We’ve spent all these weeks talking about all the elements that make a wedding ceremony successful. But can you imagine we haven’t talked about the dress?! Sure, we wrote something here about choosing to buy or rent a dress. But how can you even tell what to wear? Read on to find out!
So, the bride is usually the focal point of a wedding and rightly so. You’ll be hard-pressed to ever look more stunning than you will on your wedding day. Few people will argue with you over spending a fortune on putting together the best you can afford in hair, makeup, accessories and THE most beautiful dress you will ever wear. However, choosing your dream wedding dress can be a little dicey so, here are a few pointers to guide you.
Where are you wearing it?
We know it’s your wedding, of course, but where is that happening? The venue may influence the type of dress you pick. If it’s the classic formal ceremony, then your options are near limited, but if it’s an outdoor venue or say you’re jumping off a plane, then you should take that into consideration before picking the dress.
If you’ve always dreamt of an outdoor/beach wedding, you should think along the lines of airy fabric like chiffon or lace and strapless or halter styles that don’t have long trains.
Keep the dream in focus
What detail about your wedding dress are you fixated on? Is it the design/fashion/fabric of the dress itself or the feeling the dress is to evoke in you or others? Is the dress everything or is it just part of a wedding theme?
If it’s about the design of the dress itself, then you most likely have a strong idea of what you’re looking for. On the other hand, if it’s a feeling you want to capture or part of a theme, then you need to consult with experts on how to create the dress you want. For instance, you might be looking at fabrics like lace/tulle and silk/satin, and styles like the ball gown if you’re gunning for feeling like a princess or working with a fairytale theme.
Keep an eye on the constraints
Of all the constraints that exist, the two most common ones are time and money. You need to set a budget and shop within the limits you have created. There are good options in every price range and if all else fails, you might want to look into renting a dress.
Time is also a major factor to take into consideration even if you’re renting. Experts say you need anything between six (6) to nine (9) months to select a dress with minimal hitches due to the length of time it takes to decide on the finer details, the numerous fittings and necessary last-minute changes.
You also want to bear in mind the formality of the ceremony, church/mosque guidelines where applicable (if you’re having a religious ceremony), seasonal or weather constraints and ease of coordinating with other wedding elements like the bouquet, accessories and bridal party.
What is he wearing?
No, this isn’t a mistake. You have to think about what your groom is wearing too. If you haven’t discussed it yet, do so, to ensure that your outfits complement each another. You don’t want to end up with one person looking semi-formal while the other is dressed to the nines.
You should also bear his taste in mind while picking a dress, after all, you want him to catch his breath when he sees you walking down the aisle.
Keep it real
Be realistic about what you can pull off with your figure, height and size. If you’ve always had an exact picture of your dream wedding dress and it doesn’t quite fit perfectly in reality, be willing to tweak a few details or choose a totally different dress that works better. Take a trusted friend or family member along for much-needed perspective. Choose a dress for your current size not your future size even if you do intend to lose some weight as it’s much easier to take the dress in a few sizes than it is to loosen.
Some other things to bear in mind are:
- Can you breathe in the dress? Seriously, can you?
- Try a few on, even outside your vision
- Think of the accessories while looking at each dress
- Also, think of how it’ll look in photos
- Think of the ease of walking and sitting in it, and of getting through the day with it, including bathroom breaks
- Wear a properly-fitted bra to fittings—if you’re going to wear a bra with the dress on the big day
Above all else, stay true to yourself. Wear what feels most like you and keeps you as comfortable as you need to be on your big day.