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.