To our brides this week, we’ll be talking about choosing your wedding dress. The truth is that whether you’ve been dreaming about the kind of wedding dress that you want from when you were 5 or you just remembered when talking about your upcoming wedding a few weeks ago, finding your dream wedding dress can be stressful. That why we took some time out to talk to Dimitra a bridal consultant on choosing your wedding dress.

MAY WE KNOW YOUR STORY DIMITRA?

Hi guys, I'm Dimitra, a bridal consultant. I initially never had plans of being a bridal consultant, it just kind of happened. I did always have friends asking about my clothes and the sweet deals I would find when I went shopping. I would go shopping with friends and they’d find a whole new wardrobe and say "you should be a private shopper".

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?

I needed a job when I came back from Florida with my husband, so when my cousin found me a place that was hiring and encouraged me to take the leap. I did so. I have a certificate as a legal assistant and I am also a licensed hairstylist. That's where my passion for the wedding world began. I worked for a salon that specialized in weddings. I would wake up at 3 a.m. every Saturday to go do hair for brides and bridesmaids. It was so interesting to me the joy I would see women have that early in the morning. I always wanted to be a part of or take part in that happiness.

When we would do the models for the bridal shows (which was always on my birthday weekend), I would see brides and grooms together walking in with smiles on their faces. They were creating that happy day together. And I was a part of it.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A BRIDAL CONSULTANT?

Being a consultant will never get old. The people you meet and the families you get to be a part of are endless. I have brides on my Instagram that I helped 5 years ago that I still follow, because I want to watch how beautiful life turned out for them. No matter where life takes them, they'll always remember me.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING DRESS?  WHAT IS INVOLVED?

When finding a dress, it's always about personality and how you want to feel. Not looks. The truth is, you’re going to look stunning no matter what. Putting the pressure of how amazing you need to look gets in the way of you finding a dress. Try to remember what you wanted to wear before you were even engaged. It's usually easy to remember because then there was no pressure. Many brides today tend to stick to one style. But I’d say trying on different styles is always a great idea because you never know. One style you may have never considered would probably end up being the dress.

I, for instance, never ended up with the right gown. Don't get me wrong I LOVED my dress. But after the wedding was over and the pressure was gone. I remembered how I felt like in one particular dress. It was something I never thought I would love but I did. And even though I ended up in something else I always picture that feeling of a connection with the dress. It will never go away. We don’t want that to happen to you. They always say that once you wear your dream dress, you will know. You will get that gut feeling, and probably will even shed a tear. Pay attention to that.

WHO SHOULD OUR BRIDES BRING TO THEIR BRIDAL FITTING?

This is an important part of your day as a bride, so I’d advise that you bring only important people. You see, everyone pictures a bride in different ways, but what should matter to you is what the important people with you say when they see you in your dress. You can bring the others to the first fitting. This way no one can discourage your decision. As for me, I don't listen for the positive comments because those are easy to come out. I listen to the small quiet ones that aren't meant to discourage but have a huge effect. For example, " oh I never pictured you in something like that, from what you showed me". That puts the thought in the bride's head that from what she showed that one person is what she should be trying on instead of what she's in.

HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'VE HELPED A BRIDE FIND THE PERFECT DRESS?

My favorite part about helping a bride find her dream dress is watching the magic unfold in front of your eyes. It's a moment, a feeling, and a chill that makes everyone stop and take a deep breath. Sometimes you can almost feel the world stop for a second. You see as a bridal consultant, I don't just find the dress, I do the work. I get to know the bride, who she is, what she does, her likes and dislikes. I ask about family and friends. I also ask about work. Yes, their job is very important to me. It’s always a comfortable conversation.

THANKS DIMITRA.  ANY LAST WORDS FOR US WHERE CHOOSING THE PERFECT GOWN IS CONCERNED?

The last thing I want to say is that you should make a plan when shopping. Get your stores done, find your dress, and make a decision. If you book 5 appointments and say to yourself "ok I want to try and find it within the first 3 stores", stick by that. I’m saying this because, after a while, everything looks the same. And it's ok if the experience is over. Have fun with it from the very first store.