The Tradition of White Wedding Dresses

We are used to how it has always been until we encounter evidence to the proof. White wedding gowns has been a traditional for long time. However, do you know what it is before that was true?

The history of white wedding gowns should back to the Victoria era. Queen Victoria was the first woman who wears white wedding gowns which would then have been considered a flamboyant white gown on her wedding ceremony in 1840. This gorgeous wedding gown did not start the tradition immediately; however, many women think this as a symbol of class and style and then they start to wear white wedding dresses in the wedding to copy Queen Victoria. After that, it spawns the interest and popularity of white wedding dresses as we know today.

Prior to this, the normal policy of wedding dresses was to wear good, new dresses, which could be used for formal occasions afterwards. For the nobility, they would like to choose wear very expensive clothes with gold thread. In that era, the length of the train symbolized the degree of influence on the Royals.

Nowadays, women all over the world are dreaming to have pure white wedding dresses for their wedding day. This tells us that the white wedding gowns of today is deep-seated tradition, and for many is worn to signify virtue as well as uphold tradition. We can heard from the marriage handbook that "from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue". Even in the US in the history, it was normal to purchase a good dress for use as a wedding dress.

As Britain is a place where is populated with traditions and legends, so it is natural that the tradition of white wedding dresses was started by the English Monarchy. Until the First World War, wedding dresses grew more and more elaborate in Britain. Women are tending to like simple style and they also led to the abandonment of the corset and shorter skirts.

In the Great Depression period in the US, women will marry in a white gown but dye it into blue or other colors for normal wear. The funny thing you can see is that the collar and cuffs are still in white to show the original use of the dress.

Things have changed in the World War Two. Women gave up the fancy wedding because there is little time for them to plan a wedding. Besides, it is a normal thing that women who are in the service to marry in her uniform. Of course, there are still some women who did not in the service. For these people, they would choose a good and new dress for their wedding ceremony.

Then the prosperity period has coming. In this period, there are lots of special gowns that serve no other purpose than the wedding ceremony. Much like Queen Victoria, Princess Grace of Monaco set a standard of wedding dresses for women in the contemporary era on her wedding ceremony, showing them and those who came after them the criterion of the ideal wedding gowns.

Nowadays, wearing a white, extravagant gown was a sign that you could afford to buy a wedding dress that you maybe never be able to wear again because of its style and color. Of course, there are many colors of wedding dresses. However, white wedding dresses symbolize that this is your first wedding and it also means the virtue of your wedding. So people would choose white wedding gowns in their first wedding. However, if they have a second wedding, the brides would choose other colors of wedding gowns such as pink and blue.

With the time changes, brides in the new century would like to enjoy wedding in the color of their choice. Normal women have injected their own personality and style into the wedding dresses. We can see women are marrying in colors ranging from delicate ivory to deepest red and even black. For the Royalty, they still have favor in the traditional white wedding dresses. But the white wedding dresses can afford by many common people nowadays, so it cannot mark the stature of high society. So they choose something different to distinct from normal people with the most expensive silks, pearls and material possible.

Tips For Choosing Your Maternity Wedding Dress

Planning a maternity wedding is extra special because it is planning a celebration for two life changing events. Not only are you and your partner taking your relationship to the next level but you are also bringing new life into the world and expanding your new family.

While it may seem like your wedding will have to be very different than you originally thought, the only thing you really have to change is the style of your wedding dress. Accommodating that adorable baby bump is more fun than you could have ever imagined. There are so many maternity wedding dresses to choose from these days it's no wonder so many women are getting married pregnant.

Since there is such a large selection of wedding dresses for the pregnant bride the decision can be overwhelming. Which wedding dress suits your style is the big question. To help you figure out which maternity wedding dress you may want to try I have briefly explained the different styles available.

Empire Waist

This is one of the most popular maternity wedding dress styles as it works great with the baby bump. The high waist line dresses accentuate your beautiful curves which really help with the transition from your bust to your belly.

Long Sleeves

Whether the wedding is in a cold weather climate or you are looking for a style that hides the weight in your arms, long sleeves are a great choice. You can wear a dress that has long sleeves built in or you can wear a long sleeve bolero jacket over a strapless or spaghetti strap dress.

Short Sleeves

Maternity wedding dresses with short sleeves are great if you have to wear a more supportive bra to hold up the growing bust. They also are more modest than strapless or halter styles dresses if your wedding is in a warmer climate.

Strapless

The strapless dress is very popular for pregnant brides in the empire waist. This waistline helps the strapless dress stay up well as it sits on the top of the belly. The strapless dress comes in a variety of materials including satin, silk and stretchy lace.

Strappy

There are several different styles in the strappy dress category including thick straps, spaghetti straps and shoulder straps. Some of the most popular maternity wedding dresses worn by celebrities fall into this category. While some strappy dresses are more risqué there are plenty of modest ones available.

Halters

A favorite style wedding dress for the larger bust size women, the halter wedding dresses are wonderful for pregnant bides. This type of dress comes in a variety of styles including the scoop, straight, high and V neckline. They look great with an A line or empire waist as well.

Short Length

Some of the less traditional maternity wedding dresses are shorter in length. However, you can find a variety of beautiful short style dresses in empire waist, A line and halter styles made of satin and lace. The short dresses are great if your legs have not started to swell and the weather is warm.

Tea Length

Only a select few of the maternity bridal dresses come in tea length as it can be a hard length to match with swollen calves. It hits below the knee and above the ankle which is a hard length for many women. If you have small calves this is a flattering length and would be a perfect choice.

Long Length

Long length maternity wedding gowns are the most popular these days amongst pregnant brides. The nice thing about this length of dress is that it comes in all the styles available. Long dresses are wonderful because with the right style and material they can slim you down when you are pregnant.

While any of these dresses are a great choice it is important that you choose according to your comfort level and the season of your wedding. Try on the different styles so you know which ones compliment your beautiful figure and ever changing body. Have fun picking out great accessories once you have decided on a dress and good luck planning your big day.

