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Wedding Tips - Wedding Gown Styles
Tip: Buying Your Wedding Dress
You probably won’t buy your gown on your first shopping trip, but if you find a dress that is "the one," tell the bridal boutique you will be back to purchase it. You should consider waiting 24 hours to think about the dress and to make sure you don't change your mind. Bring your best friend or maid of honor with you to find your gown. You might also want to include your mother because finding the perfect wedding gown can be one of the most special moments you will have while planning your wedding.
Tip: Choices For Finding Your Wedding Gown
The first place most brides go for wedding dress ideas is wedding magazines. Magazines can inspire you and give a sense of what is fashionable that season. If you find a dress in a magazine, take it to a wedding boutique to have it replicated. If you have your dress made, take a few things into consideration. A handmade dress can take anywhere from six months to a year to make, so plan early. You will get to choose the fabric and design, but you will also pay for that luxury.
If you decide to buy a dress off the rack, find a bridal salon that has many dress options. Remember that a dress you saw in a magazine or on someone else might look different on you. It's best to make an appointment at a bridal shop when you plan to try on dresses. This ensure you will get the best service.
Tip: Choosing Fabric And Lace For Your Wedding Gown
You've chosen the style of your gown, but have you considered the fabric being used? Wedding gown fabrics play a large part in the shape of the gown and how it will fit to your body. For less-structured gowns (i.e. flowy), charmeuse, chiffon, crepe, georgette, jersey, shantung and silk are great choices. For a more structured gown, satin, organza, taffeta and tulle are better choices. Each of these fabrics will feel different on your body, so touch each one and decide which feels best to you.
Lace is another way to make your dress unique. The most popular types of lace are alencon, chantilly and venice. Lace can dress up your gown and give it a romantic feel.
Tip: Choosing The Wedding Dress Neckline
When designing your wedding dress, you may have thought you've covered all your bases: design, fabric, accents. But what about the neckline? Talk to a dress designer about which neckline will suit you best. There are many styles to choose from including: bateau, halter, jewel, off-the-shoulder, portrait, sabrina, scoop, strapless, sweetheart and V-neck. Necklines can be a great way to accentuate a feature or minimize one. If you have a small chest, choose the bateau, the jewel or the sabrina. For women with bigger shoulders, the halter is a good choice. If you have a fuller chest, try the sweetheart or off-the-shoulder. The off-the-shoulder neckline is also good for women with pear-shaped bodies. A V-neck works best for a woman with a moderate-sized chest, while the portrait neckline works well for women with prominent collarbones and fuller arms. Of course, there is always the scoop neck -- the low curved sweep that extends to the shoulders -- which looks good on all body types.
Tip: Choosing Your Wedding Dress
Wedding trends come and go, but it's important not to choose your wedding dress based on fads. With so many wedding dress styles, how do you choose the perfect one?
First, consider the time of day your wedding is taking place. Evening weddings are usually dressier and a wedding dress that is backless, sleeveless or includes jewels might be fitting. If you are looking for a veil, remember that the long ones are typically used only for very formal weddings. Otherwise, choose a shorter and less royal veil.
When choosing your wedding dress, know how much you want to spend on the dress and veil from the beginning.
Tip: Finding The Perfect Wedding Gown
When it's time to shop for your wedding gown, be sure to have a realistic dollar amount in mind. You can typically bring a photo of a designer gown to a bridal shop and they will find it for you. Remember that designer gowns start around $2,000 and can often cost as much as $10,000. This price does not include the veil, shoes and any other accessories. A veil will usually cost anywhere from $100 to $500, while shoes range from $100 to $400. The miscellaneous items to consider are a purse, gloves and even lingerie underneath the wedding gown. If you have your eye on a designer gown, but your budget doesn't allow for it, there are plenty of designer "knock offs" to choose from.
If you are getting married in a church, find out if there is a particular dress code. For example, bare shoulders in a Catholic church are usually not acceptable.
Tip: High Fashion Wedding Gowns
If you want to achieve a high fashion look with your wedding gown, go with particular fabrics or accents. Chiffon, silk, brocade linen and satin are popular fabric choices for bridal gown designs. Accents such as bows, lace and silk flowers can add a touch of class. Endless rows of tiny buttons finish off a romantic theme on gowns with long trains or low-cut backs. Ball gowns with off-the-shoulder necklines create a princess effect. Sheer chiffon sleeves add a feminine touch, especially for those who want a more covered look. Looking for a low cut design? Dresses with V-necklines in front or in back are popular. A sheer pale green, pink or lavender floor-length tulle veils creates a dramatic flowing look.
Other options for high fashion dresses include the sexy, form-fitting satin gowns with beaded spaghetti straps. Strapless gowns are a favorite among brides, but be sure the bustline is fitted properly for comfort and style.
Tip: The Many Shades Of The White Wedding Gown
While most brides are busy deciding on the design of their dress, you also need to determine the color. These days, a "white" wedding dress means many things. There are many shades of white and choosing one should depend on your taste and skin tone. "Stark white” is the brightest white and best for brides with darker skin. Silk, diamond or natural white is a good choice for just about any skin tone. This shade is close to stark white, but is a bit more appealing to the eye. The ivory, eggshell or candlelight white has creamy yellow undertones. It's a good choice for most brides since it highlights many skin tones. Rum or champagne white has pink undertones and may not work with all skin tones. It's best to try this color on in different lighting. Another trick is to have your wedding photographer take photos in a variety of dress shades to better determine the right white for you.
Tip: Wedding Gown Style
There are so many wedding gown styles to choose from, but there are a handful that are most popular among brides.
- Ball Gown: a full skirt with a natural waistline and fitted bodice. Best for a tall, full-figured woman.
- Empire: a thin, flowing skirt with a waistline that is about one-inch above your natural waistline. This style works on a thin woman who is not curvy.
- Mermaid: a form-fitting sheath that flares below the knee and fits a woman who is slim and curvy.
- Princess: a flared skirt that creates an A-shape, with the top of the gown merging softly into the skirt. This is the best style for a woman who is pear-shaped with a short torso and hourglass figure. However, this style works well for any body shape.
Tip: Wedding Gown Trains
Most brides dream about the long train of their dress that creates a dramatic entrance and wows the audience, but there are other options. There are three very popular train lengths: sweep, chapel and cathedral. The sweep train barely touches the floor, while the chapel train can trail as far as four feet behind you. If you are in the market for a long train and want to feel like a princess, the cathedral train is your best choice. The cathedral train is sometimes called the monarch train and can trail as much as six to eight feet behind the bride. There is also the royal cathedral train, which can be as long as 10 feet.
Of course, there are shorter trains available, too. The Watteau train begins at your shoulders and fall so the hem of your dress. There are also trains that fall only as far as your fingers.
Tip: Your Wedding Gown Style
When you begin shopping for your wedding dress, there are a few things to consider.
Fabric: Ask your wedding photographer what will look best in pictures. Remember, heavier fabric is best for cooler weather. That means no velvet in May and no chiffon in the dead of winter.
Sleeves: It's ok to wear a sleeveless gown in the winter, but bring a wrap to keep you warm. If you want long sleeves in the summer, use a fabric that is light and breezy.
Dress Length: For an ultra-formal wedding, a long dress is a must. Otherwise, choose something that flatters. For a semi-formal wedding, tea-length or floor-length dresses are perfect.
More and more brides are bending the rules when it comes to wedding dresses, so don't feel as though you have to follow particular rules. Choose a dress you love and that you are comfortable in.
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