It is important that you start shopping for your wedding ensemble early on. This allows you to try out a number of options at your own leisure. Before picking your outfit, however, first, consider the venue of your wedding. This has a big impact on what kind of clothes and shoes you can wear. Once the location is picked (see our wedding travel guide for ideas), you can go ahead and start shopping for your dress. Factor in around six months for the dress you pick to arrive at the store and a couple of months for alterations. Shopping at least a year before the wedding day will give you enough time to get everything right.