How to Take Care of Wedding Dresses

Wedding dresses are investment pieces that can be sentimental family heirlooms for generations to come. A wedding dress is one of the most important purchases that a woman can make, and is often one of the major expenses of a wedding. Once a wedding dress has been purchased, special care must be taken to keep the dress in pristine condition. While it is most important to keep the wedding dress in flawless condition before the wedding, most women would agree that they want to make sure that their wedding gown stays in the best shape possible for years to come. It isn't necessarily difficult to keep a wedding dress in good condition, but you do need to keep a few specific things in mind when it comes to hanging, storing, and cleaning the dress.

Hanging Wedding dresses

The materials used in most wedding dresses aren't renowned for their strength, and in order to avoid rips, split seams, and other damage it's important that care is taken when hanging the dress.

Generally, wedding dresses cannot be put on a hanger like regular dresses, as the weight of the gown can cause the dress material to rip or tear near the hanger. Instead, small loops of fabric sewn into the interior of the dress should be used to hang the gown safely. These hanging loops are put in place by the dressmaker on the strongest seams in the gown, ensuring that they will be able to support the weight of the full gown without causing any damage.

Cleaning Wedding dresses

It seems obvious that wedding dresses should be dry cleaned, but care should be taken when choosing a dry cleaner, since some dry cleaning services ship their clothes to another facility and your dress can become damaged by rough handling and the stress of transit. Before picking a dry cleaner, make sure that they process all of their clothes on site and that they do their work by hand instead of using an automated system. If possible, try to find a dry cleaner that has specific experience in wedding dresses and be sure they are familiar with how delicate the material can be; this is especially important if your wedding dress has beadwork or other intricate decorations. Being picky about your dry cleaner will ensure that your gown isn't damaged.

Wedding dress Repairs

Just as you should be picky about the cleaner that you take your wedding dress to, any repairs that need to be done should be from a seamstress who is familiar with the delicate construction of wedding dresses. Some bridal salons will offer repair services for the dresses they sell. But if not, be sure to shop around to find a seamstress or sewing shop that has significant experience in repairing wedding dresses. Choosing someone who knows just how delicate these dresses can be will ensure that the repairs are done with the utmost care and skill.

Preparing Wedding dresses for Storage

Before you store a wedding dress, make sure that it is in the best possible condition so that it will remain that way until you are ready to take it out of storage. Check the gown for any small holes, tears, or other signs of damage, and make sure that it's free of stains or discoloration. Take the time to inspect the seams and any beadwork or decorations that are on the gown, as these are the most likely locations for unraveling and holes to appear. Take the dress in for cleaning or repairs if necessary, and allow it to hang for at least one to two days after a cleaning before placing it into storage. That way, you can ensure that there are no residual chemicals in the dress material.

Storing a Wedding dress

Never store a wedding dress in a plastic container or covered with a plastic bag. Over time, plastic can release chemicals that will cause a white wedding dress to become yellow, and may cause more delicate embellishments to become brittle. Carefully fold the wedding dress and place it into a museum-quality, acid-free storage box; these are sold specifically as wedding dress or wedding dress storage chests. The gown should be wrapped in fabric or acid-free tissue to protect it from the rough cardboard or paperboard of the storage container. Store the box in a cool, dry place where the heat and humidity aren't likely to fluctuate (never in the attic or basement.)

Whether you'd like to hand the dress down to future generations, or simply preserve it as a special keepsake, you can keep your wedding dress looking brand new for years to come by following these simple steps and precautions.

Elegant Wedding Dresses and Accessories

Most women dream of having an elegant wedding dress for their special day from the time that they are young girls. When it comes time to begin shopping for a dress, however, they may feel overwhelmed by the vast selection of wedding dresses and accessories to choose from. How can you be sure that your dress and accessories are the epitome of elegance?

Finding the perfect wedding dress and the right accessories will depend largely on your individual taste. But by understanding the different styles and options that are available, it will be much easier for you to find elegant wedding dresses and accessories that live up to your childhood dreams.

Wedding Dress Silhouettes

There are a number of different dress silhouettes to choose from. A-line dresses provide a classic silhouette that is timeless and elegant, with a flared skirt and a narrow top. Ball gown style wedding dresses feature a fitted bodice and a large, full skirt that brings to mind fairytales and old-world romance. Empire waists cinch close below the bust to allow for a longer skirt, while dropped waists cinch closer to the hips in to create a longer torso silhouette.

When choosing a silhouette, consider your body shape and be sure to try on as many different styles as possible. Generally, pear-shaped women may want to look for dresses with higher skirts, like the empire waist style. Again, since every woman's body is different, it's important to try on a wide variety of silhouettes until you find one that showcases your best features.

Wedding Dress Necklines

In addition to the various wedding dress silhouettes, brides-to-be can also choose from a wide selection of elegant necklines. Off-the-shoulder dresses elegantly showcase the neck and shoulders with a tasteful strap or straps to hold the dress in place, while strapless wedding dresses use a more supportive corset material.

Wedding dresses with full necklines can range from a choker-style to an elegant v-neck design. Depending on the bride's taste, the neckline can be modest and conservative, or bold and alluring. Keep in mind that lace or scalloping can be added to deep, plunging necklines for a bit more coverage.

Wedding Tiaras, Veils and Other Hair Accessories

After finding the perfect wedding dress, many women choose some form of hair accessory to complete their wedding day look. One of the most common and traditional ways to do this is with a wedding veil, though the full, traditional veil is not as popular as it once was.

When accenting an especially elegant wedding dress, some women choose to wear a tiara that complements the design of the dress instead of a veil. And others wear a stylish hat that matches the color and general design of their wedding dress. It's important to remember that the hair accessory and the dress should not compete with each other. Think of the dress as the star, and the hair accessory as a supporting character.

