Gowns & Veils Tips

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Shopping Wedding Gowns

Try bringing along pictures of wedding gowns you like to show the bridal consultants and then ask their advice. Your bridesmaids can go with you on various exploratory trips to the bridal stores and to watch you try on the dresses. Ask your mother or maid of honor to take notes on everything you try on. You may also want to bring along a digital camera to take pictures of you in the dresses so that you can go back over the photos and your notes later.

   
Are there rules to follow with regard to the dress on the wedding day?

Protecting the Bridal Dress on the Big Day

You've been planning for the big day since your soon-to-be husband popped the question. You've booked your venue, you've picked out your bridal dress, you've selected a menu and you've gone over budgets and more. It's important to remember that a lot of time and care went into planning the wedding, so you want to follow a simple prescription to take care of the bridal dress, especially before the ceremony and reception. These tips apply to your bridesmaids and anyone else who is going to be coming in contact with you while you are wearing the dress before it's time to walk down the aisle.

Protect the bridal dress on the big day by:

  • Eliminate any stain causing foods or drinks from areas where the bride and bridesmaids are getting ready and dressed for the wedding. A few drips of coffee can discolor a gown.
  • Discuss with your florist whether or not your flowers can stain your bridal dress. There are many things your florist may be able to do, including the arrangement and setting of your bouquet; if the flowers have an area that is likely to stain the bridal dress.
  • Be sure that there is an ironing board and spray bottle with some water close by to help with any small wrinkles.
  • Transport the bridal dresses in garment bags, especially if you are carrying it on the day of the wedding to another location.
  • Use stain-free deodorant and antiperspirant before getting dressed.
  • Donning the dress is the last part of your preparations; your make up and hair should be completely done before you put the bridal dress on.
  • Be sure to walk with the skirt lifted as necessary to keep the bottom of the dress from scraping the ground prior to the ceremony
  • Beware all stain dangers when climbing into and out of a car and be sure the seats are clean and dry with no oil or other cleaners that you might have to sit in
  • Avoid areas where birds may have defecated during an outdoor wedding
  • Don't lean on anything or sit on anything, if you can avoid it, until after the ceremony.

   

Shape & Style: Choosing Your Bridal Jewelry

Bridal jewelry should accompany the overall wedding attire, and not overwhelm your look. Keep your hairstyle and dress style in consideration when picking out bridal jewelry. For example, if your hair is long and down, you will likely want to go with small stud earrings. If your hair is up and pulled away from your face, longer earrings are a good choice. If your face is square, avoid wide earrings, whereas if you have a narrow, angular face, wider earrings are a good addition.

   
How do you choose bridal bouquets?

Bridal Bouquet Tips

When you are selecting the flowers for your bridal bouquets, it's important to explore your floral arrangement options. There is no hard and fast rule that says your bridal bouquets must be made of fresh flowers. However, you do need to be prepared for the elevated cost of that might incur. So here are some tips for choosing your bridal bouquets:

  • Select Flowers in Season
  • Check out Silk Flowers
  • Check flowers that will hold up throughout the day
  • Don't Let Yourself Be Overwhelmed by the Bouquet itself
  • Talk to and Show the Florist What you Like
  • Discover the Flowers that Have the Special Meaning
Flowers Have Meaning Remember that flowers also have meaning. If you enjoy the deeper meaning behind flowers, then explore floral meaning in creating your bridal bouquets. Some flowers that have meaning include the following:

  • Ivy means fidelity, friendship and marriage
  • Violets means modesty and hope
  • Zinnias mean thoughts of absent friends
  • Jasmine is for happiness
  • Tulips mean enchantment.
If you decide to place a special order with your florist, be sure to give them a few weeks notice especially if the flowers have to be flown in from another location. Talk to your florist about your options and ideas for your bridal bouquets.

   
What should I keep in mind when selecting bridesmaid jewelry?

