Did you know, you do not have to have a personality or style transplant just because you are getting married. Spend five minutes on Pinterest and you might think you do, but I promise, to be a bride do you not suddenly have to like wearing white, have an opinion on different types of lace or learn to walk in six inch heels.

Your most useful wedding outfit reference might be the thing you wore to the pub last Friday, the suit you save for a good night out, or the boots you’ve replaced three times because you can’t bear to be parted with them.

You already have preferences about shape, texture, colour and how much faff you’ll tolerate when getting dressed, so look to the clothes you wear every day. Sure, you might want to get a fancier version, but those preferences will really help you get started with you look for an outfit.

Before booking any appointments or opening another tab, spend some time with the wardrobe you’ve already got. There’s a good chance your starting point is hanging in it.

Find the outfits that feel most like you

Pull out the outfits you love wearing and feel your best in. Look for what they have in common. Perhaps you always wear something fitted on top with volume below. Maybe you like an oversized jacket, a visible waist, bare shoulders or trousers that skim the floor. You might wear black every day, mix prints or gravitate towards clothes with structure.

Get specific in your mind about what you like about them. Take photographs of those outfits and bring them to your appointments. They’ll help a stylist or designer understand your taste.

Follow your favourite proportions

Wedding shopping introduces a whole vocabulary of silhouettes – mermaid, A-line, Basque waist, sweetheart neckline – but your existing clothes can actually help you make sense of which you’ll probably like.

If you love wide-leg trousers and a cropped top, try a suit with a corset or structured bandeau. If you spend your life in fitted dresses, explore shapes that follow the body. If you like enormous sleeves, strong shoulders or layers of fabric, look at pieces with lots of layers and volume.

But don’t be afraid to try things beyond your usual choices. A wedding can be an excuse to experiment with your style too and you may be surprised at what you end up loving.

Shoes, jewellery and accessories

Shoes affect the whole outfit: your posture, the length of your trousers, the way a skirt falls and how you feel standing in front of other people.

If you live in chunky boots, try them with the dress. A chunky sole looks incredible with a long, white dress. Even the simplest gown or most traditional looking suit with the right footwear will make it feel like you. Bring your chosen shoes to fittings so hems can be adjusted around them. And give any new pair several outings before the wedding, no-one wants blisters on their wedding day!

The same goes for your jewellery and accessories. Try your usual jewellery with your wedding outfit before shopping for more. Mixed metals, several rings or a large necklace look great with a wedding outfit. Or you could take this opportunity to upgrade to something you’ve always had your eye on. That Vivienne Westwood chunky pearl necklace is already so your style… this is your excuse to finally get it!

Shop beyond the bridal rails

Bridal boutiques are awesome, but they’re not the only option. Use the shops, designers and second-hand searches you already enjoy as part of your wedding outfit hunt. Look at eveningwear, tailoring, vintage and your fave independent designers as well as bridal brands.

If you’re unsure where to begin, search for the actual garment you want, i.e. “ivory wide-leg suit”, “silver platform boots”, “taffeta full skirt”. Or use Google Image Reverse Search to upload an image of something you like, to see if there’s anything similar still for sale.

Try the whole thing on together

Once you have all your pieces, put on the complete outfit: underwear, socks, shoes, jewellery and any layers. Sit in it. Walk up stairs. Raise your arms. Have a dance around the room. Check whether the jacket pulls, the necklace catches or the shoes are too high and wobbly! Doing your do your hair and make-up will help you visualise how you will look and feel on the actual day too.

Your wardrobe has already given you plenty of evidence about what you love so use it. You’ve spent a long time developing your taste and style so it really is the best place to begin when deciding what you want to get married in.