Wedding Earrings and Necklaces

Earrings and necklaces can also provide the perfect finishing touches to a wedding dress. Bridal earring and necklace sets can range from simple pieces that color-coordinate with the wedding gown to more elaborate diamond or gemstone sets that bring an entirely new level of elegance to the bride's overall appearance. While the earrings and necklace often come in a matching set, some women choose to wear only one, or to mix and match jewelry styles to express their unique taste.

Earrings can be small and simple, or large and extravagant. And necklaces can range from simple chains or chokers to large pendants. Again, keep in mind that your jewelry should not overpower your gown. Earrings and necklaces should work together to complement your wedding dress.

Other Wedding Accessories

There are a number of other accessories that can accentuate an elegant wedding dress. Designer
shoes that are created with specific wedding dress style in mind are an excellent option for many brides.

Gloves are another elegant accessory that are popular among many brides. They can range in length from short lace gloves that cover only the hands, to full-length satin gloves that cover most of the arm. Broaches, belts, or sashes can also add small touches of elegance to your wedding day look.

Brides-to-be who are looking for elegant wedding dresses and accessories have so many options. Remember that elegance is in the eye of the beholder. The best way to find an elegant dress and complementary accessories is to keep an open mind and to try lots of different styles and looks. From dress silhouettes and necklines, to hair accessories and shoes, there are lots of ways to make a unique and elegant statement on your wedding day.

Saving Money On A Designer Wedding Dress

Planning a wedding is an expensive affair. The expenses can easily skyrocket if you don't have a set budget to follow. With all the money you'll be shelling out, does this mean you should settle for a subpar wedding dress? Our answer: a big, resounding no!

Picking out the perfect wedding dress is one of the most important wedding-related decisions you have to make. Your wedding is a momentous time in your life and your dress should be equally memorable. Since you're already spending so much, you may feel disheartened and rather inclined to scrimp on your gown to save money.

You may already have your heart set on a gorgeous designer wedding dress, but alas, your budget won't permit it. Well, there's a way for you to get a designer wedding dress that fits your budget, and it doesn't involve robbing a boutique!

Find a Fabulous Designer Wedding Dress for Less

If your heart is set on going designer, then you can get a great designer wedding dress even with modest finances. The following are some tips and ideas to help you find a fabulous designer wedding dress for less.

Tip 1: The number one rule when picking a reasonably priced designer wedding dress is to pick one with a simple design.

Instead of going for a frivolous and unnecessarily extravagant designer wedding dress, opt for a simple and basic wedding dress instead. Remember, the more frills and fabric, the more expensive the gown. A sheath wedding gown or a mermaid wedding dress is more financially advisable than a beaded and ribboned ball gown.

Tip 2: Pick a wedding dress that fits you well and flatters your body shape.

You're bound to look a thousand times better in a simple designer sheath wedding dress that fits well and flatters your figure, than in a frilly ball gown with a heavily beaded royal train. Remember to choose a dress with an excellent fit and that works well with your body shape to avoid spending hundreds of dollars on alterations.

Tip 3: Keep in mind that less is more.

Instead of picking a designer wedding dress with an incredible amount of embellishments, choose a gown with few embellishments and decorations. The more intricate the gown, the greater your expenses. A minimalist approach to designer wedding dresses ensures that you get a wonderful designer dress with an excellent price tag.

If your heart is set on having a designer wedding dress with embellishments, then pick a dress with embellishments where people can see them. What's the use of having expensive beading on your dress if it's hidden on the hemline instead of showcased on the bodice?

Tip 4: Know when to shop.

Once your man pops that question and you have the engagement ring to prove it, you can start looking for the right designer wedding dress. When designer wedding dress hunting, timing can be everything. The best time to shop for your designer garb is when there's a sample sale.

If you shop during this time, you'll find that most bridal boutiques cut the prices of their lovely designer dresses to get rid of excess inventory. Take advantage of this situation, and stop worrying about fashion trends. Believe us when we tell you that your guests won't know or mind if your wedding dress was from last season.

Tip 5: Know where to shop.

While bridal boutiques allow you to try on their designer wear, you'll save more money staying at home and buying your designer wedding dress online. There are numerous online dress shops that offer designer wedding dresses at discounted prices. Another advantage of shopping for your designer garment online is that you get to compare prices from different providers.

If you're making your purchase online, just make sure you get the right dress size. You may want to get your measurements taken in a bridal boutique or by your seamstress to help you figure out your actual size before you place any online orders.

Perfect Wedding Dresses for Your Wedding Party

Wedding is a special moment for couples who fall in love. From first meeting and first to looking intently arouse which deepens impression, including the wedding once for couples to get married.

That is why wedding moment has beautiful and impressive for guess particularly for married couples. Each wedding planning have nice piled and perfect, so that wedding to go on nice and fluent.

Are not only one of the well planning like wedding vow, reception place, food, or ride. But other things must be planned, for example invitations souvenirs, guest chairs, comfortable rooms, and wedding dresses.

To choose beautiful wedding dresses is a little difficult, dress is important thing in wedding, but it's one of successful factor from wedding vows. Choosing the right and nice wedding dresses must be suitable with wedding theme that we choose, if couples choose right wedding dresses to get married they will have a harmony and synchronize wedding situation, because the spirit from the dresses will not directly shines a beautiful scene for the guess.

