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Every season there are literally thousands of wedding dresses available for the choosing by hundreds of designers and manufacturers. To some brides, this level of selection is like a dream come true, to others it is more of a nightmare.

Whichever category you fall in to, be warned that shopping for a dress amid all of the choices can lead to frustration and confusion. Steady yourself and stay calm rather than allowing yourself to become overwhelmed.

Instead of giving in to frustration, appreciate the options you have instead of letting them overwhelm and confuse you. The good news is wedding shoes that with all of the variety, there IS a dress out there that is perfect for you, AND within your budget. Enjoy the adventure of finding it. Its all part of the wedding planning experience and the process can really be a lot of fun if you approach it with the right attitude.

If you’re the type who likes to see it all and who wants to exhaust all of her options, then settle in and spend some time clicking through all of the designers, manufacturers and collections we’ve listed here, one by one.

If on the other hand, that level of selection overwhelms you, don’t feel that you have to see it all. Focus on looking at the collections or designers you know are within your price range, whose names you recognize, or whose designs you are already familiar with.

Regardless of your approach, keep a pen and paper close by. Make notes of the designers and style numbers you are interested in, then go back to narrow it down later.

Next, visit bridal boutiques in your area to see what they have available and start trying dresses on. Keep in mind that often what looks great on a model in a photo may not be so perfect for you when you try it on. When you are in the boutique, be open to trying styles you might not have originally considered.

As America prospered, brides marked the occasion of their wedding by bedecking themselves in the finest and most becoming dresses of their day. They were influenced by the styles of Europe and news of royal marriages. Although white had been worn for Roman weddings, all colors were used for early American wedding attire. Though other colors were occasionally seen, white settled into vogue as the preferred choice of color after the immensely popular Queen Victoria of England wed wedding-gloves in 1840 clad in white satin.

Since the Victorian era's hooped creations, the wedding dress has known countless variations on the style of the day. While some early dresses displayed a slight trail of fabric behind, the wedding dress with train came into vogue in the mid-1870s, as did the use of the flowing veil.

Elaborate fabrics, embroideries, laces, braids, and trimmings were used whenever possible. The laces Aloncon, Venice, Honitan, and Chantilly were commonplace for wedding trims. The evolution of styles included the tubular skirts of the 1870s, the corset waists of the 1880s, the leg-o-mutton sleeves of the 1890s, the bustles of the early 1900s, the ankle-length Gibson girl silhouette of the 1910s, and the short-skirted flapper look with accompanying long, full veil of the 1920s.

In the 1930s the wedding dress became tight homecoming dresses known as the wedding gown, as the term gown denoted a luxurious dress worn in Depression-era America. Over the years hemlines varied in the daily style of dress, but beginning in the 1930s, the majority of wedding dresses were designed floor length.