Wedding dress shopping...

This weekend I'm heading to the wilds of the north with two of my closest friends, H and S, to spend an entire two days shopping for a wedding dress and, if possible, try and decide on some bridesmaid dresses too.
I did find the most beautiful dress last week at a shop in Manchester. It was nothing like the style I had in mind, but it fitted just beautifully and, although it sounds so cliche, I felt like a princess in it! And my sister is being a little smug about things, as she was the one who found it and suggested I try it on. Honestly, it was just stunning.
It was, however, more than a little bit expensive and way more than I wanted to spend, given the fact we're getting married abroad so I didn't see the point in spending too much on the dress.
Therefore, I've agreed with my lovely mother that we'd have a look at a few local shops around my hometown up north, just to see if there is anything else I fall in love with just as much - and that is cheaper! If not, mother has promised me that we can get the one from Manchester.
H is my chief bridesmaid and I have seven in total. It was originally going to be my sister, two cousins and Da Boy's cousin but then my mother informed me it was bad luck to have an even number of bridesmaids. So I was able to ask H, who I had wanted as one but was worried about having too many. Then, at our engagement party, my entire family fell in love with Da Boy's two littlest cousins, who are just the most wonderful kids. So I now have a total of seven! Whoops! So much for keeping things simple!
Oh well, I have the people I wanted most at my side when I get married, so that's all that matters really.
I have no doubt that dress-related updates will follow before long...