Wedding gown tips to have and to hold

In her 26 years in the bridal business, Yolanda Cellucci has outfitted brides in ivory, pink, even apple red. She has clients who bare their midriffs with two-piece gowns, those who wear sandals, those who want more beading and those who want dresses they can pass on to future generations.

''Nothing's wrong or right," says Cellucci, whose Waltham bridal emporium is called The Event Center at Yolanda's. ''It depends on what they want."

Brides can be a demanding lot, but Cellucci offers some simple guidelines to make the dress-buying process easier. Some brides still wait till the last minute: One walked into Cellucci's salon and said she was getting married that evening. Others have gotten a much earlier start, shopping for weddings scheduled for 2007.

A typical time frame when looking for a wedding dress, Cellucci says, is nine to 12 months before the wedding. Brides who order dresses with custom details like extra beading will want the time to avoid paying last-minute rush charges. And whether you choose a custom dress or something off the rack, you will need time for alterations.

Vera Wang may once have cornered the gown market, but Cellucci says popular designers right now include Badgley Mischka and Monique Lhuillier. Magazines and the Internet are good places to look for dress ideas.

Cellucci also recommends allowing the bridal store staff to make suggestions. A dress that looks good in a magazine may not look good on you. Conversely, you may think you can't wear a strapless gown until you try one on.

This Friday, Filene's Basement will host its frenetic, semiannual wedding gown sale, often referred to as the ''Running of the Brides." Cellucci gives many gowns to the sale, and calls it an opportunity to find a great bargain. Prices usually fall between $250 and $500.

''A girl can find the dress of her dreams there," Cellucci says, ''if she's lucky."

Setting a price range before you start looking for a gown is not a bad idea, but Cellucci says most brides end up going over budget. At her store, a popular range is $1,500 to $3,500. Cost is determined by the gown's construction: Silk, imported lace and hand-beading are more expensive, Cellucci says. The priciest gown she remembers selling was a $25,000 Bob Mackie with fur trim and a fur hood.

But she also recalls clients who have bought dresses for $800 and added simple veils. ''For $1,000, they look as beautiful as the girl who spent 15,", she says.

Alterations are likely to tack another few hundred dollars onto the price. Cellucci recommends having them done no earlier than a month before the wedding in case your body shape changes. Steven Saidman, who advises Filene's Basement customers on bridal dresses and fittings, said many dressmakers will ask for two or three months to finish alterations. You shouldn't be surprised to see bills approach $400, he says.

Cellucci -- whose own wedding gown cost $675, and was lacy and puffy with long sleeves -- began her bridal business with six gowns, and estimates she now sells as many as 40 a week. Although many brides fuss over place settings and caterers, Cellucci, cousin of former governor Paul Cellucci, believes the gown is what wedding guests remember most.

''It's all about the dress," she says.

Emily Shartin can be reached at eshartin@globe.com.