So that for couples who want to get married must follow some tips to choose well wedding dresses, they are :

1. Wedding dresses must be suitable with the wedding theme it self, for example, what is a traditional wedding ? or a modern and a classic wedding.
2. Wedding dresses must be suitable with the place / building is used for wedding vows, for example : a unique building, a conventional home, or a hotel room.
3. A wedding room determine what kinds of dresses must be used, it's an indoor or an outdoor room ?
4. Choosing wedding dresses must be suitable with the wedding theme, just choose some colors which are compounding.
5. The cleanliness of dresses must be considered

These some tips to find wedding dresses suitable with your personality and character, they are :

1. Classic Bride. Good for classic type of people that don't like experiment and always conservative. Classic bride likes an insignificant, simple but elegant dress and to fit the body.
2. The Diva. This type is designed for people to want always be eyed catching whereever she goes. Diva type does not a like conservative or an unattractive but dare to show her neck, beauty of the shoulders and sexy hands. Tube choice, backless, which dominated by colors and special details very good for this type.
3. Natural Bride. This bride doesn't like over detail, much style, and too modern. Natural bride wants a simple impression, sweet but neat. This style inspiraties an elegant and a simple dress. Simple soft chiffon material, A-Lined waist and clean white color will represent the impression of this dress.
4. Romantic Bride. A romantic type have a soft personality, romantic, dreamer, and feminine. Satin and chiffon material and other soft material can be good choice for them. Use corsage and addition laces give a romantic impression such as "Georgia Style" or party dress style for princess in the period of conservative England Kingdom.
5. The Fashion Plate Bride. This bride type likes fashion. The suitable dress for her is a dress made by her favorite designer. For model and style of the dress usually arranged by the designer, so must go with trend style, elegant and reflects her personality

Beside the tips on how to choose wedding dresses and also tips to find wedding dresses suitable with your personality and character, we also give some tips for couples who want to get married.

Below we also present some tips for couples who want to get married :

1. Choose suitable colors that compound with the wedding theme decorations. It's better if we choose the neutral colors for our wedding theme.
2. Choose a suitable bride bouquet that fits with the posture of body and the height of body. Make sure your body posture when you order the suit and ask for the best bouquet to your bridal.
3. Ask how many bride bouquet which they make in our wedding day.
4. Make sure all the orders are ok a week before the wedding.
5. Ask the florist who makes that bouquet and ask them if they have a certificate from a professional school.

Hopefully the tips above can give an inspiration and planning in arranging the wedding party, wedding reception, and wedding dresses. Usually an excellent wedding party will reflects a nice impression for both groom and bride and the guess.

Wedding Dresses

The excitement behind the wedding dress phenomenon is something most women undergo. It is the one special day of their life they have been waiting for and as such, when the time is right they go through great measures in order to be able to find wedding dresses that they have always pictured themselves in.

When it comes to choosing between wedding dresses, two things play an important part. One being, the visionary sense you have and what you have always imagined your wedding dress to be and the other being what suits your body type. This of course is the more realistic approach, and being able to combine your thoughts with what's available will certainly ensure that your wedding dress is truly unique. The idea behind selecting a fine wedding dress is that it should make you feel, that this particular design and fit was meant specifically for you, let it be unique in every aspect.

Wedding dresses are available in varied colors, patterns and lengths. What you select is certainly a matter of personal opinion. One thing you should be attentive towards when it comes to selecting wedding dresses is that you shouldn't always depend on a second or third opinion entirely. When selecting through wedding dresses ensure that you take along a really close friend or relative who understands just what you need, because eventually it's your big day, so choose just as you please.

You can look for patterns from scores of magazines or even online. There are zillions of pattern available and even cutting and stitching tips. You can use these tips to get yourself just the pattern you have been contemplating. If you are working with a renowned designer, you can let them know just what you have been thinking of and let them do the professional bit. The good part being, professionals know a lot more in this field and will be able to give you just the right advice.

Armed with your specific design, it's truly like conquering the world. It's not necessary that you need to go the traditional white dress. Times have changed and there's no stigma attached to wearing a colored wedding dress. It's not like earlier wear specific shades of wedding dresses denoted an underlying meaning. This included pronouncing that it's your second wedding, or a pregnancy status. If you are fond of the color pink, or lemon yellow, maybe even sky blue, you can happily wear your preference.

You can pick up your wedding dress from the numerous wedding dresses stores itself. Here you have an added advantage of actually trying out many dresses. There are so many designs and patterns on the racks, so you can take a good look at each of them and try the ones that you think are nice. This way you can finalize, just what you like and if you want make alterations to a particular design itself. The good thing about trying on the dresses gives you a real feel of the wedding dress rather than counting on wedding dress concepts.

Once you have picked and finalized a design, the store can create just what you need, and you'll certainly need to make a few more trips in regards to alterations and last minute touch ups. Wearing sample-wedding dresses gives you a real picture of the weight of the dress too. This will help you determine how much layering and frills you would want because you surely don't want to be weighed down by the dress.

Once you have finalized amongst the wedding dress at your disposal, you can start looking for a well matched, veil, gloves, shawls and tiara. All of these accessories are not an absolute necessary when it comes to wearing a wedding dress, but it certainly compliments your dress. You need not have to head to a wedding dresses store if you have a family member who is in the wedding business because they would surely be able to tailor your needs perfectly. If you choose to order your wedding dress from exquisite high end stores located at remote facilities, make sure you have adequate time in hand between the big day and the date you receive your dress on. This will give you enough time to make alterations if need be.

If you are not in the mind frame to buy a new wedding dress, then you can approach a wedding dress store regarding wedding dresses rentals. Along with the dress you can even rent jewellery and accessories. This is a great option because on a realistic note, your wedding dress is a onetime affair and it certainly costs money. Whatever your wishes are for this big day, you never have to compromise on your wedding dress needs, be it a new purchase or rental option. So go on and look like the pretty princess on your big day and feel the real happiness.

Buying a Wedding Dress

For every season, for every motif, for every person and for every color symbolism, there will always be the right wedding dress. Choosing what to wear in your wedding is as critical as choosing the the man you will be spending your sunset days with.

There's a multitude of wedding dress styles to choose from - in some countries that have veered away from much of wedding rituals and traditions, dress styles number in the thousands. With this dizzying array, how do you choose yours? How do you make sure that your dress will be a reflection of the real YOU, not the fashion model on the glossy cover of magazines that grace bridal boutiques and corner stalls in the metropolis?

Buying a Wedding Dress: Style

The style of your wedding dress will depend on about four factors. There may be more but these are the most common ones we can think of:

o Type of wedding

o Your personality

o Your budget

o Your culture and that of your future husband

If you write down your thoughts about these four factors including any other detail you can think of, you'd have a good starting point for discussions with the boutique consultant. By rattling off your preferences, she can already come up with a short list and show you the styles immediately. This will save you time from browsing through voluminous catalogues and the sometimes crowded store racks.

