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| THE WEDDING DRESS

The Wedding Dress

Never put down a deposit on a dress you haven't tried on

The most asked question when a wedding is announced is, "What is the bride wearing?" No other garment is holds as much symbolism and tradition as the dress a bride chooses to wear on her wedding day. As well, the Bride's ensemble sets the style and tone of the wedding and determines what everyone else should wear.

The type and style of your dress will depend upon whether your wedding is formal or informal, traditional, contemporary or ethnic, a first or second-time marriage and upon the season of the year. There are no fashion rights or wrongs for today's bride when she chooses that special dress for her wedding. But remember that you want to wear the dress and not let the dress wear you. Don't be married in a dress that gets too much attention. The secret is to wear a dress that suits you and not one that you can't carry off. If the dress is right, you'll be more beautiful than ever.

You might be able to afford a designer gown, a manufacturer's gown, one copied from a magazine or from one worn by a celebrity, or from one that you've seen on television or in the movies. At the other end of the financial spectrum, you might buy a ready-to-wear, or make one yourself, or borrow from a relative or friend, or shop at a resale or discount shop. It's sometimes possible even to rent the dress of your dreams. It's your choice.

Shop six to eight months prior to your wedding - or earlier if you have special fitting needs or an unusually large bridal party to plan for. But before you go shopping go online to find bridal gown fashions to download and print or cut out pictures from magazines and newspapers that show styles of lengths, necklines, sleeves, fabrics, trim and veils or headpieces that you like. Remember, you know your body's best and worse features. Experienced sales personnel will ask you the type of wedding your are planning. Attend bridal fashion shows for ideas; you'll be amazed at the different shades of white there are!

Before you go shopping
The Bride should always shop for her own outfit first. She shouldn't worry about accessories or attendants' attire until you have chosen yours. When you are trying on dresses, keep in mind how many hours you will be wearing your outfit and the different activities you will taking part in - getting into and out of your limousine, standing, kneeling, climbing stairs, sitting or dancing. At dress fittings, take shoes with heels of the approximate height you will be wearing.

If you are dieting while you are trying on dresses or having fittings, it will be difficult for the seamstress to make alterations. If you feel unsure of what your size is going to be on your wedding day, make sure that the seamstress doesn't cut away any fabric inside the dress.

If you are a plus size and accustomed to wearing a particular style, your wedding ensemble can follow the same lines. Use the Internet or yellow pages to identify the bridal salons, department stores or retail shops that can show you samples.

Today's bride can be married in a dress of any silhouette or shade of color. The most important consideration is that the dress must be right for you. Your wedding day may be the only time you will be wearing it, but all eyes will be on you and you'll want everything to be as perfect as can be. Today, white is worn by all brides regardless of their age or how many times they have been married.

Garment Facts to bring out your best:
• Big sleeves are great for someone who has small shoulders and arms.
• Long tapered sleeves are good to feature pretty hands.
• Low or backless dress accented with detail is good for highlighting good backs.
• Strapless or off-the-shoulder necklines emphasize good shoulders and nice bustlines.
• Splits in sheath skirts are good for showing legs.
• High collars with high-necked cut-outs are good for long necks.
• Fitted bodices are perfect for tiny waists.

Having your dress made:
If you, a friend or a member of your family are making the gown, allow plenty of time to choose the pattern, fabric and trims, just as would be the case if you were having your dress made by a dressmaker. After consultation, the dressmaker will show you swatches of fabrics and trims to choose from. Most dressmakers have connections to fabric outlets - you may be able to benefit from these connections and save money.

Some dressmakers allow you to buy the fabric yourself as a cost savings. Once you've chosen your style of dress, the dressmaker will tell you how much fabric and trim to buy.
Check out dressmaking supply shops. They handle fabrics of all kinds and usually a good selection of trims such as sequins, rhinestones, pearls, stones, buttons, flowers, etc.

Types of bridal wedding dresses:
Daytime Formal: in colors of white, ivory or delicate pastel-tinted, the formal floor-length wedding dress of ivory marquisette over silk, satin, tulle, organdy, chiffon, cotton or synthetics. Velvet, brocades and lace are worn for winter weddings. The face veil is attached to the headpiece. Many dresses have a cathedral or chapel train.
The formal dress is usually a ballroom dress with full skirt and optional sweep train. Accessories include a bouquet or depending on her religion, a prayer book, peau de soie or satin shoes to match, long gloves with the ring finger removed or slit to allow the ring to be placed on her finger. Gloves are optional.
The Bride's other jewellery will be earrings, something around her neck if she wishes and her engagement ring on her right hand. No other ring is worn unless given to her by her husband-to-be.

