Ten Things You Must Know and Do Before Purchasing your Wedding Gown

Searching for a wedding gown can be one of the most exciting events in your life, it can also be one of the most expensive investments you make. Because your gown will affect the tone of the wedding in many ways, it is important to get your gown with plenty of time before the wedding. There are some key things that will help you as you search for the perfect gown. Here are ten tips that will help you as you begin searching for that one dress that will magically transform you into the bride you always imagined. 

1. Get a clear picture of how you want to look in your head

Close your eyes and imagine yourself on your wedding day. What do you see? Are you walking down an aisle, on the beach, on a yacht, outside under candlelight? Is your dress flowing behind you in the breeze? Do you feel like a princess because of the ball gown poof? or maybe you have a tight fit mermaid style dress that accentuates all your curves? Take that image that you have in your mind and write down six adjectives that describe how you want to look on your big day! For example, you may write words like traditional, romantic, princess like, lavish, minimalist, sophisticated, sexy, elegant etc.

 2. Try on the different silhouettes of gowns to find out what looks best on your figure

All wedding gown fall under one of four silhouettes: ball gown (the most traditional, has a full bodice and waistline that leads to a very full skirt), the empire (has a high waistline which falls to a slimmer skirt), the A-line or princess (features vertical seams flowing from the shoulders down to an A-shaped flared skirt), and the sheath (closely follows the line of the body). An experienced bridal consultant can point out what feature of each silhouette best compliments your body type. You should let her know what you like about each style as well.

3. Select the color and fabric of your gown

A dress in a different color can look and feel very different on you. Although the traditional wedding color is white, more and more gowns are being designed in different colors. You may want to consider a softer ivory or a darker champagne that will better enhance your complexion. Choose a color and a fabric that will best reflect the mood of your wedding. When you choose the fabric of your dress, keep in mind that it will be the basis for the overall look and feel of your gown and will influence cost more than any other aspect of your gown.

4. Determine what features you want on your gown

You should consider and have a good idea about what kind of neckline, waistline, train, beadwork, applique, lace, and any other embellishments. Once you have decided which silhouette, color and fabric you like best, determine if the gown will have sleeves, straps, or if you would prefer strapless. You will want to try on a variety of gowns to help you find what you like best as you discover what your perfect gown will be.

5. Accept help from knowledgeable and professional bridal consultants

A good bridal consultant will ask lots of questions so that she can better understand how you envision YOUR big day. They will want to be helpful and ensure that you have a great experience. They will treat you with respect and most likely provide some recommendations. An expert consultant has seen many gowns on many different brides and many different body types. Let an expert's opinion guide you to consider shapes, or styles that you may not have considered before. However, your consultant should make you feel comfortable, and you should be able to freely express your opinion. From the moment that you enter a salon or store be mindful of the way that you are treated. You should feel that you are respected and you should be comfortable talking with the people. This is your special day and you deserve help that makes you feel happy.

6. Be aware of traditions or religious guidelines that may influence how your gown should look

Different pastors, clergy, or officiants in various religious and/or ethnic backgrounds have different requirements about wedding gowns. Some require that you have sleeves, or that your straps be a certain thickness. Others have a height requirement for the front and/or back of your gown. Also, some venues have these types of requirements. If you are set on a certain venue, or a specific person that you would like to perform the ceremony, be sure to check on any guidelines or requirements about your gown. this will prevent embarrassment on the part of you and your guests.

7. Bring along someone whose opinion you trust and respect to help you in your search

This could be a sibling, parent, friend, or bridesmaid. Having an extra set of eyes can be helpful, but limit the number of people that you bring with you. Too many opinions can cause confusion and frustration. Such feedback can be invaluable, but do not forget that it is YOUR wedding day. In the end, your opinion is the one that matters most. You should make the decision yourself after careful consideration.

8. Make your decision

Making your final decision doesn't have to be a stressful drawn out experience. You have your mother or friend and your consultant to help you. Be sure to give yourself a chance to look at several options before purchasing your gown. Trust your own instincts. You have likely been visualizing your special day for some time. Ask yourself these three important questions prior to making your final decision: 1. Which dress do I feel the prettiest in? 2. Which dress accentuates my best feature? and 3. Which dress most fits my personality or style? Try on each gown that you are considering and ask these three questions. When you find the one to which all of the answers are yes, you have found your gown! Once this decision has been made, smile and relax!

9. Have your dress altered to match your exact figure

Make sure that you find a seamstress who is an expert at altering wedding gowns. Many brides have to go back and find another "dream dress" because their original was destroyed in alterations. Avoid this by planning ahead for any necessary alterations. The typical wedding gown is made for a lady that is 5'7". Be sure that if your gown doesn't fit perfectly that you go ahead and get it altered so that it fits your perfectly. Many stores have a seamstress that works in the store or at least a list of tailors that are experienced in wedding alterations.

10. Look for the final touches

Once you have found your gown, look for the matching elements that will complete your dream experience. Be sure to consider such accessories as a veil, gloves, shoes, and jewelry. These elements can help to complete your transformation into a new bride. You may want to ask your bridal consultant for suggestions about these final touches. You don't want to overpower your dress. If your dress already has a lot of beadwork, you may not need a lot of jewelry. The neckline that you choose will affect the length and look of the jewelry that will correctly accent your gown.