Type of wedding: are you going to be married in a church and will the reception be inside a hall, OR are you going to be married in the beach, garden or in some enchanted island where guests will be free to roam around and then gather in an outdoor tent to offer their best wishes and congratulations?

An outdoor wedding would narrow your choices. You will certainly want to consider not wearing a gown that would require you to wear high heels, unless you want to leave permanent marks on that beautifully manicured lawn. Wear a gown that looks right with a pair of sensible but stylish flats to keep you from boring holes on the ground. For practical reasons, you may want to seriously not wear a long, down to the ankles type of dress. This will spare you from having to deal with a muddy hem. Make sure the hem is heavy enough not to fly up at the first sign of a sudden gust of wind.

For the same reasons, a train is not ideal for an outdoor wedding. You will likely find it covered in mud and grass stains by the end of the reception. If your dress comes with a veil, keep it weighted to keep it from blowing around too much, unless again you'd want your groom and pastor to chew on the lace by the end of the service, or risk the veil pin landing on someone's cake.

Your personality: "tell me what you wear to your wedding and I'll tell you what kind of person you are" may ring true, but remember that you need not be forced into wearing anything because it's tradition or your rich mother-in-law has done the cherry picking in some designer's rack. Your dress is you, inside and outside. Let it bring out the message on this special day.

Also, you'll have to take your body type into account. If you have a good figure, show it off within the limits of decency, of course, especially if you're getting married in church. Not that the pastor's opinion should carry weight in the choice of your dress, but it is his church nevertheless, so be respectful of the place where your marriage will be solemnized.

A sleeve dress (one that clings to your body from neck to ankle) looks best on someone with a slim figure and curves to show off. If you've always been proud of your hips, look for a dress that flairs out a bit at the waist. If you want an overall slimming effect, do not invest in fluffed up sleeves and huge skirts, or you will look bigger than you really are. A skirt with lots of fabric so that it drapes and folds would be ideal. Do not add puff to the lower portion by adding a hoop or other fabric.

Your budget: who says you need a designer dress? One does get "suffocated" by the usual styles out there. You could spend thousands of dollars on a wedding dress that will end up in an attic somewhere, only to be looked at when nostalgia strikes. Many brides think of their future daughters when they buy their wedding dress, but remember that your daughter could end up saying, "how could you wear a thing like that to your wedding, mum?"

If you have other wedding expenses and don't want your wedding dress to take up the lion's share, you can ask a sister or close friend to help you design a wedding dress. We know of a few friends who asked a private seamstress to do their dress, and they charge considerably less than boutiques and designer outlets.

Culture: The factor of culture plays a dominant role in weddings and when one wears a wedding dress that is typical of one's culture, then the conversation gets livelier. For example, if you've been to a Scottish wedding, you'll know that tartans and Highland kilts will be the dominant features of the wedding attire. Tartans are colorful fabrics that are also known as plaid. Scottish people also put accents to make the dress more attractive - like a Celtic knot that stands out.

Or you've seen the traditional Chinese attire. Brides will usually wear a red Chinese dress because red symbolizes love. If you've been to a Greek wedding, you'll notice that both bride and groom wear flowers on their head instead of a veil.

Buying a Wedding Dress - Color

The color white, traditional for wedding dresses, was originally used to signify the bride's virginity to the gathered witnesses. This virginity was likewise attested to by the hanging of a blood-soaked sheet the next morning. Though the custom of the bridal sheet has died, the customary bridal color still seems to be alive and well for the most part. Widows or divorcees might choose an ivory color to keep from claiming the white, but if tradition prevails, brides stick with what is expected in this sense.

The color white is not mandatory though. A differently colored dress would make a wonderful splash on your wedding day. The color red, for example, means joy, love, and fertility and is traditional for brides in China. No rules exist saying brides cannot wear purple or sage; indeed, an outdoor wedding might look even lovelier with a deviation from strict tradition. Always check with your pastor to see if you and your entourage can wear different colors, and ask him which colors are strictly forbidden.

Buying a Wedding Dress - Stories for You

If you're feeling a tad overwhelmed by wedding preparations and agonizing over your wedding dress, you may want to take a break, sit and lounge on your favorite armchair, and curl up with a good book. We'd like to suggest My Wedding Dress: True-Life Tales of Lace, Laughter and Tulle published last month (January 2007) by Random House (ISBN: 978-0-676-97846-9; 0-676-97846-0). It's an anthology of thoughtful essays that cover the full range of bridal sentiments, before and after the wedding. One of the contributors said that "the most important thing about the dress was that it wasn't white, it wasn't long and it had not a whisper of tradition clinging to it."

There are about 26 essays from different women who talked about their wedding dresses and some of them, already divorced, described how their dress "felt all wrong" or "didn't fit" or "it just wasn't me."

By taking time off from wedding preparations, you can re-charge yourself by reading about weddings. Wedding stories never fail to bring a warm glow to heart or trigger your love for laughter. For example, we looked for a story about wedding dresses and we found a funny one online from the Canadian Press (May 2005). It tells the story about a couple, Christopher Cummings and Charity O'Brien, both from Missouri, who got married on the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska. The title of the news story caught our attention: Weddings on Ice. Exchanging Vows on Alaskan Glaciers.

Guess what the bride wore to her glacier wedding?

The usual, white traditional - complete with sequins. But what else did she wear with it? We've chosen this paragraph and want to share it with you:

"The bride wore a curvy, strapless white satin gown sprinkled with sequins. She also had on tights, sweat pants, rain pants and a pair of hefty hiking boots fitted with spikes."

"The groom was charmed. 'That's the way she is...' 'although the dress was a surprise.'

Don't forget. YOU get to choose, not anyone else. It's personal, it's special, and it's an occasion that may happen only once in your life.

How About Designing Your Own Wedding Dress?

