One of the biggest stressors for me with beginning to plan our wedding was wedding dress shopping. I was absolutely dreading the entire thing. I was sure I wasn't going to find anything that fit me that was the style I wanted and I thought the whole experience would just be uncomfortable and upsetting. My first appointment was at Bateau Bridal Boutique and I have to say Tara, the owner, immediately put my fears to rest and gave me the best experience!
Yes to everything! Tara's collection is absolutely gorgeous and her space is totally my style.
Most places don't allow you to bring more than 4 people with you. That was the perfect number for me and I brought my mom, sister, and two of my bridesmaids. I knew they would all listen to my opinion, but tell me what really looked best.
After showing Tara my pin board she totally nailed what I was looking for. I browsed her collection with my mom first and then she pulled some dresses for me that were exactly what I was thinking. She also pulled a few dresses that were completely different than what I thought I wanted. It really helped me figure out exactly what I liked and what I was looking for in my dress.
A lot of the dresses were strapless, which is something I went in really not wanting. Tara showed me different options for adding straps or even lace coverups to add sleeves or a different style to the dress. 
The most important thing to me with dress shopping was having my mom there for my first time in a wedding dress. I'm lucky enough to have a killer Maid of Honor who took the time to fly up with me to Alaska so my mom could be there! I couldn't have done it without them both.
Those shoes! If I wasn't having an outdoor wedding...
My advice for trying on dresses:
1. Bring pictures. Having some images on hand helped me pick out the perfect samples to try. I also made sure to pick out some dresses I knew Tara had in stock, that way I wasn't looking for a style she didn't carry.
2. Think about your undergarments. I wore a style I knew I was comfortable in for my fitting to Bateau. Another place I went had me put on shape wear, which I understand for some strapless dresses, but knew I didn't want something so uncomfortable on my wedding day after that.
3. Keep an open mind! I didn't fall in love with a strapless style dress, but I have to say I loved some of those tops much more than I expected. I had also brought in my grandma's veil and was worried about it clashing with different laces. Tara suggested I leave it aside until the end, which helped me focus on finding a dress I really liked first.
"A few help tips for bride's are to keep their groups small at least for their first appointment. Having to many opinions can often confuse a bride and make them feel overwhelmed. Ideally it is a good idea to begin shopping for your wedding gown nine to twelve months in advance, as gown can take up to twenty-four weeks to order and you want it to arrive six to eight weeks before your wedding date. Just remember to relax and have fun as shopping for your wedding gown should not be stressful."- Tara Gondek, owner of Bateau Bridal Boutique
Phone: 907.272.4696
1083 W. 25th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503