Choosing Bridesmaid Jewelry

Selecting bridal jewelry is a part of wedding planning that is rarely talked about or shown. The jewelry is considered an accessory to the bridal clothes. Some brides may feel a bit overwhelmed at all of the little details that make up choosing their bridal gear, and picking out bridesmaid jewelry can increase that anxiety. Bridal jewelry may seem like a complicated series of decisions, but you can simplify the process by kepping the following thoughts in mind:

  • Bridesmaid jewelry can actually double as your bridesmaid gifts, especially if you are choosing a specific style of necklace and earrings. You can present the jewelry in gift boxes and ask that they wear it when getting ready for the wedding.
  • Always check about skin allergies to different metals.
  • Remember the rules of accenting the style of dress, shape of face and hairstyle when picking out their jewelry.
  • If you plan for your bridesmaids to wear hair accessories such as combs, ribbons or headpieces, then the earrings need to coordinate with the hair accessories.
  • Keep the bridal jewelry for your bridesmaids simple, they should complement the bridesmaids wearing them, but not outshine you as the bride.
  • Keep in mind the size of the bridesmaid. Taller and larger women will need larger necklaces; this is very easy to plan for as most necklace extenders will allow you to create the same effect no matter the size of the original necklace.
  • Don't worry about going for real stones. Colored crystals and rhinestones look spectacular, especially if your bridesmaids are wearing very colorful dresses.
  • The jewelry for the maid of honor may be more elaborate than that of the bridesmaids and more in line with what the bride is wearing.
  • If you are choosing bridal jewelry for your flower girl, look for something floral in design. It's perfectly all right for a younger child to wear something completely different from the bridesmaids
  • Consider an adjustable necklace and a headpiece made of flowers for the flower girl, this will allow her to keep the necklace as a bridal gift and wear it for more years to come

   
How do you shop for the wedding gown?

Shopping Wedding Gowns

Planning to get married? Have you started shopping for your wedding gown? Shopping for wedding gowns is not an activity that you put off to the last minute. For the bride who wants to custom order her dress, most designers take 12 to 24 weeks to fill a special order. The minimum time before your wedding that you should begin shopping for your wedding gowns is 6 to 9 months ahead of time.

When shopping for wedding gowns, if you feel completely out of your depth – find a bridal consultant at a wedding dress shop and put them to work for you. Pick up copies of bridal magazines and flip through them. Look for ideas that you like and ideas that you don't. Your wedding gowns may look nothing like what is in those magazines, but by going through them and cutting out pictures, you may very well discover what you don't want - and that's a great place to start.

Don't be surprised if you don't find the wedding gown you like on the
first trip. Once you know what your wedding dress is going to be it
will be time to start looking into bridesmaid dresses; once again –
take your time and remember, this is your day. If you decide to special order the wedding gowns, be prepared to put down a significant deposit to begin the process. It's also worth mentioning that special orders are generally non-refundable or returnable so be sure that it's the dress you want when you make your order.

   
How do you pick out your bridal jewelry?

Shape & Style: Choosing Your Bridal Jewelry

When it comes to selecting your bridal jewelry, the type of hairstyle you will be wearing, whether or not you will be wearing a veil and even the shape of your face will play a large role. If you are wearing a headpiece such as tiara or crown, then your earrings and necklace should coordinate with those pieces. For example, a pearl necklace and earrings will complement a pearl headpiece.

When it comes to choosing the necklace, you want to pay attention to style of the gown and its neckline. A high neckline won't require any type of necklace. A V-neck will enjoy a drop necklace. Off the shoulders will be complemented by a choker or smaller necklace that enhances the shape of the neck. The more elaborate your gown, the more elaborate the jewelry should be to accent it. If your dress is simple
with few accents, complement it with simple jewelry.

The color of your wedding will also play a part in the selection of the bridal jewelry. White wedding dresses look great with pearls. Off white dresses look better with white or yellow gold. When choosing your bridesmaids' bridal jewelry, it is important that it is complimentary to what the bride is wearing, but in simpler format. For example, if the bride is wearing a choker of pearls, then bridesmaids may also wear pearls, but perhaps only two strands instead of three. Also, if the bridesmaids are all wearing identical dresses, be sure to put them in identical jewelry. If they are wearing different styles of dresses and different colors, you can mix and match their bridal jewelry as well.

