Congratulations on your engagement. One of the first things you will probably think about when imagining your wedding will be the dress. But before you start looking for your wedding dress, it would be a good idea to understand what you are looking for.
Steps
Step 1. Do your research
Before you even start looking around, research wedding dresses. It's always a good thing to inquire about dresses (and learn some lingo) before you even set foot in a wedding dress shop. There are also many magazines that will provide you with thousands of news and information, such as White Sposa, Vogue Sposa, Sposabella, La Sposa Ideal and many others. All of these magazines have a website where you can quickly find information without having to buy the magazine.
Step 2. Choose based on a template
Wedding dresses are created according to different patterns. Before considering anything else, you need to figure out which type of dress might best flatter your figure. Look at the photos of any model. You can browse member profiles or read through the site's bulletin board posts to see photos of ordinary women wearing wedding dresses, rather than trusting professional model photos.
- Ball gowns have long skirts and tend to look good on any body type, unless the bride is very small and short. In this case it could be overwhelming for his small build. Ball gowns typically have built-in crinolines or at least a petticoat to maintain the shape of the skirt. Keep in mind that this extra fabric may be heavy and require more attention when putting it on.
- Corolla dresses typically have a fitted bodice and a skirt that gently widens from the waist to form the shape of an 'A'. Generally this model also fits all body types, and is a great choice for those who would like to hide lower body imperfections, but still don't want a ball gown. Corolla dresses are not as long as prom dresses.
- Sheath dresses fit well on women with balanced and lean figures. They shouldn't be worn by brides who don't appreciate their looks. This dress will not hide any imperfections. If you think your thighs or buttocks are too thick, you will feel uncomfortable in this type of dress. Don't try to care just because you've found a dress in this style that you love. You definitely don't want to take the risk of feeling awkward or embarrassed on your wedding day, or regretting your choice every time you look at the wedding photos.
- Empire dresses have a skirt that starts directly under the bust. While they are typically cataloged alongside various types of waistlines and are not always regarded as a model type, they are still a fantastic choice for a non-formal, casual wedding or for weddings in areas with a tropical climate. They are generally made with light and soft fabrics. They are also a great choice for expectant brides, as they leave more room on the waist, making them a comfortable choice and won't draw attention to the tummy like a dress with a lower waistline would.
Step 3. Imagine your wedding
Imagine your wedding day. What are you wearing? What shape is your dress? What fabric is it made of? Is it embroidered or beaded? What colour is it? With all these choices for a dress, it can be overwhelming to have to choose from hundreds of thousands of dresses. Some brides have confessed that after searching through shelves and racks of clothes, at some point they saw them all the same. So before you even start trying them on, imagine your wedding day and what your dress looks like, and write a list of features that describe your dream dress. You don't have to know all the technical names of wedding dresses. Simply write a description of the dress you are imagining. An example of features would be: "princely, satin, some shade of white, but not pure white, thin straps".
Step 4. Consider the circumstances
A wide variety of factors can affect what makes a particular dress appropriate for the occasion.
- Formal ceremonies typically require floor-length dresses and long trains, while informal ceremonies are a perfect occasion to wear a shorter dress without any train (or a "duster" train that just touches the ground). Another example: in some cases, strapless dresses are considered inappropriate for very formal ceremonies.
- If you are getting married in the winter, you may not want to be dressed in a very light and thin fabric, unless you plan to be indoors all the time. If you're getting married on a beach in mid-July, on the other hand, you may not want to wear a heavy fabric like silk duchess satin.
- Although more traditional ceremonies require a white dress, in many cases, wedding dresses no longer have to be pure white! Many women choose colors that match well with their skin tones, ranging from diamond white to ivory to champagne white to more current colors (pink, blue, red). Choose the color that makes you feel more beautiful.
Step 5. Establish your budget
You don't have to set a very specific price to decide on your budget. Simply estimate a general range, such as € 1000 -1500, or even € 1000 -2000. You can always change your mind if you want and especially if you can, but it certainly helps to estimate a general budget. Some experts suggest allocating 10% of the total wedding budget for the bride's dress. Just remember that the "dress" does not only include the dress, but also other things: the veil, the shoes, the petticoat, the jewelry, the gloves, etc. All of these things are optional, of course (except for the slip which generally serves to prevent the dress from getting stuck between the legs as you walk). You will need to take into account the price of any accessory you want to wear with the dress.
Advice
- Remember that in the end it is your marriage and you CAN do whatever you want. However, if you decide to wear a mini-skirt, strapless, and open-back dress you may end up sharing the lesson learned on "How to Keep Your Super Religious Parents From Stopping Contributing to Your Wedding Costs"!
- Another option to consider is to rent a dress. This solution could be much cheaper to give yourself a great dress (for the day). The other bonus is that you don't have to clean it, put it away, or ever have to deal with it again.
- If you feel more beautiful with one type of dress, then buy it! It doesn't matter what kind of wedding you're planning or how much time is left until the big day - you're shopping, if it makes you feel beautiful, your wedding day is sure to be a blast.
- Wedding dresses tend to be sold by designers and in catalog, even for the least expensive garments, so write down which designer you like and the catalog numbers - this will help you find similar styles that may be cheaper than the dress you want.
- If you are lucky enough to have a master tailor as a good friend and enough time, you certainly have many more options. The first is to do it from scratch. It could be quite expensive if you choose certain fabrics. Another option would be to change the dress. A size 44 dress could be made into a size 52 through a certain combination of measurements and capacities. These dresses can be purchased on sale for less than the price of the fabric.
- If finances are a real problem, there may be clothes available in some charity organizations.
- When you go to the store, unlike other dress shops, wedding dress shops don't always have your size. You may have to decide based on a dress that is too big or too small. This reason explains why it might help to decide on a model first. If you know that the empire waist fits your figure well, it will be easier to throw in, even if the dress you are trying on is 4 sizes larger than you and with huge hooks on the back.
