Wedding Dresses

Don’t underestimate the importance of being comfortable on your wedding day. Regardless of where you’re having the ceremony and reception, you’ll want to choose a wedding dress that makes you feel good. For example, the last thing you’ll want to do is spend all day shivering in your lightweight satin gown during a winter ceremony. If you start shopping early enough, you should be able to purchase or book a rental for an off-season dress at a discounted rate.

Spring

Depending on your location, you may still get some chilly days in the spring, so it’s best to use a mid-weight satin or cotton shell. If you tend to feel cold, it may still be best to buy a gown with full sleeves. That said, it’s also important to plan for the temperature of your ceremony location. If you’re planning an outdoor spring wedding, you’ll definitely want to plan for temperature variations with a shawl or wrap. On the other hand, if your spring ceremony will be performed indoors, you’ll have more flexibility in choosing your fabric and dress style.

Summer

Regardless of whether you’re planning an indoor or outdoor wedding, you’ll want to choose a gown that keeps you as cool as possible during a summer ceremony. Consider choosing a backless or strapless design made from a light fabric. If you have to have sleeves, consider using sheer fabrics or lace for this purpose. That said, if your reception is going to extend into the evening hours, you may want to have a small cape or shawl available in case you feel cold.

Fall

As with springtime weddings, it may be difficult to determine the best fabric and dress weight for a fall ceremony. Depending on where you live, you can probably still use a lightweight satin, lace overlays, and medium length sleeves. If you know that your region is cool by the time fall hits, consider a slightly heavier fabric or a dress with more coverage. It might also be helpful to ask about fabrics that won’t develop sweat stains in crucial areas. Alternatively, you may want to keep a small cape with you to cover these areas as needed.

Winter

If you’re planning to get married in the winter, you’ll need to consider how warm or cold the ceremony location will be. Invariably, if the room is crowded, it will feel warmer, so don’t go too heavy with your gown fabric selection. In addition, if you have a tendency to sweat when you’re nervous, it may still be to your benefit to choose a gown made from a lighter-weight material.

When you’re choosing a wedding dress, you may be so blinded by pretty decorations and gorgeous fabrics that you forget to consider your own comfort. The type of fabric you choose can have an enormous impact on how you look and feel throughout the day. For example, a dress that’s made of a lightweight fabric may leave you with goosebumps and mottled skin, while a dress that’s made from a heavier fabric may reveal sweat stains and red, flushed skin. Therefore, it’s crucial to take temperature and comfort into consideration when choosing your wedding dress.

Bookmark this post

BlinkList | Digg it | Yahoo MyWeb
or use the bookmark picker

In addition to selecting a gown that’s flattering to your body type, you may want to base your selection on the type of ceremony you’re planning. You’ll also want to take into consideration your social and religious background. That said, you may have some leeway depending on certain factors.

Eloping and justice of the peace weddings

If your family and friends aren’t going to be present at your wedding at all, you’ll have very few wedding dress constrains. For the most part, all you’ll need to consider is looking your best and being comfortable in your gown. If you want to wear a traditional full wedding dress or a short, slinky gown, it’s all up to you.

Similarly, if you’re getting married for the second time, you may not feel comfortable wearing white. For example, if you’re going on a second honeymoon or planning to renew your vows, you may simply want to wear your favorite dress. On the other hand, if you regret not wearing a traditional dress the first time around, you may want to do so now. You may even want to explore what it would feel like to dress like a bride from another culture.

Ethnic considerations

In some cultures, you’ll need two or three separate dresses for your wedding day. You’ll also find that the wedding ceremony and reception last for several days in some cultures. Therefore, if you’re getting married according to the unfamiliar customs of the groom, it will be helpful to do some research and ask your prospective in-laws about suitable gowns and other related attire.

Church weddings

If you’re going to be married in a Christian church, you may find that you have some restrictions in terms of gown style and color. It’s best to check with your ceremony minister to see if his or her particular denomination has any constraints regarding what you need to wear during the ceremony. Some churches require a white or off-white gown in order to receive the sacrament of communion or marriage. However, if this type of gown doesn’t match your personal style, you may be able to change into a more suitable dress later on for the reception.

Elaborate weddings

If you’re planning a large, elaborate wedding, you’ll probably want to match the tone of the event with an elaborate wedding dress. In this case, you may find it helpful to have a special dress designed for you. If you aren’t comfortable with all of the pomp and circumstance of these proceedings, try to keep in mind that the ceremony will only last for one day. Make your family happy, then after the wedding is over, you can put the dress away, donate it to charity, or sell it.

When you’re shopping for a wedding dress, it’s important to find one that you love and that will be suitable for the type of ceremony you’re planning. For example, if you’re going to be married in a cathedral-type setting, you may feel uncomfortable wearing a plain gown. While these choices may seem difficult to make, you can always ask family members and friends about what would be most suitable or consult a number of bridal magazines to help you along.

Bookmark this post

BlinkList | Digg it | Yahoo MyWeb
or use the bookmark picker

Even though you may dream of having a long flowing train on your wedding dress or of a slender, sheath style dress, it’s important to find a gown that’s flattering to the basic shape of your body. Chances are, you’ll look at hundreds of wedding gown pictures in bridal magazines before you start shopping. Study the different types of gowns available and the body shapes of the models that are wearing them to get a basic gown shape in mind. This will help you save time by eliminating less suitable designs from your search.

Height considerations

Long, slender dresses can make you look taller, while full ballroom-style gowns can help to balance out a taller figure. Regardless of your body shape, it’s important to choose a dress length that suits your height. For another example, if you’re very tall, you may want to have a gown with a longer train to help you look more proportionate. On the other hand, if you’re short, it may be best to have a short hemline in the front and shorter train in the back so that you aren’t overpowered by your dress.

An hourglass form

If you’re proud of your figure, you’ll want to show it off on your wedding day. You may want to choose a gown with bare shoulders and no back, as well as a dress form that hugs your waist. You may also want to use a lower neckline, and reduce the number of decorations and patterns on the dress fabric to emphasize your natural beauty.

Upper body concerns

Puffed sleeves and shoulder pads can help compensate for narrow shoulders, while a gown with a low waistline may help balance out a large bust. This will help make it look like you’re taller, and therefore, make your figure look more balanced. It may also be helpful to choose a wider or fuller skirt to make your hips look wider.

On the other hand, if you’d like to minimize the appearance of large arms or wide shoulders, consider a strapless dress with a halter-style top or a sweetheart neckline. While this may seem counterintuitive – after all, it seems like you’d want to cover up larger arms – tightly stretched sleeve fabrics only highlights the size of your arms.

Lower body concerns

For the most part, if your legs are short in comparison to your hip width, you can compensate by wearing high heels. That said, if your legs are also very heavy, it’s best to choose a full skirt rather than a narrow one. Using a wide sash at the waist may also help create an extra sense of height. If you want to draw attention upward, you can choose a neckline or sleeves that will help draw attention away from the skirt.

Wedding dresses come in all shapes and styles – if you do your research, you’ll find that one style of gown suits your needs better than others. Even if you already have a specific gown type in mind, you may decide to choose one that’s more suitable for your body shape. Choosing the dress type that’s most flattering to your body can also help you save some money. If you plan ahead, you can watch for sales and other discounts based on dress type. Regardless of whether you’re planning to rent or buy a wedding dress, you can also save time and travel expenses by calling to ask if they have a specific type of dress in stock.

Bookmark this post

BlinkList | Digg it | Yahoo MyWeb
or use the bookmark picker