   
What makes up romantic bridal bouquets?

Stop and Smell the Roses

Bridal bouquets are as much a part of the wedding ceremony as the bridal dress. Planning for the bridal bouquet is a unique part of your wedding planning and requires time and commitment. No matter where you decide to host your wedding - whether it's on a beach, in a Church, or standing on the deck of a cruise ship - it's important to plan and select the flowers that will make up the bridal bouquets.

Bridal bouquets can have meaning. They can have depth of emotion. They can be very romantic and they can be sentimental. The florist and the bride should work together to create a bouquet that features the bride's likes and wedding theme, but also works well in pictures and can be put together nicely in a bouquet. Listen to the advice, read up on the ideas and then choose for the bouquets what speaks to your heart.

   
Do I really need a professional florist?

Great Flowers, Great Design

If you aren't sure about putting together the bridal bouquets, then hiring a professional florist may do more than provide you with beautiful flower arrangements. A good floral designer can help you create some amazing bridal bouquets, while at the same time incorporating your wishes into them.

A professional florist can take your very ordinary spray of flowers and create something extraordinary. They can also give you good advice on whether or not the flowers you want in your bridal bouquet are going to stain, or if they will hold up during the course of the wedding. The last thing you want is for your bridal bouquets to be wilting while still taking pictures.

Talk to your friends and your family about the florists they have used in the past. If you have a wedding planner handling the details of your wedding, he or she should be able to provide you with a list of recommended florists and even help you discuss what you want with the florist. If you are shopping florists on your own, visit a few and then to narrow down your selection by asking them to put together flower arrangements for you.

When you decide on the florist you want to use, you'll want to provide that florist with as much information as possible including floral preferences, colors chosen for the wedding, where the wedding is going to take place, any wedding themes and the style of dress that you will be wearing. The bridal bouquets are important elements of the wedding and a professional florist can make that happen.

   
Should I wear gloves with my dress?

Unique Wedding Dress Ideas: Love Gloves?

Choosing your wedding dress is one step, but deciding on the accents to your wedding dress is the next. Wearing gloves is an option for many brides and gloves can certainly add to the romance of the bride's appearance. There are many different glove styles out there to choose from. The style of gloves should complement your wedding dress, but they should also flatter the bride.

When choosing your gloves for your wedding dress there is four basic glove lengths and styles to choose from:

  • Opera Gloves: Long and climb up the length of the arm. These are wonderful accents to the sleeveless wedding dress.
  • Elbow Gloves: Similiar to Opera Gloves, only the gloves only extend to elbow. The elbow glove offers another fairytale accent to a wedding dress with sleeves and off the shoulder wedding dresses.
  • Classic Gloves: Come up along the forearm, but do not quite cover the elbow. This is a
    more traditional glove length and works well with most wedding dress
    types.
  • Short Gloves: The short glove is a very slight glove that just comes up over the bride's hand. They are extremely feminine.

Choosing a glove as an accessory to your wedding dress is an elegant addition, but it's one that should be made with care. The gloves should also allow for slipping on the wedding ring to the ring finger. The shorter gloves are easier to remove during the wedding reception for eating. It's also worth mentioning that the elegance of gloves are usually reserved for formal weddings

   
What should I consider when shopping for a wedding gown?

Pay with Plastic

Always pay for your wedding gown with a credit card. If something goes wrong with your dress order or with the bridal salon, you'll have recourse via the credit card company.

   
How can I save money on a wedding gown?

Discount Gowns

If you want to save big bucks on your wedding dress, try calling local bridal shops in your area and asking if they have any clearance dresses. Often they'll be clearing out past season's dresses, demos or gowns with tiny mistakes and selling them for low prices.

   
What should I consider when shopping for a wedding gown?

Keep an Open Mind

When shopping for your wedding gown, even if you have an idea of what you want, be sure to keep an open mind. The styles that you like in photos may not look good on you. Many brides later say that the dress they ended up choosing was one that they never would have thought to try on!

