For those planning a summer wedding, finding the perfect dress for the "big day" can prove an exhausting and time-consuming task.

On my own recent jaunt through the local bridal stores, one exasperated owner told me of a bride-to-be who had tried on 147 gowns and was yet to find the "right" dress.

It sent a shiver down my spine, but a mere 32 gowns, eight veils and five tiaras later, I had finally found "the one". Perhaps the best advice I can offer to brides who want to get hitched without, well, a hitch, is to do plenty of research before hitting the stores.

Look through bridal magazines and wedding websites, attend bridal shows to familiarize yourself with the latest designer trends and keep pictures of the designs you like.

Ideally, start your search nine to six months before the wedding date, in order to allow time for the dress to be made and adjusted.

Also important to consider is budget the average wedding dress costs £800, but can cost well into the thousands and also what will look good on you. Concentrate on the real image of yourself, not some celebrity you think you might want to look like. The best place to start is with the familiar. Think about what colours and styles you normally go for, where the ceremony is taking place and the tone of the day whether it is traditional, avant garde or relaxed.

When thinking about colour, wedding dresses are traditionally white, but this does not suit all skin tones. If, like me, you are a little on the pasty side, err towards the warmer' or off-white hues of ivory, cream and oyster. This year's most fashionable brides are opting for dashes of colour around the skirt and bodice, or throughout, in lilacs, silvers, golds and pastels.

Beadwork is also in vogue this season and can transform a relatively plain gown into a stunning garment. However, if you are choosing a coloured dress, less is best and detailing should only appear around the bodice or hem, or bridal overkill will result.

Moving on to style, decide on the type of gown according to your figure. The traditional ball gown, or "meringue" in common parlance, combines a fitted bodice with a full skirt and generally suits a wide range of figures, as does the A-line style. Those who want something less figure-hugging and who are slim and small-busted, could choose an empire line style, where the skirt starts just below the bust. At the opposite end of the scale, those who want to show off their curves can opt for a mermaid style, which flares out at the bottom and is bias cut.

Lastly, the column design, which closely follows the body's curves, is for those brides who want to achieve a more modern, no-fuss look.

Don't miss the Bucks Free Press wedding shows this year: www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/weddings