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Considerations |
Getting started
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- Check with your wedding officiant before beginning your search. Religious restrictions may prohibit certain styles such as a strapless or décolletage design.
- Think about the style and timing of your wedding. A formal winter ceremony at a luxury hotel will call for a very different dress then what you might select for a springtime garden celebration.
- Look through bridal magazines to get an idea of the current styles and popular designers.
- Keep an open mind as you set out on your search. You might find a look that hadn't occurred to you before.
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Be True to Yourself |
- Trust your own sense of style. Don't choose a dress just because your friends or a persuasive salesperson likes it. You know what looks good on you. If the dress isn't what you want - keep looking!
- Remember that you will be spending hours in your wedding dress. Think about the activities you will be participating in. Is the dress comfortable to walk around in? Kneel in? Dance in? How does the fabric feel against your skin? Does the material wrinkle easily? Is the gown well lined?
- White and ivory are the two most popular color choices, but they are not the only ones. Consider pale pink or blue - or even royal purple! - if that's more your style. Likewise, there is no one right fabric or type of accessory. The important thing is how you look and feel on your wedding day.
- Order a dress that fits you right now rather than one in the size you may hope to be on your wedding day. It is much easier (and less expensive!) to take a gown in rather than to try and let one out.
- Keep your body shape in mind. The oh-so-elegant sheath will complement a tall, athletic build while a more full-figured bride will look better in an A-line style.
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Shopping and Ordering |
- Take no more than one or two trusted people on your quest for the ultimate gown. You don't want more than that because you're risking getting a number of conflicting opinions. What you do want is to have at least one person along that will be believable when they tell you that you've never looked lovelier.
- Ask your shopping buddy to take notes on any dresses that you like. Ask them to write down where you found the dress at as well as its size, style and cost. After you've looked at a few dresses (most brides try on a minimum of ten gowns, and others try on way more!), these details will start to blur in your mind.
- Wedding dresses often run small, so you'll probably need to buy your gown in the next size up.
- Prices will vary dramatically. Keep meticulous notes and be sure that you are comparing apples to apples. Ask not only about the price of the dress, but also about all alteration fees.
- Be aware of quality. You may find an inexpensive copy of a designer gown, but the workmanship may be poor. Look closely at the quality of any dress you are considering.
- Be sure to budget for all the accessories you will need including: shoes, undergarments, headpiece and jewelry.
- Do not begin your fittings until you have found your shoes and undergarments! The shape of your bra and the height of your heels can make a big difference during the alteration process.
- Leave yourself plenty of time if you plan to special-order. It could take several months or more to get your dress.
- Regardless of where you buy your gown, allow at least a month for alterations.
- If you want to have a formal bridal portrait displayed at the reception or published in a newspaper, you will need to have your dress completed at least two months prior to the wedding. Photographers can take nearly that long to produce a formal portrait
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Style Guide |
Silhouettes - The basic shape or structure of the gown. |
- A-Line - This popular semi-fitted style flatters many body types because of its unstructured waistline and flared skirt. Vertical seams flow from shoulder to hem.
- Ball gown - The traditional bridal silhouette has a fitted bodice with a very full skirt.
- Empire - Featuring a fitted bodice and a straight skirt that falls from just below the bust, this popular style flatters most body types.
- Princess - This fitted gown has two extra seams going from the bodice to the hem that allows a fuller skirt than the sheath style.
- Sheath - A semi-fitted gown with a narrow, body-hugging skirt that looks quite sophisticated on the right body type.
- Mermaid - This fitted gown has a narrow skirt that flares out from the knees.
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Necklines - This important feature frames your face. |
- Bateau - This high neckline reaches straight across from the shoulders with a slight curve at the front.
- Décolletage - A very low-cut neckline.
- Halter - Used for backless or sleeveless gowns, this style wraps around the neck.
- Illusion - The illusion style incorporates any neckline by covering it with transparent material.
- Jewel - This is a high, rounded neckline.
- Keyhole - A teardrop-shaped opening creates the appearance of an old-fashioned keyhole.
- Portrait - This style stands away from the bride's face and incorporates off-the-shoulder sleeves.
- Queen Anne - This neckline has a high back with a heart-shaped opening around the face.
- Round/Scoop - A low neckline that's rounded in front.
- Square - A half-square shape is created with straight lines across the bust and up to the shoulders.
- Sweetheart - This style curves around and dips at the center in a heart-shape.
- Wedding-band collar - This choker style circles the middle of the neck.
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Back Treatments - Don't forget the back of your gown. It'll be on display throughout most of the wedding ceremony. |
- Butterfly - A large bow or bouquet is gathered at the small of the back.
- Buttons - Fabric-covered buttons are a common back treatment.
- Keyhole - A cut-out back treatment that can be covered in illusion material.
- Ruffles - Tiers of ruffles falling from the waistline create this look.
- Scoop/Square - A curved or boxy back treatment.
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Sleeves - There are a number of sleeve styles and each adds its own character to your dress. |
- Bishop - This fairly full, gathered style ends at the wrist.
- Cap - A tiny sleeve that barely covers the top of the shoulder. Sometimes seen on dropped or off-the-shoulder styles, the cap will extend down the arm slightly.
- Fitted - This style is worn close to the arm and comes in various lengths.
- Gibson - Puffed at the top, this sleeve is full to the wrist.
- Leg o' mutton - This style begins full at the shoulder and narrows into a fitted forearm.
- Petal - Meant to resemble flower petals, these sleeves are usually short and wrap around the arm.
- Poet - This very full style is pleated at the shoulder and gathered at the wrist.
- Puff - This short sleeve features gathered fabric in varying degrees of fullness.