   
Where should I dress for my wedding?

Dress at Your Venue

Take the weather into account before disaster strikes! If you are planning a winter wedding, make arrangements to dress at the church or venue to avoid slush and salt stains on your gown. Enlist the ushers to shovel the entry way prior to the guests' arrival.

   

Stop and Smell the Roses

When designing your bridal bouquets, consider the flowers that are the most important to you and then consider the look and feel of your wedding. Talk to your florist about your favorite flowers, and let the florist make recommendations on how to use those flowers in a bouquet that fits your wedding scene. Romantic bridal bouquets are those that mix color, scent and appearance in combination to accent the bride.

   
What should I consider when buying a wedding gown?

Dancing in Your Dress

If you're going to be doing a lot of dancing or moving around at your reception (which you probably will), you might want to consider getting a detatchable train or one that will bustle.

   
When do I put on my wedding gown?

The Gown Goes On Last

When you are getting ready on your wedding day, put your dress on at the very end, after you've done your hair and your makeup and had a bite to eat. You don't want to risk getting any food or makeup on your gown.

   
What can I do to choose a good dress for my bridesmaids?

Boutique Field Trip

When selecting bridesmaids' gowns, get your choices narrowed down to six or seven dresses and have the store(s) write down the style numbers. Gather your bridesmaids together (maybe after a luncheon) and have them try on the various dresses so you can get a better idea how each dress looks on each maid.

   
How can I make my own veil?

Do-It-Yourself Veils

If you're a crafty sort of gal (or have a friend who's good with artsy things), you might consider making your own veil. You can buy a wedding veil kit, usually for less than 30 dollars, from most crafts stores. These veils are very easy to assemble, requiring a glue gun and other basic tools.

   
What should I consider when buying a wedding gown?

Dress Documentation

When you order your wedding gown be sure to get a copy of the order form, complete with the following information:

-style number and manufacturer
-your measurements and the corresponding size for that manufacturer (they differ amongst companies)
-color
-any other special instructions

   
How should I prepare for shopping for my bridal gown?

When to Shop

When you're planning shopping trips to look for a wedding dress, consider going during a weekday rather than on a Saturday, especially if you're going to a large discount store. Often you'll have to wait several hours on the weekends and you may not receive as much attention as you would during the week.

   
What should I consider when shopping for a wedding gown?

Crazy Cancellations

Be sure to ask the store where you order your gown who they'll communicate with on matters concerning your order. Even if someone else is paying for the dress, you should have the final say in any decisions. One bride had to put this policy to the test when her mom tried to call and cancel the order without her daughter knowing it!

   
How can i sew a dress on the sewing machine and make a nice dress? Could you give me step by step to start and do a dress?

Make Your Own Wedding Dress

If you want to make your own wedding dress, the first thing that you'll want to do is buy a pattern. Simplicity has many patterns in their “It's Sew Easy” line that are great for beginners. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, even if you've never sewn before. On the back of the pattern, you'll find a list of all of the things you need to buy to make your own wedding dress, including how much fabric, a zipper, buttons, and anything else you may need for that particular dress. It's a good idea to make a sample of the dress in a simple fabric to make sure that you get the fit right.
That said, it can be quite costly and time consuming to make your own wedding dress. Wedding dress fabric is often expensive and may actually cost more than buying a pre-made dress. It also can take many hours of time that might be better spent with other wedding preparations. If you are new to sewing, it's probably a better idea to get your dress from a discount retailer, such as David's Bridal, or even Ebay.

   
How should I prepare for bustling my gown?

The Bustle Hustle

Bustling a wedding gown is a science: there are rules to follow and they have to be followed carefully in order for your dress to be bustled correctly. You can make sure this happens by bringing two people to your final fitting for your wedding gown (your maid of honor, your mother or a bridesmaid) so they can get instructions and practice how to bustle your gown.

   
What should I consider when choosing a veil?