As you probably have begun to realize, planning a wedding is both exciting and often more than a little nerve-wracking. Preparing for a ceremony as special as a wedding is plenty of cause for excitement and anticipation. However, there is so much to do and, most likely, since you'll want it to all go perfectly that's plenty of cause for anxiety and stressed nerves. And when you consider that it isn't the kind of thing we do on a regular basis, nor something that we normally have any training for, you need to ease up a little on the quest for perfection and try to focus on the excitement.

Your wedding dress is likely to be the most significant component of the wedding ceremony. Everyone's eyes will be on the bride. Whatever style of wedding you settle on, you'll find that there's a lot of traditions that relate to the wedding ceremony - even with some of the more unusual themed weddings. Still, there is room for you to add your own special touches - to make your wedding uniquely your own.

If you've never thought about actually designing your own wedding dress, you should give it some thought. If you've priced wedding dresses, you'll be aware that even low-end brands may cost over 5 or 6 hundred dollars. Dresses sold by bridal shops tend to include a lot of overhead and additional costs which you can avoid by designing your own wedding dress. If you have a friend or relative who is well-skilled in sewing, you can save even more money. One of the greatest benefits of designing your own wedding dress is that you will end up with a true one of a kind, a wedding dress no one else owns.

One caution - before you start designing be certain that you have or can find a person with the needed skills to actually create your wedding dress from your designs and ideas. This is not something you can wait until the last minute to do. You'll need to spend some significant time working with this person - well in advance of the wedding - so make sure of both the person's skills and availability.

A good place to start generating ideas for your wedding dress design is to consider the theme of the wedding and when and where it'll be held. Is it going to be a summer wedding? A winter wedding? Will it be outdoors or indoors? Will the reception be indoors or outdoors? What special characteristics does the location have? This is particularly important for an outdoor wedding since the answers can have a significant bearing on the style of wedding dress you design. As an example, an outdoor wedding in Texas in the month of August requires a wedding dress design that will not leave you soaked in perspiration. You should also consider how formal or informal the wedding ceremony itself will be.

If you don't already have some ideas for a design, a good place to start may be with bridal magazines, wedding dress catalogs and even on-line bridal shops. All these can be good sources for ideas to use in designing your own wedding dress.

While you are always free to design your wedding dress to reflect your personal style, most likely you'll want to follow one of the standard shapes generally used for wedding dresses:

A-line - Empire - Straight - Ball Gown - Mermaid - Strapless.

The shape of your body is an important factor in choosing a wedding dress shape that is most appropriate for you. If you have a full figure, or what is considered a "pear" shape, an A-line style dress may work best for you. A dress with this style accents the top-half of the body which is smaller while concealing a larger bottom half.

Not many women tend to opt for a straight wedding dress, including women with coke-bottle figures for whom this style of wedding dress was designed.

If neither of these styles seems to suit you, then a ball gown may be a good choice. This style of wedding dress has a snugger fit at the waist with a somewhat exaggerated full skirt.

A strapless style can be integrated with several shapes. The so-called mermaid style tends to be somewhat uncomfortable and not particularly popular. If you feel uncertain about what shape may work best for you, you can always visit a bridal shop and try on several styles to find the one that appeals most to you.

Once you have chosen the shape, design and style for your wedding dress, you are ready to consider the type of material. Silk and linen are both commonly used in creating wedding dresses. Both can be fairly costly and linen, in particular, tends to be quite delicate and require considerable care when putting the wedding dress together. There are also blended materials which use silk or linen along with other man-made materials allowing the creation of a fabric which is both beautiful and substantially easier to work with.

Once you've decided on the shape and design, and chosen the fabric, it's time to get together with the individual who will be making the wedding dress for and begin bringing the wedding dress of your dreams out of your dreams and into reality.

Choosing The Ideal Wedding Dress

Most brides-to-be start dreaming about the ideal wedding dress long before they are even engaged. Choosing the ideal wedding dress is crucial because it is perhaps the only day that all eyes will be looking at you. A dress that is beautiful whilst remaining tasteful and also flattering to your figure will ensure that you look your best on your wedding day. With so many style, color and fabric options available, choosing the ideal wedding dress can be a daunting task. However, most brides simply know when they have found the ideal wedding dress. From the moment they put on the dress, they instinctively know that this is the ideal wedding dress for them.

The most important thing when searching for the ideal wedding dress is to begin looking at least six months before your wedding date. Finding the ideal dress will most likely take quite some time and once you find the dress, it could take up to four months for the dress to be ordered and shipped to the store. Once the dress arrives in the store you most likely will require several fittings to ensure that the dress fits absolutely perfectly. You should take your time and enjoy looking for your wedding dress so it is crucial that you begin the process in good time to avoid feeling rushed and overwhelmed.

Another useful piece of advice for finding the ideal wedding dress is to try on many different styles of dresses. Even though you may be certain that you want a particular style you may find that the style that looks so appealing in magazines does not suit your body type. You may also find that a style that you would have never have considered before can be flattering to your figure. For this reason it is important to try on a wide variety of styles before dismissing a particular style. The old adage "you won't know unless you try it," holds perfectly true for wedding dresses. There have been numerous brides who have found that their ideal wedding dress turned out to be totally different from the one they had envisaged.

Although it may not be what you expect, the color of the wedding dress is an important thing to take into account when choosing the ideal wedding dress. The concensus seems to be that the only acceptable color for a wedding dress is a pure white. However if you keep an open mind, you may find yourself with a wedding dress that is far more flattering to your skin tone than a pure white dress. Wedding dresses come in a wide variety of colors including ivory, cream and even subtle beiges. If you are happy to consider these options it is important to try on dresses in these colors to see how they work with your complexion.

Choosing the ideal wedding dress often requires getting a few second opinions. Having a few close friends or family members that you trust come dress shopping with you can help you find the dress of your dreams. They can offer opinions on each dress that you try on and can also scour the countless racks of dresses available and choose dresses for you to try on. Many brides instantly know that they have chosen the ideal wedding dress the moment they put it on but having trusted friends and family members with you can confirm this feeling. When you first step out of the dressing room and show them the dress you are wearing you may see reassuring confirmation that you have made the perfect choice. The reactions of your assistants will indicate that you have indeed found the perfect dress.