- Spaghetti strap - Tiny straps worn over the shoulders take the place of sleeves in this style.
- Strapless/bustier - The strapless bodice is a completely sleeveless style. It is often paired with a jacket or capelet for the ceremony.
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Skirt Widths - The width of your gown's skirt will determine its overall silhouette. |
- Ballerina - An extra-full skirt style.
- Bouffant - Falling from a gathered waist, this is the fullest skirt available.
- Circular - This skirt falls from a smooth waistline and forms a circle at the hem.
- Flared - This style gradually widens from waist.
- Full - Gathered at the waist, this skirt is fuller than the circular style.
- Mermaid - Sometime referred to as a trumpet style, this fitted skirt is fitted and flares out at the knees.
- Sheath - A straight, body-skimming style.
- Three-tiered - A skirt created by tiers of fabric.
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Skirt Lengths - The formality of your ceremony will dictate the length of your dress. |
- Ankle-length - This long gown stops just at the ankle and is usually reserved for formal and semi-formal weddings.
- Floor-length - Only the toes of your shoes will show when you wear this semi-formal to formal length.
- Midi - Falling between the knee and mid-calf, this style is usually worn for informal or daytime weddings.
- Mini - This skirt rises one or more inches above the knee and is worn for informal or daytime weddings.
- Street - Stopping just below the knee, this style is usually worn in informal or daytime weddings.
- Tea-length - The skirt reaches to the mid-calf and is worn in informal or daytime weddings.
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Trains - Wedding gown trains come in several styles and lengths and are reserved for formal and semi-formal weddings. |
The length of the train will be determined by the formality of the wedding. |
- Cathedral - A formal train length that extends up to two yards behind the bride.
- Chapel - This semi-formal style extends up to one yard out.
- Royal - The ultimate train extends at least three yards out and usually requires the assistance of train-bearers.
- Sweep - This semi-formal style barely trails the bride.
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The train can be designed as an element of the gown or it can be worn as a removable accessory. |
- Attached - As part of the gown itself, the train extends from the back of the skirt. This type of train is usually converted into a bustle for the reception.
- Capelet - This style extends from the shoulders.
- Detached - Most detaching trains extend from the back of the waist and can be completely removed after the ceremony.
- Watteau - Similar to the capelet, this pleated style extends from a yoke worn across or just below the shoulder blades.
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Where to Buy |
Where you buy your dress can have a direct effect on the cost you pay and the service you receive. The most important factors in making this decision will be the time and money you have available as well as your comfort level with the process. Do you want a professional to walk you through every step of the process? Is having a designer gown important? Can you wait several months to a year for your dress to arrive? Or do you need something in the next few weeks? The answers to these questions will help determine where you will buy your dress. |
Full-service bridal shop |
| The traditional stand-alone bridal store offers the advantage of knowledgeable and experienced personnel who can help you find the gown of your dreams. Another benefit is that you can usually pick up your accessories and have your alterations done at the same place. Prices tend to be at full retail, but many shops offer sample sales where you might find a dress at half the regular price. If you do special-order your dress, be sure to ask how long its delivery will take. This may become a factor if you're having trouble deciding between two dresses. |
Department stores |
| Some high-end department stores have bridal salons that can offer you even more services than a specialty store, but you will usually end up paying higher prices as well. On the flip side, there are lower-end stores that may offer discount prices, but little in the way of services. |
Outlet/warehouse stores |
| If you are tight on time or money then you'll want to check into bridal outlet or warehouse stores. They usually sell "off-the-rack" at less than 50 percent of suggested retail prices. You can find some great deals, but look at the condition of the dresses carefully. Make sure that you are buying new, undamaged merchandise. |
Online/mail order |
| Check out the web when you're ready to shop. There are a number of mail-order retailers and discounters online that will be able to offer a wide selection of dresses. And there are even more sites that will let you look at gowns online and then direct you to a local retailer for purchase. |
Alternate sources |
| If you're on a very tight budget or want something unusual, check out vintage clothing stores and consignment shops. Even with possible cleaning and repair costs, you might just find a real deal! |
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Ways to Save |
Bridal gowns come in all shapes and silhouettes and their prices are just as unique. Most brides tend to spend several hundred dollars on their gowns. Check out any bridal magazine and you'll see styles that easily cost three times as much. But don't despair; you can look beautiful without going broke! |
- Start shopping as soon as possible. You don't want to buy an over-priced dress because you're feeling rushed.
- Simplicity is in. Go for cleaner lines and less expensive embellishment.
- Add your own trimming or hire a seamstress to dress-up a simple "off-the-rack" dress.
- Borrow a dress from a friend or relative. The same goes for accessories!
- Buy a beautiful bridesmaid's dress in ivory or white. Even a designer creation will be considerably less than a bridal gown.
- If you're going informal, consider a fabulous suit or street length dress.
- Go with an evening gown. You can usually get twice the dress for half the money!
- Ask about less expensive fabrics.
- Have a talented seamstress recreate that designer look you want at a fraction of the cost.
- Think vintage! You can find antique wedding gowns and cocktail dresses that will look like one-of-a-kind creations.
- Look for sample sales. You can get great deals and you won't have to special-order.
- Check the newspapers and chat boards for gently-used (or never-worn!) bridal gowns.
- Make your own veil or headpiece with kits and materials from a craft store.
- If you'll be going with a full-length gown, then you can wear shoes you already own or buy inexpensive ones. Your guests will see very little of them.
- Ask about a "group rate" if you'll be ordering your gown and your bridesmaid's dresses from the same shop.
- Don't buy a special "going away" outfit. Either wear something you already own or leave in your gown!
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For delivery by Saturday, May 10th, follow the shipping guidelines below.