Blusher Business

If you're going to wear a blusher veil over your face during your wedding ceremony, be sure that it's long enough to flip back over your head for the 'kiss the bride' moment.

   
How should I prepare for shopping for my bridal gown?

Strapless is the Way to Go

When shopping for your gown (or bridesmaids' dresses), consider wearing a strapless bra. You'll get a better idea of what the dresses look like if you don't have to worry about covering up your straps or baring it all in a communal dressing room.

   
What should I keep in mind about my veil?

Velcro for Your Veil

If you want to take off your veil after the ceremony, make sure you attach it to your headpiece with Velcro for easy removal.

   
What should I consider when choosing a veil?

View From the Back

If you want the back of your dress to show, you might want to consider wearing a shorter veil or a veil with just one very sheer layer.

   
How should I prepare for shopping for my bridal gown?

Shopping for The Dress

When you go shopping for your wedding gown, take along photos and pictures of dresses that you like, from books, magazines, catalogs and the internet. The salespeople will be better able to help you if you have at least a general direction in which to go.

   
What should I consider when choosing a veil?

Poufy Veils

Want to wear a veil but afraid of having a poufy lampshade look? Try a veil with an edging, such as pencil-rolled ribbon. It adds a touch of definition to the veil and also weighs it down so it's not flying all over the place.

   
What should I think of when choosing dresses?

Baring It?

If the bride's gown or bridesmaid's gowns show any part of the shoulders, you'll want to check with the church to see if there are any guidelines against baring shoulders.

   
What should I consider when shopping for a wedding gown?

Accentuate the Positive

Is there part of your dress that you'd rather not accentuate? Keep the trimmings and decorations on that part of the dress to a minimum. Want to keep the focus off of your waist? Do away with the beads and sequins. Don't want everyone looking at your rear? Get rid of that big bow.

   
What kind of veil should I wear?

Various Veils

If you're wearing a very ornate dress with lots of beads and lace, then pair it with a relatively simple veil---you don't want the two competing for attention.

   
What should I consider when shopping for a wedding gown?

Warm Weather Gowns

If you're getting married outside in warm weather, or inside a church without air conditioning, don't forget to take the fabric and style of your dress into consideration. You want to be comfortable, and some fabrics/styles can be too hot. Stick with strapless, strappy, sleeveless or short sleeved gowns, and stay away from heavy material such as velvet or brocade.

   
What should I consider when shopping for a wedding gown?

Antique Dress Shopping

My wedding budget was very tight. The bridal stores were all far too expensive, and I didn't have the experience needed to sew my wedding dress, so I checked out some antique stores. I found a beautiful 1940's gown in pristine condition. It needed a small amount of alteration, but the gown and the veil which accompanied it were far less expensive than I could have found anywhere else.

   
Do I have to wear white at my wedding?

Not Wearing White

What color a bride wears is not important, the fact that she's getting married is. As long as she likes what she's wearing and it isn't inappropriate in the 'flashy' sense (cut too low, etc.), then her dress is fine. Plenty of brides get married in colors other than white; many bridal gowns come in shades of pink, blue, green, yellow and just about every other color of the rainbow.

   
What is traditional attire for a formal wedding?

Formal Weddings

For a formal wedding, the bride traditionally wears a full-length gown and the groom and groomsmen wear tuxedos. The bridesmaids' dresses should complement the bride's gown.

   
What type of gown should I buy?

Winter Wedding Gowns

To outfit your self for a winter wedding, consider fur trim, long sleeves, and heavier fabrics like brocade or velvet. A cape, cloak or velvet, silk or satin jacket with fur detail can also be a practical addition.

   

And the bride wore...a Jumpsuit???

Yes, you did read that title correctly. According to the editor-in-chief of Brides magazine, one of the most highly anticipated trends of 2014 isn't a wedding dress, but is indeed a wedding jumpsuit. This unconventional wedding day look is reportedly popular among brides who are walking down the aisle for the second (or whatever number) time and those hosting destination weddings. J. Crew seems to be able to claim responsibility, at least partially, for this daring new trend after they debuted a white lacy jumpsuit with a plunging v-neck and a back adorned with bows.

