Finding Your Perfect Wedding Dress
by glamourbride on 05/11/09 at 11:37 am
The moment your soul mate slips that ring on your finger, Cupid will send an arrow of joy and excitement pulsing through your veins. Relish the excitement. Finally, you can live out your childhood dreams of being the bride who takes everyone’s breath away. And now that you’ve found your perfect man, the search can begin for your perfect wedding dress.
Where do I begin?
Every decent treasure needs a map. So draw up a plan to find your jewel. In every choice you make, be certain that everything reflects your personality. Be true to yourself, have fun and you WILL find the dress has your name written all over it.
Finding your style
Photo by 'on the Mantle Photography'
Entering a room lined with wall-to-wall wedding dresses can be overwhelming. Just breathe. Once your pulse has returned to normal, think about two things – What is your style? And what kind of wedding do you want?
Are you a dramatic, leading lady?
You need an exquisite ensemble that matches your lashings of confidence. Picture yourself in a glamorous 40’s Hollywood diva dress with feathers, fur and sequins twinkling out your allure. Choose shimmering, luxurious fabrics that can carry dramatic silhouettes.
Are you a romantic dreamer?
If you’ve always pictured yourself walking toward your prince charming in a dress that would make Cinderella’s eyes water, then tulle, layers of lace, Edwardian necklines and embellishments of beads and crystals will achieve the ultimate princess look.
Are you classic and elegant?
When choosing your dress think of clean lines and a design that’s as timeless as your traditions. Go for an understated look of polished and graceful elegance.
Are you modern and trendy?
It’s your big day so who says that you can’t be fashion forward? If you’re an unconventional trend setter then take your sass along to the dress fitting. Don’t be afraid to experiment with traditionally structured silhouettes and mix them up with your flair. Add colour, maybe some pattern and dare to be bold.
Are you an earthy, free spirit?
Your style is authentically yours and your look is a harmonious combination of cultures. Your wedding dress needs to be wispy and whimsical to match your carefree spirit. Avoid structure and leap into a pool of light colours, flowing fabrics and delicate detail.
Are you a go-with-the-flow soul?
If your ideal wedding location is the beach, steer clear of heavy fabrics and toward a slinky slip dress to match your sun-kissed tan. Choose cotton, linen, chiffon, crepe, georgette or light weight silk to achieve this relaxed outdoor look.
Once you’ve decided what style best portrays your personality, every bride must bear in mind that the dress needs to be complimentary to your shape and work with your overall theme. Whether you are buying and altering, hiring or having it made by a designer, remember that the fabric and construction is as important as the design. You don’t want an improperly fitted gown to steal your shine.
Bridal Budget
Now that you know what type of wedding dress you want, you need to decide how much you’re willing to spend on it. Although you can’t always put a price tag on quality, designer labels can sometimes stretch far beyond your means. Judge the dress, not the label, because you can always mimic a designer style on a smaller budget.
Ensure that you have enough time to shop around. Find out when bridal shops are having clearance or seasonal sales, you are bound to pick up a bargain. Don’t worry about feeling that sale dresses are cheap, you want people to say ‘look at that beautiful woman’ before they say ‘look at that beautiful dress’.
When making your purchase, take into consideration the cost of accessories, alterations, the veil and undergarments. Does your already costly wedding dress need all these extras just to get it right? If so, you may want to re-consider – or find someone who wouldn’t mind footing the bill, a mother-in-law perhaps?
Once you’ve decided on a dress don’t try on out-of-budget dresses “just for fun”, they will either break your budget or break your heart.
Dress fittings
Wedding Dress by 'Elizabeth Saunders'
Find out if the bridal boutique requires you to make an appointment for dress fittings. If so then set aside a time when you don’t have too many things on your plate. Take a friend with you who you trust to tell you what’s working and what needs to go back on the rail. Don’t take a whole committee with you; it’s easier to listen to your heart when it’s not overpowered by a crowd. Another thing to take along is a camera. You will be trying on many dresses and may not make an immediate decision. Having the image available will help you remember what you liked and what you didn’t.
Feel your best
Looking and feeling good during your dress fittings will ensure that each wedding dress gets a fair judgment. You don’t want ‘the’ dress to be outshone by a bad hair day.
Be careful about wearing makeup to your fitting. It could spoil the colour palette or worse, change the colour palette of the dress with your smudged mascara.
Don’t wear hanging jewelry either, it could snag on the fabric and you’ll end up being forced to leave with a dress meant for someone else.
Colour choices
Don’t be afraid of colour, it could help set the tone of your big day. A springtime affair or summer occasion could have either light floral hues or shocking neons – all depending on your bravery. Winter and autumn deserve more subdued tones. Although the season does not rule the colour palette, it could be a helpful guide.
Shoes that are the perfect accompaniment to your dress are important, so make sure they are available. Also ensure that the injection of colour you choose compliments your skin tone.
So Glamour Bride to be, congratulations and happy shopping for your wedding dress.
