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Wedding Dresses
A bride may very well become overwhelmed by the vast array of choices that confront her. How do you choose a wedding dress out of so many options? Sleek, informal, sexy, classic-dresses of all types abound wedding stores. But don't panic, instead of looking aimlessly at dress after dress, there are many easy ways to narrow down the wedding dress that is right for you, and give you the perfect wedding you've always dreamed of.
Before discussing wedding dress styles, you must first consider your budget. Some brides use a rough estimate of 6-10% of their wedding budget to calculate how much money they should be spending on their dress. Visiting stores allows brides to try on different styles of wedding gowns before purchasing. This can be great to determine the style that looks best on you. On average, however, store prices are higher than many online retailers.
If budget is a concern, do not worry. Wedding dresses online are much cheaper than many stores and can easily save hundreds of dollars for the cost-conscious bride.
No matter what style you choose, you will have to decide upon dress specifics. Length, fabric, sleeve type (long, short, or sleeveless), and strap type (wide, thin, or strapless) are all important considerations for brides. Don't forget! Many wedding dresses run small so you may need a larger size than you normally wear. When buying online, make sure you check the measurement charts! Also, when you first try on your wedding gown, wear shoes that you think will be close to the height of the shoes you will wear at your wedding to attain a more proper fitting.
More tips to consider when choosing your dress:
- Determine how much you will spend on your wedding dress. Usually the more embellishments on the gown, the higher the price. Today's bride is choosing a dress with crystal or embroidery on the upper half of the dress and/or hem.
- Check dresses only in your price range. This will not only help you stick to your budget, but will avoid confusion from looking at dress after dress.
- Don't take too many people with you (1 or 2 at the most) when trying on dresses.
- You can look through bridal magazines, but they usually only have the more expensive gowns ($3000-10000), but you can get ideas about what styles you like. Take the pages of the ones you like with you if shopping at a bridal boutique. Most websites continually recommend looking at these magazines, but the truth is, many brides will never buy such an expensive gown.
- Many brides are currently choosing strapless wedding gowns for a more modern style.
- Special orders can take 3-6 months, so purchase your gown at least 6 months before your wedding date.
- Have your dress delivered at least 6 weeks before the wedding to have time to deal with any delivery problems and alterations that need to be done. This is especially important if the gown is being shipped from overseas.
- Pay with credit card to give you further protection if there are any problems with your gown.
- Choose what looks good on you and what you like, not what your bridesmaids or relatives like.
- White dresses can be many shades: eggshell, champagne, ivory, or ecru.
- Recently, bits of color are being added to personalize the gown, such as shiny crystals, beads, ribbons, and special hem trim. This dash of color can be used elsewhere in the wedding, such as the groom's tie, reception tableware, or favors.
Ball Gown Wedding Dresses
Elegant Ball Gown dresses are the dresses most people think of when they hear the words 'wedding dress.' This traditional style has a fitted bodice that transitions into a bell-shaped gown below the waist. It is important to note that brides can choose either a one piece ball gown or a ball gown with a separate bodice and skirt.
If you desire a traditional wedding but want a unique dress, there are many ways to customize your ball gown. For many traditional weddings, brides can choose a ball gown with long sleeves and a portrait neck to embody elegance. Alternatively, to give a traditional wedding some modern flavor, a bride can choose a spaghetti strap or strapless gown with the option of wearing opera length gloves.
Ball gown dresses also have a wide range of fabric choices available for brides to choose from, such as satin, which provides a very elegant, traditional visage. A bride may also choose to include elaborate beading or lace patterns to draw attention to either the upper or lower body. Many brides may also choose to create a traditional voluptuous wedding gown through the use of a petticoat or multiple layers of fabric.
Ball gown dresses are recommended for full-figured, pear-shaped, or thin and petite women alike.
Empire Wedding Dresses
The empire dress is a very unique and exquisite style. The waistline comes up to just below the chest and then falls sleekly down the body, creating a very elegant portrait. This style is very flexible and, depending on the fabric and decoration, can be used for both formal, traditional weddings as well as informal, modern weddings. Brides may choose long elegant sleeves for a formal or traditional wedding while opting for a sleeveless gown for an informal or summer wedding.
