"You look beautiful!" said Christina Normile to her elder sister, Lisa. Lisa had just wriggled into a full-length, off-white silk Mikado dress with ruffles layered down the back, held up by one delicate button.

Joey McLeister, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune photos Marshall Field's bridal consultant Pat Pederson, left, and dress designer Romona Keveza, right, adjust the bottom of bride-to-be Lisa Normile's bridal gown. Click photo for larger image. Related article Tips from a gown designer Bridal gowns at a glance Every bride is special, and so is her gown, but here are the ways the numbers generally fall: The average wedding dress costs $887. Women try on an average of 12 dresses before they find "the one." Least expensive dress at the Marshall Field's salon: $1,000, although some brides opt for a white bridesmaid dress at $250-$350. Most expensive dress: $20,000+ for a custom design by Vera Wang. The average cost for a formal wedding is $26,327. The average engagement is 16 months. From the 2005 Fairchild Bridal Infobank

"Ooooh! Don't cry!" Christina said.

A few tears were unavoidable. That's what happens when girls gather in a dressing room at the Marshall Field's Bridal Salon -- as they have for more than 100 years-- for a ritual shopping experience. Surrounded by hundreds of ball gowns in tulle, silk, satin and faille, brides on the hunt appear to be swimming in whipped cream. They also get a bit closer to finding out what it will feel like to star in their own wedding.

On this particular Saturday, emotions ran even higher: Renowned bridal designer Romona Keveza was having a trunk show. Her designs were available to be tried on only by appointment, and this was a chance for the approximately 40 brides-to-be in attendance to put a face with the name on the label.

Keveza popped her head into Normile's room.

"You have such a gorgeous figure," she said, adjusting the dress as Normile stared into the mirror. "Now which one do you like better?"

"This one," responded Normile, 24, a medical student at the University of Minnesota.

This was Normile's first appointment. But her wedding date is July 15, so she knew she'd have to place an order soon.

Keveza, who has been designing dresses for more than five years, empathizes.

"Finding the right dress is like finding the right guy. It's the time to stop shopping."

In the dressing room next to Normile, Maplewood, Minn., resident Kelly Stokke, 23, was crowded in with her mom and her elder sister. This is Stokke's first dress appointment as well. But she has more time. Her wedding is planned for June 9, 2007. She first tried on a dress that Keveza didn't think we should see.

After a second try, the door opened and there was Stokke in a champagne-colored strapless dress, held together with the unromantic orange industrial clips standard for trying on sample sizes.

	Designer Romona Keveza with Kelly Stokke, who was trying on Keveza's gowns at the Romona Keveza Trunk Show in the Marshall Field's Bridal Salon. Click photo for larger image.

She liked the champagne dress, which surprised her.

"I didn't picture myself in a dress this color. I always thought it would be white."

Keveza's gowns are timeless, taking inspiration from classic fashion icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. Her dresses cost from $2,900 to $6,000, with most falling between $3,000 and $4,200.

"One of the best sellers is a dress I designed four years ago," she said. "What's more important is how the bride looks and feels. Even Princess Diana hated her dress! When a bride looks at the photo, she should still want to wear the same dress."

One of the trends she sees is increased options for brides.

"For years, we've been doing mainly strapless," she said. "Now we see a wide variety, different silhouettes. From halter to boatneck, brides have the option to be covered up."

"I've always wanted to feel like Cinderella and wear a big ball gown," Stokke said. Will her vision fit into her budget? "I'm allotted $1,000 (by her parents). If I go over that, I'll pay the rest myself, and I probably might go over it a little bit. It's my day, and I have to be in love with the dress."

Back in the empire-waist dress with ruffled back, Normile was curious if an embellishment could be added below the bustline. (It could.)

When Keveza came into the room, she looked inspired. "I can be so bold as to do your hair. Let us pamper you," she said. She poofed up Normile's hair and added a veil.

Accompanied by her entourage and Keveza, Normile walked down the hallway toward a three-way mirror.

"Hold your flowers at your hipbone, so you don't cover your dress," Keveza instructed.

At the mirror, she proclaimed: "You look like Audrey Hepburn now."

Designer Romona Keveza (center) walks down the stage of the Marshall Field's Bridal Fashion Show through a group of models wearing her bridal gowns. Click photo for larger image.

Normile took a deep breath. "I do. I do look like her."

More than 12 Romona Keveza gowns were sold as part of the trunk show, not including those that might go to brides who are still pondering their options (most don't decide until their second or third appointment).

After trying on five dresses, Stokke left without making a purchase. For now, she's busy with her new place and wedding plans but will keep her eye on her champagne favorite.

"The dress I had on was a vision," she said. "[Keveza] was so sweet and helpful. The honesty from her makes you respect the dresses more."

Normile and her entourage also left orderless. They went on to Neiman Marcus and another local bridal shop that day, and the next day made two more stops.

With the trunk show over, Normile tried on her top choice again, and a few others. After two days and about 50 dresses, she found It: a white silk-shantung gown by Watters & Watters (www.watters.com, style 5053b) for $1,200. The flowy "pick-ups" (tufts of fabric) at the bottom reminded her of one of the Romona Keveza gowns she loved. "It's more in the med-school budget," Normile explained.

"When I walked out of the room to show my mom and saw myself in the mirror, I realized that's what my fiance would see, and that's exactly what I wanted."