Celebrity bridal stylist reveals her three rules for choosing the PERFECT wedding dress, no matter your budget

Do you want to be sure that your wedding dress is absolutely perfect?

Famous bridal stylist Hope LaVinewho last dressed The Bachelor's Hannah Godwin — styling the reality star for her bachelorette party, welcome boat party, rehearsal dinner and in three wedding dresses — spills tips to ensure you find the dress of your dreams.

The Los Angeles-based expert offers personalized styling and works with brides to suit their budget and aesthetic. She does everything from sharing a Pinterest mood board to booking appointments and styling bachelorette party outfits.

Hope, who has more than 400,000 TikTok followers who love her bridal fashion tips, told FEMAIL how to ensure you pick the perfect wedding dress with no regrets.

The wedding influencer offers personalized styling and works with brides, taking their budget and aesthetic into account

Hope dressed The Bachelor star Hannah Godwin for her bachelorette party, welcome boat party, rehearsal dinner and in three wedding gowns

1. Research – but keep an open mind

The first step is knowing exactly what you want and starting the process early.

Hope tells her clients to “scroll through social media apps for wedding dress inspiration to see what catches their eye.”

Hope then recommends looking back to see what the overarching theme is. For example, if you have saved photos of all the lace dresses, look for bridal stores in your area that offer lace options in abundance.

Be sure to browse the websites of local bridal boutiques and Instagram, as Hope tells DailyMail.com you can “see what types of brides they cater to and what aesthetic they have.”

But even if you are confident that you know exactly what you want, you must be willing to trust the bridal stylists, who are true experts in their field. “What we think we like is often not the case,” Hope explains. “There has to be a pivot after you try on wedding dresses for the first time.”

“This is when you try different silhouettes, different fabrics, and different designers,” Hope advises.

“Have the bridal stylist at a store pull some wildcards for you based on what they think would look good on you,” says Hope.

“You have to remember that these dresses don't always have a floppy appeal, so if you know someone who has seen a dress on someone hundreds of times, they know when it's right for you.”

Hope promises: 'If you stay true to yourself from the start, you will be happier in the long run' when choosing the perfect wedding dress (stock image)

2. Stay true to your personal style

While it may be tempting to opt for something over-the-top, it's just as important to feel good.

'The brides who look back happiest on their big day are the ones who say they felt like themselves in their dress,' advises Hope. 'You want to find the dress that suits you, but then a wedding dress.'

“This really helps prevent post-purchase regrets,” Hope explains, especially as it can take up to six months for your dress to be ready, often leaving you questioning your choice.

Hope advises against all these questions because 'ohthinking and rationalizing can be your downfall.” Instead, focus on how the dress makes you feel. “If you feel emotionally connected to a dress or feel confident, beautiful and yourself,” that's a good contender.

The expert promises, “If you stay true to yourself from the start, you should be happier in the long run,” adding that brides she works with often say they feel like they're “cosplaying” as a bride while that is not the case. the right fit for them.

“If you feel like you're cosplaying in a dress, it's not the dress,” Hope warns.

If you fancy a funky dress, this can always work for an after-party dress.

“People come from a good place when they share their opinions, but most of the time it's a selfish opinion,” Hope explains of bridal entourages (stock image)

3. Make a day of it – and keep the pressure low

Make a day of your search by getting dressed up with your friends and planning a brunch to take the pressure off.

“If you put too much pressure on yourself, it won't be a pleasant search for your wedding dress,” says Hope.

And while it's important to bring an entourage, Hope advises against bringing too many guests because everyone has their own opinions, which can make things awkward.

“People come from a good place when they share their opinions, but most of the time it's self-interested,” Hope says.

'The person giving the opinion usually does not think about the bride, but about themselves in the dress and whether they like it.'