Most brides choose a light and airy fabric that is not constricted by weight to emphasize the sleek, breezy aspect of the dress. A silk overlay especially emphasizes this effect. Beading is not typically used as it will add to the weight of the dress, but lace provides an alternative material to decorate your dress.
Women who are petite will enjoy their appearance in an Empire dress.
A-Line and Princess Wedding Dresses
A combination of ball gown and empire dresses, A-line gowns are more bell-shaped than empire dresses, but more modern and sleek than typical ball gown dresses. They are often called Princess dresses because princess cuts are the most popular choice for A-Line dresses. Fabric flows vertically from the shoulders down to the feet, creating the 'A' shape from which the dress takes its name. This is a popular dress style because the design complements so many different body types. Plus, the length of the dress can be altered, from a long and flowing gown for more formal weddings to a knee-length dress for informal summer weddings.
Fabric choices depend upon the look you wish to obtain. A looser fitting, breezier look is obtained with light fabrics while a more structured look can be acquired with a heavy material that will not move as easily.
Women of all sizes and shapes can customize an A-Line dress to fit their individual needs. The flowing gown of the A-Line dress can both provide a thin woman with the illusion of curves, while providing a flattering effect for larger women.
Sheath and Column Wedding Dresses
Sheath dresses, also called column dresses, are very slim dresses that will hug your curves. This style is very modern and can result in an alluring look. Since this dress is very simple, brides customize the dress by altering the neckline and choosing different jewelry depending on their personal taste. Experimenting with different necklines produces dramatically different looks with what is otherwise the same wedding dress. As with the A-Line dress, you can vary the length of a Sheath wedding gown to cater to your individual style and the formality of your wedding. More classic or traditional looks are obtained with floor-length styles, while informal appearances can be obtained through shortening the length. Some brides even choose to add a bustle and train for a very formal, traditional wedding.
Many brides choose a soft, light fabric for this dress, such as silk or satin, to better accentuate their curves. Heavier fabrics, however, can also be used to create a structured figure.
Women with an hourglass figure or thin and petite women especially enjoy their appearance in a sheath dress.
Mermaid Wedding Dresses
A mermaid dress is even more form fitting than a sheath dress. No matter how a mermaid wedding gown is customized, this dress will look very enchanting. There are many different customizations with which brides can experiment without changing the overall expression of the dress. Sleeves can be full-length and paired with a high neckline to move toward a more traditional gown or brides can choose to go sleeveless.
As with Sheath wedding gowns, brides choose a light fabric such as georgette to accentuate your body while heavier fabrics such as brocade are used to create more a wedding dress with more structure.
Thin and petite women, both short and tall, especially enjoy this dress style as it accentuates the hourglass figure.
Plus Size Wedding Dresses
A number of designers now create wedding gowns specifically with the full figured woman in mind. No longer will you have to struggle to find plus size wedding gowns. Sydneys Closet has a wide selection, with all the plus size wedding dresses you could imagine.
If you are looking to buy a plus size wedding dress and are still browsing different styles, you may want to consider the following:
- Plus size wedding gowns with an A-Line cut will often look good no matter your body shape, especially if you have it altered to hide and accentuate certain parts of your body.
- Plus size wedding dresses with flowing Empire cuts can easily hide lower body features since the waistline of the dress is just below the bust. If you go this route, choose a flowing fabric rather than a heavier fabric that will reveal more of your features.
- Column and mermaid dresses are often not the best choice for a plus size wedding gown. They often hug curves and can show off some body features you would rather remain hidden.
- Ball gown dresses are somewhat of a mystery when it comes to plus size wedding dresses. Some can look beautiful and hide lower body features that you don't wish to show, while others may draw attention to your waist area (as this is where the large skirt begins). Thus, if you are looking for a plus size wedding dress with a ball gown cut, you may wish to try it on first to judge if it is truly what you are looking for.
Maternity Wedding Dresses
A number of designers now create wedding gowns specifically with mothers-to-be in mind. For our lucky customers located in the UK, Expectant Bride offers maternity wedding dresses with a beautiful online gallery.
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