For many brides, bridal gown shopping is their favorite part of the wedding. They spend every Saturday for months visiting bridal shops with their entourage, trying on one fabulous gown after another. In fact, there are brides who love trying on gowns so much that they have a hard time committing to one and ending the fun. However, there are also those women who hate shopping and want to get in and get out with their dress as quickly as possible. This is your cheat sheet on how to pick the perfect wedding gown – fast!

If you hate shopping for clothes, then the mere thought of tackling wedding gown shopping is going to be enough to make you break out in hives. Spending countless hours sorting through a sea of white dresses and standing on a pedestal for all the world to see is probably not your idea of a good way to spend your afternoons. I have good news for you: it is possible to eliminate the multiple trips and long hours at the bridal salon; in fact, many a bride chooses her gown in the first shop, or sometimes even orders the very first gown she tries on. It is all a matter of having a targeted plan of attack before you hit the first bridal shop.

When you are trying to find your gown with as little wasted time as possible, the first thing to do is choose your entourage wisely. Do not, repeat, do not bring more than two people with you. For every additional friend or family member that comes to your appointment, your chance of walking out of there with a gown plummets. Wedding dress shopping is a case of "too many chefs spoil the soup". When you have five different women, each with her own opinion, it becomes impossible to make a decision. You will also end up spending a lot of time trying on gowns because your aunt or sister wants to see them on you, even though you know that they are not contenders to be "the one".

A much better approach is to bring just one or two trusted advisors, or even to shop alone. After you have ordered your gown, make an appointment to bring the whole gang back to see it and help you pick out all of your accessories, from your veil, to the tiara, to a pretty set of pearl bridal jewelry. They will still feel included, and you will be spared an immeasurable amount of hassle.

Be prepared before you set out. Make an appointment. Many bridal shops cannot accommodate walk-ins, and even if they can, you will find your task much easier if you have a professional on hand to help you sort through all the gowns. You will also find it easier to envision what each gown will look like if you are wearing the right sort of undergarments (there is nothing worse than trying on strapless gowns with bra straps showing). If you have your mother's antique veil or pearl bridal jewelry to wear on your wedding day, bring it with you so the consultant can help you find a gown that complements it. It also helps to have some idea of what styles of gowns appeal to you, or at the very least to know what you definitely do not want to try on.

Finally, when you are trying to choose your wedding gown with a minimum of fuss and effort, go into your appointment prepared to be decisive. I can't tell you how many brides I have seen fall in love with a gown but be unable to commit to it on the spot because they did not expect to find a gown so quickly. Remember that the point of your appointment at the bridal shop is not just to try on gowns to see what looks good, but to actually find your perfect gown. When you find a wedding dress that makes you look and feel amazing, have the confidence to stop shopping right then and there and to say, "yes, this is my dress!".