $2000 wedding gown you love, renting may be an option for you. Alterations are allowed on these wedding gowns so that you can have the wedding dress fit. If you are short on time, renting may be a good option for you as well.

Restoring a Family Heirloom:

If your mother or other special member of your family has kept a wedding gown in good condition and it will fit you, consider wearing it. Even if the wedding dress is in a style you don't want to wear, you can have alterations to change the size and shape of the wedding dress. This option can really save you a lot of money if your budget is tight.

Sample Sales:

Sample sales are where designers sell sample garments (made to model before department store buyers) directly to the public. New York's garment district is famous for these sales. The sample wedding gowns on sale are typically the current styles being sold in salons and department stores but are priced at or below wholesale prices. Because the prices of these garments are so low on current styles, you may need to do a little investigating to find out when and where one of these sales may be taking place. A few tips to remember: find out the forms of payment accepted because many sample sales prefer payment by cash, private dressing rooms are not usually available so be prepared to try on wedding dresses in the open, samples on sale are for the current season and some sample sales require appointment only entry so call ahead. A word of caution, remember that all sales are final and there is no recourse of action if you discover a problem after purchase. Be sure and inspect the garment closely for flaws or stains before purchasing them.

Vendor Trunk Shows:

Trunk shows are fun and informative events scheduled to showcase the latest styles and lines of a designer. They may take place at a bridal salon, department store or rented space for such a purpose. Because stores are limited in space and can not carry every piece of a designer's line, a trunk show offers you the opportunity to try on and view wedding dress styles that are not available on a daily basis. Many times the designer themselves or a representative will attend the show in order to speak with you directly about the designs. If you have chosen a wedding dress that you love, but would like to make some specific changes to the design such as shortening the sleeves or adding a different neckline, a trunk show may provide you with the opportunity to have those changes made to your particular wedding dress. The atmosphere at trunk shows are suppose to be festive and entertaining and might include food and wine. Several companies also have trunk shows showcasing bridesmaids fashions where you can have your entire wedding party attend and choose their dresses.

Wherever you purchase your wedding dress, be sure and choose a style that you feel comfortable in and will give you confidence when you are walking down the aisle.