Can't stop thinking about getting married!

Even though we're not yet engaged, I can't seem to stop thinking about planning a wedding.

On one hand, I'm so excited to have found the man of my dreams, my soulmate, that I feel that we will make it work perfectly regardless of how the wedding shakes out. It's only one day in a lifetime together, right? And surely, with a man like mine, it will have to turn out to be the most beautiful wedding ever.

And yet, I am also scared to death. There are so many little details to fuss over, from the date to the dress to the location. I know that Andrew and I will figure it out and be happy even if we have to elope to Vegas (what he'd prefer anyway), but I am scared of what my parents will think of every little thing.

We're thinking of a winter wedding, right before Christmas, but I don't want a Christmas themed wedding. My favorite color is blue, so I want my maid of honor in blue and I want snowflake accents to the decorations. At that time of year, the church will already have nice flowers and so forth, so that saves money and worry.

So I look at bridal gown websites, like David's Bridal, trying to decide what I'm really dreaming of. I wish I could find out more about what flatters my body and what's available out there. I'm afraid of the high-pressure sales that will go on at the store, so I don't want to go and try things on without actually being in a position to buy it. Nor would I feel comfortable going alone, nor asking a girlfriend to go with me.

What I'm looking for is something appropriate for winter, and for a very formal wedding. It's important to my mom to have my shoulders covered in church, and I like the idea of a long, beaded jacket that forms the train, and which can be removed for the reception. I want to feel like a princess, but I feel that I am too old for the full-on Enchanted-style ball gown. I'm not fat, but very curvy with very large breasts (naturally, thank you), so I'm thinking of a sweetheart neckline to both flatter them and play up their beauty. Also, a full skirt would help balance the fullness of my chest. I would furthermore love a full cathedral-length train.

I very much want a nice veil. It might be that I am offered my grandmother's veil, but it might not. If I choose it for myself, I want one with edging and also a blusher veil that can be put behind my head for the ceremony. Everything very traditional.