THE dress.

Some describe a wedding dress as the most "important" or "special" dress that you'll ever wear in your life and for many brides-to-be, it's very difficult to find the right one. In many cases, the one you've fallen in love with isn't even an option because it's way over budget so it's helpful to keep the below in mind when shopping for one of the biggest days of your life.

You'll be glad in the long run!https://t.co/sfwBdfsK3j

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) June 13, 2016

If you've ever wondered exactly WHY wedding dresses are so ludicrously expensive in comparison to other standard gowns, one expert has broken down the exact reasons why. It all comes down to the fact that it's marked as "bridalwear" which basically means retailers can charge 3.9 times more for a dress that's in the wedding category, as opposed to a white dress that looks similar to bridalwear. The research, conducted by Edited and spotted on Business Insider, found that dresses described as 'bridesmaid' appropriate are up to 1.8 times more expensive than a standard dress that looks identical. That's definitely one way to put anyone off opting for the traditional route of looking for a dress. Speaking to American-based NPR, Anne Barge, a bridalwear designer with over 20 years experience who was worked for Badgley Mischka, explained that a wedding dress isn't "just a white dress". "It's the fabric, and it's the workmanship, and it's the lining, and it's the fit". Using one of her dresses as an example, Anne explained that the quality of the fabric and the inclusion of either embellishment or embroidery tends to make the price of a dress sky rocket. Of course, it's an emotive experience from start to finish.

The dress, the back, the details... ?... Italy @edwardsposa ?? #dreamcometrue #LizMartinez2016 #LizMartinez #fashion #style #wedding #bridal #fashionblogger #fashionista #beautifulbride #Summer #bestweddings #weddingideas #fashiondesigner #design #photoftheday #breathtaking #backless #weddingseason #dreamdress #dreamy #instastyle #bridetobe #weddinginspo #PFW16 #Fashionweek #blackandwhite #PFW #TransformationTuesday #Kardashian

A photo posted by Liz Martinez Bridal (@lizmartinezbridal) on Jun 22, 2016 at 1:05pm PDT

From shopping for your dress with your nearest and dearest to wearing it on the day, there's usually floods of tears involved with Anne reinforcing this opinion. "It's the dress of your life, and if there is ever one picture your [descendants] have of you it's the one in your wedding dress". Still, when it comes to dress shopping, it might be wise to shop with your head as opposed to your heart. Images via Instagram: Pronovias