I think I'd be feeling the pressure if I were in your shoes. What if you went to a few bridal salons on your own to get a sense of what style it is that you look best in and then have your mother come along to show her a narrowed down selection? Depending on your dress it could take longer than 6 months or it could take less time. My dress took just over 5 months to come in leaving me with 3.5 months for alterations (or time to find an off-the-rack dress if I wasn't happy...but I am).