Daytime Informal: white or pastel floor-length or ballerina dress, tea-length dress, evening wear or a suit. The veil is elbow length or shorter. Brides have same accessories as the formal wedding dress with a small bouquet corsage, gloves and matching shoes or depending on her religion, a prayer book.

Evening Formal: six-o-clock is the hour that separates the formal evening wedding from the day wedding. The formal wedding dress is the same as for daytime. However, the fabrics and trimmings may be more elaborate.

Evening Semi-formal: the same as daytime informal. Fabrics or trims may be more elaborate.

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping
When you go shopping for your wedding dress, take only one person who can be objective with you, someone who can learn how to help you get into the dress and veil of your choice. Take the pictures of the dresses, suits or gowns you have downloaded from the Internet or cut out of magazines, along with pictures of any special accessories that you like, such as veils or headpiece, jewellery, gloves, etc. Be ready to detail the style and type of wedding you're planning: the size, theme, time of day, location of ceremony and reception. Do your hair and makeup before you go shopping. Don't let sales personnel talk you into something you don't feel good in, no matter how much they say it can be altered. This is your one-in-a-lifetime dress. Look good, feel good and be in control when you are shopping.

When deciding on a wedding dress, establish a price range that you want to spend on your dress. Be firm with yourself, and stick to your budget. When you make an appointment at a salon, give yourself plenty of time. Expect to try on six to eight dresses or gown in each salon you visit. When you have selected your outfit, give the sales person the date you will need the dress and ask about delivery and fitting schedules. If you are having a formal portrait taken a month before your wedding, make sure the schedule allows for this. Ask what extras are included, such as a veil, alterations and delivery details. Initially, set your delivery date to be a month before you actually need your dress.

Before you put a deposit down on the outfit, be sure you understand all the dressmaker's terms, guarantees and refund policies. When you order your outfit, fifty percent is usually required as a non-refundable deposit. The balance is payable before the outfit is fitted. Alterations, even minor ones, are usually extra.

If you are buying a dress in a city other than where you live, you probably will buy it then and there. If you need extensive alterations and you are not staying in town, have them done by a dressmaker in your own home town. If you are buying a designer gown from a bridal salon or an expensive dress in a store, make sure you know the store's exchange and refund policy and charges for alternations, pressing, rush charges or any extras. Before you sign the agreement take it home and go over every detail, then take it back with your deposit.

And NEVER put down a deposit on a dress you haven't tried on.

Where to buy your dress:
A full-service retailer is a bridal salon that handles everything from consultation, customizing and modification of design, fittings and alterations. It also carries accessories and can coordinate the ordering and fitting of your Attendants' attire. The salon usually requests that you book an appointment to try on gowns. Often the salon will refer you to suppliers of those wedding necessities that it doesn't carry. Bridal designers take anywhere from six weeks to seven months to create and make your dress. Give yourself and your dress designer plenty of time.
Major retail and department stores often carry the same manufacturer's gowns as bridal salons. However, because of their buying power, the majors can retail at a lower price; however, selection may not be as great. Full services are usually available such as alterations and fittings.
Discount stores feature sales all year round. Several stores from time to time advertise gigantic bridal gown one-day sales off their premises, usually in a hotel suite. These gowns are close outs and usually have no identifying labels or tags on them; they were probably used as samples several times. Look for any damage on the dress. Ask about alterations or fittings. Some discounters will want only cash and will have no refund or return policy. What you buy is what you get. Be careful and be sure. Sometimes a "good deal isn't all it's cracked up to be".
Vintage boutiques and shows and costume houses usually offer antique gowns for sale. You can also rent vintage garments from a costume house.
Consignment and second hand shops are springing up. Check your yellow pages for them; you never know what you're going to find. They usually take credit cards or personal cheques with proper identification.

Sketch: Drawing of actress Eva Longoria's wedding gown by designer Angel Sanchez. Longoria wore a silk wool and silk gazar scoop-back mermaid gown embroidered with silver metallic with a a 5-foot-long train during her wedding to sports star Tony Parker in Paris, July 7, 2007.

www.WeddingsHoneymoons.com | March 25, 2008

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