So the love of your life has
proposed to you, you are proudly wearing your gorgeous ring, have penciled in
the date and are busy thinking about all things wedding and just maybe
at the top of your list is wedding dresses! While finding your perfect dream
bridal gown is one of the most exciting, fun and important aspects of planning
your wedding with so many styles and beautiful dresses to choose from it can be
a bit daunting. Here are few things to consider that may help focus your search
and a few tips to make the process less stressful.
Establish Your
Budget
No matter what your budget is you
will be able to find a beautiful gown you just want to be realistic about what
that budget is before you start looking. There is a huge range in the prices of
gowns from several thousand and up for a couture gown to a couple hundred plus
for a wedding dress off the rack at JCrew or Nordstrom, for example. If you are
on a tight budget and want a couture gown you may find what you are looking for
in a consignment store or an online reseller site. Keep in mind that regardless
of where you find your dress you will want to have it fitted and potentially
altered to fit you perfectly as well as possibly have a bustle put in and
perhaps even steamed before the wedding day. Having a realistic budget will
insure that you go to the right bridal salons and that you don’t fall in love
with a dress that you can’t have.
Determine Your
Style
Your wedding dress should reflect
your style and personality as well as the wedding location. Whether you are
having a beach, barn or private estate wedding your dress should follow your
taste and be suited to the occasion. It might be helpful to keep a folder with
cut outs from magazines or web searches of your favorite dresses and between
your fashion sense and these you should be able to get a feel for your wedding
dress style. Don’t let yourself be talked into a dress because someone else
close to you loves it, you want to love it and be confident that it is the
right dress for you. At the same time, keep an open mind because you just may
not like a dress you thought you loved as much after trying it on or you may
end up enamored with a gown that you wouldn’t even have considered trying on at
all.
Wear the Dress
It
is a good idea to figure out what wedding dress silhouette looks best on you.
You want to find a dress that you feel good in, that fits you perfectly and
accentuates your most positive features. Here is a description of the main
silhouettes paired with various body shapes that look best in them.
A Line
This
silhouette forms an “A” shape with a fitted bodice extending to just below the
waistline that then gradually flares out while lightly skimming the hips. This
is the most common and universally figure-flattering silhouette because it can
make you look taller, add feminine curves, hide a heavier bottom half while
de-emphasizing a wide waistline. This can be great for a pear-shaped body and
can be especially flattering with a heavier fabric. If you are apple shaped
choose a dress that cinches in at that smallest point on the waist line and has
texture like ruching or lace on the bodice. A V-neck will slender the upper
body drawing the eyes vertically.
Ball Gown
Think
about your fairy tale princesses from when you where a little girl, like
Cinderella. This silhouette has a dramatic effect with a tight bodice offset by
a full skirt that poufs out before it angles down to the floor. This is the
most traditional and formal silhouette typically featuring a natural waistline
and can be a very figure flattering option for most body shapes.
Trumpet
Like
the outline of the instrument’s trumpet bell, this silhouette follows the
contours of your body just past the hips and then begins to flare at about mid
thigh. The Mermaid flares dramatically at or below the knee while the Fit and
Flare flares right below the hip. These silhouette options are great for a
petite or an hour glass figure or for the illusion of creating an hour glass
figure. Take advantage of a bridal belt or sash to highlight your natural waist
and to personalize your look.
Empire/Goddess
This
silhouette typically features a fitted bodice with a waistline that begins
directly below the busts and then either flows to the ground in a soft cascade
or angles out like the A Line silhouette. This can be a flattering option for
most figures as it elongates the frame while skimming over the lower body, this
can also be a very versatile style.
Sheath
The
sheath silhouette hugs the form of the body lightly without a waistline or
“skirt.” The form is typically simple with clean lines and lighter fabrics.
This is great for petite brides as well as tall and slim figures and can be a
versatile option as the details and styles of this silhouette vary greatly.
Additional Tips and Advice
•
Keep in mind that you need to allow enough time for shopping and ordering of
your wedding gown. Special order gowns can take months to receive.
Don’t
starve yourself before your wedding just to fit into your dress. Order your
dress in a comfortable size so that you won’t need to stress out about losing
weight. Understand that wedding dress sizes have their own vernacular, if you
are a size 8 you are probably a size 10 or even 12 in wedding size and each
designer varies.
•
Be sure to get your dress with enough time to get it altered. Even a custom
dress will need to be expertly tailored to fit you properly.
•
Try on enough dresses to make a proper choice. Try on choices even if you
aren’t sure about the style because often a dress looks better on you than it
does on the hanger.
•
Before you go to the bridal salon consider your options and make a list to give
to the consultant. This will narrow down your choices before you become
overwhelmed.
•
Don’t take too many people with you to the bridal salon. Too many opinions can
be confusing, especially at first. Make a short-list of bridal gowns and then
try them all on again before making your final decision.
•
Consider ease of wear, you want to be able to move comfortably in the dress, as
well as dance and sit with ease.
•
Consider a second wedding gown/cocktail dress for later in the evening that
while still bridal is more comfortable and fun.
Cheers,
Courtesy
of Party Riders Events
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