One of the hardest tasks for any bride is finding the right dress. There are so many options: short sleeves or long, beaded or plain, white or off-white, detachable train or just plain full length.

Most women spend hours combing through all the bridal magazines they can get their hands on comparing styles and fabrics. But when it comes time to start visiting bridal shops and trying on gowns, many plus-sized brides find the selection in their local stores to be disappointing.

"Most shops only carry sizes up to 12 or 14, and a lot of brides-to-be are embarrassed to go in and look at dresses," says Chris Sconzo, owner of PlusSizeBridal.com, a Web site catering exclusively to the plus-sized bride. Juneau Brides, however, are blessed with bridal shops that routinely find flattering wedding gowns for brides in all sizes, and know the ropes and can give you pointers when it comes to celebrating your unique, feminine figure on your big day.

Dolores and Don Garcia, who own and run The Wedding Shoppe, remember providing a wedding dress for a size 30+ bride, and say they will find a dress that makes you look fabulous no matter how many digits your dress size has. Or how few And Debbie Garcia, manager of Weddings & Flowers Unlimited, says they, too, are used to providing full-figured gowns and finding the style and cut that you want..

Here are some tips from PlusSizeBridal.com on what to think about when you select your wedding gown:

• Set a budget right away. Decide how much you can afford to spend. This will help you avoid the wasted time and frustration of looking at gowns that are out of your price range.
• Allow plenty of time. It's a big decision, and you don't want to have to rush into anything. You also want to leave enough time for any needed alterations.
• Find your style. At first all of the options will be overwhelming. But if you narrow your search down to styles that look flattering on you, and emphasize your best attributes, you will find the right dress more easily.
• Look at the size charts. If you can't try the gown on, use the maker's size charts. All wedding gowns are sized differently according to the manufacturer. Most women think that if they wear a size 14 in ready-to-wear, they are a 14 in bridal. Not the case. In fact, bridal gowns are actually smaller. A size 14 in ready-to-wear usually is a size or two more in bridal attire. Using the size chart for the specific dress you are ordering is critical in saving time and money.
• Think of accessories. If you love the thin shoulder straps but are worried how they'll make your arms look, think of ways you can get around the problem rather than ruling your first choice out completely.