When you have chosen the ideal wedding dress, now is also the time to buy the it. Nothing is more important than your gut feeling and the reactions of the friends and family that accompanied you so if you know you have the ideal dress in your hands, don't risk losing it by opting to think about it for a few days before you make your purchase. There is always the chance that the last available dress will be sold or that the company will discontinue that particular style so do not allow yourself to miss out on buying the ideal wedding dress by not buying it the moment you realize it is the dress for you.

The wedding dress is one of the most critical elements of a wedding. It is what makes a bride truly stand out and it is important for her to ensure that she has chosen the ideal wedding dress. The minute a bride-to-be steps into a wedding dress she will know instantly whether or not it is the ideal dress. It's important to trust this gut reaction and act accordingly in choosing the ideal wedding dress.

The Wedding Dress Revealed

Fashion Trends and Popular Styles and Colors

The Wedding Dress - How did it all begin?

Did you ever wonder how the tradition of wearing a wedding dress came about? Wedding dresses have been worn by brides young and old alike for centuries. In modern times almost anything passes for a wedding dress however, in times of old, traditional wedding dresses were flowing gowns usually white in color.

White is usually accepted as the "traditional" color of gowns, and many designer wedding gowns are still fashioned in this color, representing the "purity" and "innocence" of the bride to be. Many women opt for other colors, including blue, pink, cream, yellow and more.

Wedding dresses have changed with time much as everything in the world has. In times of old most women selected a gown based on her financial status. Women who were at an economic disadvantage usually did not have the luxury of selecting an extraordinary gown that would be worn only once. Rather, most selected something more "plain" that could be worn for church services and other occasions after their blessed day.

Wedding gowns of varying styles and colors were popular among the elite, and by and large represented the unique style and personality of the bride to be, as well as modern trends at the time.

Popular Colors

An old poem states about the color of a wedding dress that "Married in white, you will have chosen all right." This is not to say that all brides historically have chosen white for their wedding gown. In fact, many brides chose colors including blue, pearl and even black. Many brides believed that if they wore blue their husbands would remain true to them (also a famous line in the wedding poem). Pink was even a popular wedding gown color for a time, though its darker variant, red was often considered taboo because it was associated with "scarlet women".

Many women who did not have a large budget to spend on a wedding dress in times of old opted for fashions that could be worn any day, rather than solely on their wedding day. For their wedding day, they would dress up their gown with accessories and flowers, even bows that could be removed after the festivities.

Wedding Gown Fashion

In the United States for a short spell the color white fell out of favor, but around the time of the Industrial Revolution, when the department store made it possible for a bride with any budget to purchase the gown of her dreams, white once again became the fashion. The style worn by women has changed through time.

Wedding dresses fashioned during the Roaring twenties were very different from those that came about in the thirties. In the twenties, women sought out gowns that de-emphasized their shape, in line with the style of the flappers that was trendy at the time.

During the 30's most women emphasized their shape and wore gowns that highlighted their waists and bosoms. Perhaps the most interesting period of time for the wedding gown was during the 1980s, when big puffy sleeves and extravagant skirts were worn by a majority of women. These gowns, while well suited for trim and petite women, often were not the most flattering choice for the average size woman. Despite this, gowns did not trim down again until the mid to late 1990s.

Wedding Gown Fashion Today

As mentioned at the start, almost anything passes for a wedding dress today. More and more women are buying a wedding dress online, because of the wide variety and selection of unique and custom made gowns available.

Informal wedding dresses, designer wedding dresses and even discount wedding dresses can all be found online thanks to modern technology. More popular than even designer wedding dresses are discount bridal gowns online. Most brides to be can purchase extravagant looking, custom made gowns for a fraction of the cost they would find them in a department store.

Another benefit of buying a wedding dress online is convenience. With so many things to plan for a wedding (location, cake, reception, flowers, invitations, rehearsal dinner etc.etc) most women appreciate having a handy resource for buying their wedding dress. Most women also find a wider selection of sizes and custom features available when they shop online vs. when they shop in a traditional store.

Trends

Trends have changed when it comes to modern wedding attire. No longer do all brides seek out a traditional white gown for their special occasion. In fact, there is a huge selection of vintage and informal wedding dresses available, many of which don't even look like official wedding gowns.

Most dresses today focus on the unique personality of the bride rather than socially accepted "norms" when it comes to buying a wedding dress. In general many brides are looking for wedding gowns that are narrower than they have been in times of old, and those that offer clean silhouettes. These types of dresses usually lengthen the body and provide a slimming effect. Some more popular trends include the following:

• A-line dresses that are long and slimming
• Sheaths with trains built into the silhouette, so that it trails behind the bride
• Bias-cut wedding gowns that follow the natural curves of the body, ending in a small flare at the bottom
• Raised waistline ball-gown styles
• Square necklines that provide a fresh open look
• Off the shoulder dresses providing a full neckline
• Sleeveless or cap sleeve gowns which are especially popular for summer brides
• Empire waists which elongate the figure and shift the focus upward

Trends are also apparent with regard to fabrics. Satin and silk gowns have long been popular, though sheer fabrics are also becoming more trendy, including chiffon and organzas. Embroidery is also replacing lace for many modern gowns, and some brides are opting to accent their dresses with pearls and other quality beads.

No matter what style gown you choose, the most important thing is that you select one that makes you look good, feel good and happy on the most important day of your life. You're sure to find a superb selection when shopping online.

Wedding Dress Tips - What You Should Consider

Are you about to get married? For most women, this is the day that they've been planning for since they were young girls. If you feel the same, then it's understandable why you're out seeking advice, help and support to make your dream wedding a reality.