However, don't fear if you are a bride who was planning on a more traditional look there are plenty of other trends that you can check out:


  • Subtle pinks and blush colored gowns will be everywhere

  • Vintage looks inspired by the recent remake of the "Great Gatsby" including:

    • dramatic veils

    • cap sleeved gowns

    • feathers, in the veil, bouquet, gown, anywhere and everywhere



  • Lace, lace, and did I mention lace?

  • Spectacular low-backed gowns

  • Decorative elements like jewels, sheer illusion necklines, intricate beadwork

  • Silhouette style gowns in sleek fabrics

  • Shades of blue

  • Hints of metallics, think delicate gold threading

  • Shorter dresses, with everything from tea-length all the way to what could only be called wedding mini-dresses were all over the runways at the hottest designers shows

  • Rosette finishes and floral designs sewn into the gown

  • Cover ups and jackets from embellished to feathers and furs

This year's trends show a serious turn toward gowns that range from romantic to whimsical to jumpsuits. If there is one thing we can count on from this year's new styles, it's that there is something to make every blushing bride happy.

   

Where to Find Deals on Your Wedding Dress

It's no secret that weddings are expensive affairs. If you can save money without cutting corners or sacrificing quality, you should take advantage of the opportunity. If you're savvy enough, you can actually find plenty of ways to save on the price tag of that beautiful dress of your dreams. Here are five ways.


  • Try a consignment shop – Online or in person, consignment shops retail products that shoppers either gently used or never did but still returned. You can take advantage of these shops and possibly find a wedding dress here. It may take a lot of perusing, but the cheaper dress will be worth it in the end.

  • Look to your favorite retailer – You wouldn't expect brands like Ann Taylor, J. Crew, Anthropologie, or the Limited to carry wedding dresses, but they do. Better yet, the price range tends to cost less than one thousand dollars, which is something that any bride can appreciate.

  • Check for sales – Sometimes major wedding dress retailers happen to have sales, but these typically won't occur during wedding season. Therefore, if you're getting married at a less popular time of the year or are trying to buy your dress way in advance, you can wait for a sale. Otherwise, you may have to try another option.

  • Consider buying a used dress – This may be your last resort, but it's still an option that you should consider. Used dresses tend to come with a discount already, and you can possibly even haggle to lower that price further. If you don't mind that someone else has worn the dress, you can save big with this option.

  • Borrow a dress – This option can save you the most money of all, but only if applicable. Maybe a friend of yours got married a few years ago and you'd like to borrow her dress. Perhaps your mom's gown isn't all that dated. If the dress is available and will fit you, there's no reason not to take it.

   

The Cost of a Wedding Dress

A wedding dress is more than fluff for the bride and all her friends to fawn over. Every bride wants to look her best for her special day. Dresses, however, can get very pricey when looking through magazines and books for a specific design or detailed gown. A bride on a budget can look into second hand stores or consignment shops and get a great deal. These dresses will range from a little under $100 to $2,000. It all depends on how much detail is in the dress, how much yardage there is to the dress, and whether or not it comes with embellishments.

Having a wedding gown made can get pretty expensive. There are dresses or gowns that will cost well over $9,000. Those dresses are made specifically for the bride by the designer and are ordered straight from the designer. The details of the gown are discussed between the two parties and ultimately a dress fit for the bride on her special day comes about fully put together and beautiful.

Normally, a wedding dress will cost a bride or her parents somewhere between $1,000 and $1,400. This is an average, of course, and will not diminish the beauty of the dress or the bride in any way. Remember, it doesn't have to be expensive to be the right dress. Always take a second look at the dress on the rack. It might just be the perfect one for that momentous and exhilarating day.

   

Unique Wedding Dress Ideas: Love Gloves?

Choose a wedding dress that fits your personality and style and then accessorize with gloves and jewerly. There are unique wedding dress designs from vintage to gothic available on the market. Take some time to shop around for the perfect wedding dress.

   
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