Do your research. Before you even begin to look
around, research gowns. You should always have a bit of knowledge
about dresses (and know some of the lingo) before you even set foot
into a bridal shop. There are also many bridal magazines that will
provide a ton of information, including Brides, Modern Bride, Bridal
Guide, WeddingBells, etc. All of these magazines have websites,
where you can find quick information without paying for the magazine.
Decide on a silhouette. Wedding dresses are made in several different
silhouettes. Before considering anything else, know which type of
gown will flatter your figure the best. Look at photos of each type.
You can browse wedding website message boards and member profiles
for photos of real women wearing gowns, rather than relying on professional
photos of models wearing them.
Ball gowns have very full skirts and generally will look beautiful
on any body type, unless the bride is very short and small. In this
case, it may be overwhelming to her small frame. Ball gowns generally
either have crinolines built in or a slip you must wear to support
the shape of the gown. Be advised that this extra fabric can be
heavy and bulky and will require extra care to wear.
A-lines usually have a fitted bodice with a skirt that flares
gently from the waist to form an "A" shape. They generally
work for everyone as well, and are a terrific choice for someone
who would like to hide lower body flaws, but does not want a ball
gown. A-lines are not as full as ball gowns.
Sheaths flatter women with slim, balanced figures. They shouldn't
be worn by brides who dislike their figures. This gown will not
hide any flaws. If you think your thighs or butt are too big, you'll
be miserable in this type of dress. Don't try to pull it off because
you found a gown you love in this style. You don't want to risk
being uncomfortable or self conscious on your wedding day, or regretting
your choice every time you look at wedding photos.
Empire waist gowns have a skirt that falls from just below the breasts.
Although usually listed with various waistline types and not always
considered a type of silhouette, they are a wonderful choice for
a casual, non-formal wedding, or weddings in a tropical climate.
They're usually made of light, flowing fabric. They're also excellent
for pregnant brides, because they provide extra room in the waist,
making them a comfortable choice. They also won't draw as much attention
to the belly as a dress with a lower waistline would.
A Cinderella-esque dress?Envision your wedding. Picture yourself
on your wedding day. What are you wearing? What silhouette is your
gown? What fabric? Is it embroidered or beaded? What color is it?
With so many choices for the dress, it can be overwhelming to look
through hundreds or thousands of them. Some brides have said that
after looking through racks and racks of dresses, they all begin
to look the same. So before you even set out to try them on, envision
your wedding day and how your dress looks, and jot down a list of
things that describe the dress of your daydreams. You don't have
to know all the wedding dress terms. Just write down a description
of the gown you're envisioning. Example list: "princessy, satin,
some shade of white but not pure white, spaghetti straps."
Consider the circumstances. A wide variety of factors can affect
what makes a particular dress appropriate to the occasion.
Formal ceremonies usually call for floor length gowns and long trains,
while informal ceremonies (especially destination weddings) are
a terrific place to wear a shorter gown without a train at all (or
a "sweep" train, which just barely brushes the floor).
Another example: in some cases, strapless gowns are considered inappropriate
for very formal ceremonies.
If you're getting married in the winter, you may not want to be
a very light, thin fabric unless you plan to be inside the entire
time. If you're having a beach wedding in the middle of July, you
may not want to wear a heavy fabric like duchess satin.
While the most traditional ceremonies will call for a white gown,
in many cases, wedding dresses don't have to be pure white anymore!
Many women choose dress colors that best complement their skin tones,
ranging from diamond white to ivory to champagne to actual colors
(pink, blue, red). Pick the color you feel most beautiful in.
Decide on a budget. When deciding on your budget, you don't need
to set a very specific price. Just make it a general range, such
as $1000 - $1500, or even $1000 - $2000. You can always break this
rule later if you're able to and really want to, but it helps to
have a general range. Some experts suggest devoting 10% of the overall
wedding budget to the bride's attire. Just be sure to remember that
"attire" includes not just the gown itself, but the other
stuff: veil, shoes, slip, jewelry, gloves, etc. All of these things
are optional, of course (except for the slip, which is usually necessary
to keep the dress from going between your legs when you walk). But
you'll have to factor in the price of whatever items you decide
to wear with your gown.
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