"The Feeling" // How do I know I've found my wedding dress?

That long-awaited feeling as you step into the 5th gown of the day after thinking, "I'll never find the perfect wedding dress!"

Theresa Bridget Photography

Your heart begins to flutter, the dress sparkles like no sparkle you've ever seen before, you get a twinkle in your eye and you look like the most beautiful bride in the entire world.

Sorry to break it to you, but it doesn't happen like you see it in the movies. Yes, many girls get that "feeling" you always hear about but unfortunately for the rest of us, that "feeling" never comes.

Does that mean I should keep looking? Should I just give up and settle?

We all wish that a light bulb would go off in our brains or a twinkling star would appear telling us, "THIS IS THE DRESS!" But oftentimes, it's a bit harder than you think to make that decision. I mean, these are the photos you are going to look at for the rest of your life, this is the dress you will become a wife in, and this is the moment you've been waiting for since the dress up days!

So instead of relying on "the feeling," I've put together a list of other ways you may be able to tell that you've found your dress (or reasons you know it isn't THE DRESS), and you can then stop searching! No, you don't need to check off the entire list, but just one or two on there, and you can be sure that your search is done!

How do I know I've found (or haven't found) my wedding dress?

1. You hated the look of it in magazines and yet, you love it when it's on you.

2. You leave the bridal salon without a dress, but you just can't stop thinking about it.

3. Once it's ordered, there's no turning back aka no returns. If that thought scares you at all, then it's not the dress!

4. It flatters your current body.

Theresa Bridget Photography

5. You feel the prettiest you've ever felt...even if you aren't wearing makeup!

6. You just want to put it back on a second, third, and fourth time.

7. You WANT your friends and family to take photos of you in it!

8. You know that he will absolutely love it...because he is the one you're trying to impress!

9. You love it even though your friends and family hate it. Because YOU are what matters.

10. You can imagine yourself wearing it on your wedding day!

11. If there is any doubt in your mind, it is not the dress.

12. The tears flow as soon as you put it on...and that's called "the feeling."

If you've already found your dress, how did you know that is was "the one"?

Today on the Bridal Boutique: Wife Life Tee by Brand Ave

We are in love with this tee from Brand Ave! Wife Life is the perfect slogan for a newly engaged bride-to-be or even a newlywed. Brand Ave has many different wifey tee options and this adorable shirt comes in a variety of colors and styles! You can wear it with booties and jeans or with yoga pants and sneakers! The bride in your life will love this shirt, so head on over to Brand Ave and check it out!

Win this Tee

Head on over to our Instagram page for details on how you can win this tee!

And don't forget to subscribe to the blog (on the right sidebar) because you will not want to miss out on next week's featured item!

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If you have any comments, feedback, or even suggestions for products, please feel free to contact us at meredith@theoverwhelmedbride.com

All photos courtesy of Bleudog Fotography

Hair and Makeup: Swell Beauty Hair & Makeup Artistry

Tips for Saving On Your Honeymoon

While I had been planning weddings for about 4 years before I got married, one part of planning that I had no clue on was the honeymoon. I got married at the young age of 23 so before then, I really had never even planned a vacation. I mean, my husband and I had planned plenty of weekend getaways (well, I guess he planned most of them) and I had gone on big family vacations at least once a year for as long as I can remember but in that case, my parents were the ones doing all of the planning. I was just along for the ride!

And then it came time to plan our honeymoon. We really didn't want to spend a fortune since we had already spent plenty on the wedding, but of course, we wanted to have a nice, luxurious, and relaxing time!

At the end of the day, we decided on a cruise not only because they are inexpensive for what is included - the food, the multiple destinations, the hotel, the excursions - but because they were nice and simple to plan. Planning our entire honeymoon only took a couple of clicks which was the best!

Whether you decide on a cruise, a faraway destination with a 15-hour flight, or a destination close to home, you're going to be stuck with a bill that always seems like a fortune, since it is being stacked on top of a recent wedding bill.

While I am not an expert in this area by any means, I did learn a lot while researching destinations for my own honeymoon. So from bride to bride, here are my top tricks for savings money on your honeymoon:

1. Book in Advance

I know it may sound simple, but with so many wedding ideas swirling around your head at all time, the honeymoon is often put off until the last minute. So my advice to you is to book your venue first and book your honeymoon second, before any other wedding plans are taken care of. That way, you know that you will be getting the best deals for advance booking!

2. Search...and search some more

Talk to your friends, talk to your family, and see what they had to fork out for a similar vacation so you have some bearing on what you will realistically be spending. Then do your research! There are deals all over the internet so continue searching as much as possible. I know you may get excited and want to pull the trigger, but a little extra research isn't going to hurt. Well actually, it will pay off in the long run!

3. Save Wherever Possible

If there is a 5:00am flight that you would prefer not to wake up for, do it anyways if it means you're going to spend even $40 less. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it all adds up! And think about it, that $40 could mean a nicer dinner, or extra drinks, an extra souvenir or just altogether savings!

4. Look for Packages

Oftentimes, there are packages that allow you to get a discount for booking all at once - such as flight, rental car, and hotel. On our honeymoon, we purchased drinks in advance and although it seemed like a pretty penny at the time, we ended up spending far less than we would have if we bought outside the package!

5. Ignore the Packages

Tricked you! Although the easily-booked package may seem enticing because of it's ease, sometimes they actually end up being more! Is there a less expensive form of transportation that would do just fine if you booked it on it's own? Is there a spa day package that includes far more than you really want? Explore package options AND itemized options to make sure you are always getting the best deal!

6. Travel Off Season

You don't HAVE to leave for your honeymoon right from your wedding. There is definitely no rule! So check off-season prices and see how much you may be able to save before determining when you'd like to go. And remember, the "off season" differs depending on the destination you choose, so do your research!

7. Splurge

I know, this one really won't save you money but your honeymoon is a once in a lifetime experience so you don't want any regrets! If you do your research ahead of time and save all that you can while planning, you'll have a little extra left over for a nice dinner, some souvenirs, or an excursion you've always dreamed of. You never know when you will be there again and even then, it won't be your honeymoon. So enjoy every minute!