Let's face it. When it comes to wedding dress, most men just can't seem to understand the importance of picking the perfect wedding dress. True, you're only going to be wearing that gown once in your life, and your groom may still feel the inclination to tie the knot even if you showed up dressed in a potato sack, but you very well know that one of the most important days of your life merits an exceptionally special dress.

Top Tips to Choose the Perfect Wedding Dress

There are so many wedding details that you need to take care of, but it's equally important that you take the time to find the perfect wedding gown for you. To help you out, we've come up with a list of wedding dress tips for how you can look your best on your wedding day.

Tip 1: Is constantly going to your groom for tips getting you down? Find a female friend or relative who will gladly accompany you on your trips to the bridal shop.

Unless your groom is female fashion-savvy, he's not going to be much help when you ask him about the perfect wedding dress collar or neckline for you. Find a female companion or companions that you trust enough for second and third opinions.

Tip 2: Set a budget, and try to follow it.

Wedding dress budgets are hardly ever exact. You may need to spend more or you might end up spending less than you expected. The point is having a budget in mind can help you control the urge to splurge on your very special dress. Try your hardest to follow your dress budget, and pray that you find a great wedding dress bargain that will make your groom proud.

Tip 3: Consider the color of your gown.

You can stick with tradition and go for white, but if you want to add some color to your gown, then by all means, find the perfect color for you. Today, a number of modern brides are choosing colored wedding dresses instead of plain white ones. Stand out in the sea of white-clad brides by going for an eye-popping color.

You may want to take the season into consideration when picking out your wedding dress color, or you can simply go for what flatters your complexion best. Also be prepared for possible adverse reactions from your traditional guests. Console yourself with the thought that it's your wedding, and you can wear blue or even black if you want to.

Tip 4: Find the right wedding dress length.

Yes, wedding gowns can be short or long depending on the type of ceremony you're having and where you're planning on having it. There's a very basic rule when it comes to choosing the perfect wedding dress length, and it's to base your dress length on how formal the ceremony is.

If you're having a formal ceremony, then floor-length is the way to go. If it's an ultra-formal wedding, then you may want to add a cathedral train to your dress. For informal weddings, you can choose the hemline that flatters you best.

Short, or at least shorter wedding dresses are advised for casual and outdoor weddings for practical reasons. You don't want to get mud, twigs, leaves or sand on your floor-length designer wedding dress, right?

Tip 5: Pick the appropriate and the most flattering sleeve-length and style for your dress.

By appropriate, we're merely reminding you that a winter wedding may not be the best time to go for a halter, plunging and backless number unless you're planning on wearing over clothes.

If you're feeling conscious about your arms or your shoulders, then you might want to keep those problem areas covered. There are numerous sleeve styles and sleeve lengths to choose from; simply pick the one that fits the occasion best while making you feel pretty and comfortable in your dress.

Tip 6: Know the importance of finding the right skirt style and dress shape for your body.

Much like wedding dresses, brides come in different shapes and sizes. Take into consideration your physical assets, your overall body shape and your problem areas when making your choice of skirt style and dress shape.

For example, if you're shaped like an inverted triangle, with prominent shoulders and small hips, then a ball gown would balance your proportions creating the perfect silhouette and hourglass figure.

Tip 7: Determining the best neckline for you.

Your wedding gown's neckline can definitely affect your gown's overall appearance. You have numerous neckline options, but it's all a matter of finding the most suitable and flattering neckline for your frame.

Remember, in the same way that you need to take your assets, body shape and problem areas into consideration when picking out dress shapes and skirt styles, you also need to look at these factors when choosing your wedding dress neckline.

If you're planning on showing off your arms, your beautiful shoulders and pronounced collar bones, and you have an ample bosom to pull off the look, then the strapless gown is an excellent neckline choice. If you tend towards the flat side, then you can enhance your bust area with a bateau neckline.

Tip 8: Look for the right fabric.

A pure satin ball gown would not stand on its own without layers of tulle under it or hoops built into the dress. Your choice of fabric could directly affect your gown's overall look. If you tend to be uncomfortable or if you tend to feel itchy when you're wearing crisp and net-like fabrics, then go for the breezy and lightweight ones.

There are so many different fabrics to choose from. A way to familiarize yourself with these fabrics is to ask your wedding planner or the bridal boutique owner to help you distinguish between the different fabric types available.

Tip 9: Decide on whether or not you want or need a wedding train.

A wedding train means extra-fabric and detailing, which translates to paying more for your wedding dress. Unless your wedding is ultra-formal, you're not going to need a train.

If your heart is set on having a train that trails gracefully behind you, then pick your train length based on practicality. Your wedding train can decrease your mobility, making it difficult to maneuver between chairs and tables during the reception. A detachable wedding train is most advisable if you're planning on doing a lot of dancing and walking after the actual wedding ceremony.

Tip 10: Be Wary of wedding gown sizing and necessary alterations.

You'll find out more about this when you actually head to the bridal boutique to be measured.

You may already know your actual size, but don't be too surprised if they tell you that you're a size or two bigger than you thought.

This is not to say that they have faulty sizing charts; it only means that wedding dress boutiques and high street shops have a different way of determining your dress size. Your dress size is based on your body's largest dimension.

If you have prominent hips and a smaller bust area, then your wedding dress size will be based on your hip size.

Once you get your wedding gown, you need to check if alterations need to be made for a perfect fit. Most brides find that alterations are necessary to get the size right. Ask the boutique or shop owner for estimates on how much you're going to have to pay for dress alterations to determine if you're getting a great bargain or a rotten deal.

Tip 11: If you think your dress needs that extra sparkle and glam then go for some decorations and embellishments.

Wedding dress embellishments and decorations have one special purpose, and that's to bring something extra to your gown.

Additional decorations and embellishments are a great way of making your dress even more unique and fashionable.

A basic gown would look great with additional beading and perhaps some embroidery. If you want a more feminine gown, then adding a bow, some ribbons or three-dimensional flowers can give your dress the boost needed to make it an amazing and personalized wedding dress.

Find a great seamstress or wedding dress designer to help you pick out the right detailing for your gown.