With these 10 tips in mind, your search for YOUR perfect, dream gown should be an exciting, stress-free, fulfilling and wonderful experience.

The Four Main Things that Determine the Price of a Wedding Dress

Wedding dresses are a very expensive investment. Many people complain that wedding dresses are overpriced especially in today's economy. However, there are reasons why the average cost of a wedding gown is around $1,100. There are four main aspects of a wedding dress that cause the price to rise: Fabric, Inner lining and construction, Ornamentation, and The skill of the seamstress constructing your gown.

Fabric

 The type of fabric that you choose will affect the cost as well as the appearance of your gown. Certain fabrics are seasonal, whereas others are better worn for specific locations. Here is a list of the main fabrics used to create wedding gowns, their cost in comparison to others, and any seasonal suggestions.

Charmeuse: machine-woven from silk or synthetic fibers. It is frequently found in lingerie, because it is both lighter and softer than satin. It drapes well on the body, following the body's contour. Generally, charmeuse is shiny on one side and matte on the reverse. It has a soft drape and is best for unstructured, flowing styles, empire, mermaid gowns. It's very delicate and has an especially luxurious feel and rich look. It's less expensive than silk satin, but more expensive than synthetic fabrics. Silk charmeuse, also sometimes referred to as "crepe backed satin" is a form of silk satin, but is very thin and floaty. This fabric is best worn in warmer months, but because of its unusually rich appearance, can also be worn in the winter.

Chiffon:  is machine-woven from silk or synthetic fibers like nylon. It is soft, sheer, and transparent so, because of its ethereal quality, it is often used as the overlay on the gown's skirt and is popular for sleeves, overskirts, and wraps and is often layered. Chiffon can be made from silk (more expensive) or rayon (more affordable). It has a soft, fluid drape and is best for overskirts, layered wedding, sheer sleeves, ballgown, and empire gowns. It is much less expensive than silk. Chiffon, is lightweight, and is available in just about any color. It does, however, wrinkle easily (not as much as silk) and is quite delicate.

 Georgette: is a sheer, lightweight fabric, georgette is made of polyester or silk with a crepe surface. It's light and floaty, perfect for a top layer and forms a soft silhouette. It's best for layered wedding gowns, ballgowns, empire and

mermaid styles.

Lace: can be woven from silk or cotton. Usually comes in several different kinds of weaves including, for example, Chantilly embroidered. 

 

 Organza: is also woven from silk or synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon. Its weave is what gives it its unique quality. The process is called plain-weave, a technique in which the fibers are crisscrossed. The resulting fabric is sheer and "crunchy" and comes in either a shiny, or sparkly finish. Organza is basically a stiffer chiffon, just as sheer, but not a "floaty." Its luxurious and lightweight which makes it perfect as a sheer fabric for top layer or inserts. The drape is crisp and it's best for layered gowns, veils, trains, fully-l layered skirts, ballgowns, or column-style gowns. It does, however, wrinkles easily. It's also very delicate, and tends to be on the expensive side. It's best suited for warmer months, but can be worn at anytime of the year. 

Satin: there are many different types of satin.is obtained from natural (silk) or synthetic fibers (nylon). What distinguishes it is that satin has a high thread count that comes from using many layers of fiber. Silk satin is the most traditional of wedding gown fabrics. DUCHESS SATIN, PEAU DE SOIE, BRIDAL SATIN is much like satin and is obtained from woven silk. It can be woven from synthetic fibers. Its very high thread count makes it a heavier fabric that works well in the winter, albeit it is used in other seasons as well. It has a dull lustrous, rich, buttery soft finish, fine ribs, a grainy appearance and a dull back. It's of medium weight and a semi stiff drape, making it best for tailored silhouette, simple formal wedding gowns, a base for embellishments, A-Line, ballgown, and mermaid gowns. Although it's considered by most to be the most luxurious of all fabrics, it is also one of the most expensive, as much for example as three times as much as silk taffeta. It's also not as durable as poly satin and somewhat heavier than some other fabrics. Because silk can't be bleached without ruining the integrity of the fabric, it cannot be made in pure white, which is the case for all silk fabrics. Its qualities make it best to be worn in cooler months, but it's really perfect at anytime of the year. 

Silk is a soft material that gives off a muted shine. Silk comes from fiber that is obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm. The fiber is spun into thread and woven into cloth. What's amazing is that the same thread can be woven into several fabrics that include satin, taffeta, organza, chiffon, lace, and tulle. Silk is still the most popular gown material.

Taffeta is obtained from woven, silk, nylon, acetate, and/or other synthetic fibers like polyester. The stiffer the taffeta, the higher its quality. The way to judge its quality is to crinkle it up in your hands. If it stays crunched it's of higher quality than if it "reverts" to being flat, then it's of a lesser quality. It's interesting to note that, unlike other sythetics, some synthetic taffetas are actually of a better quality than silk taffeta. The fabric looks ribbed with a dull, or a light sheen. It's best suited for the lining, or the outer fabric of a gown with wide skirts, and/or structured silhouette such as A-lies and ballgowns. It has many pros. It's lightweight, looks good even if it gets a bit wrinkled, and can be produced in alomost every color. The synthetic varieties can sometimes, but not always, prove to be as pricey as silk. It's not as lustrous as satin and the "swishing" is irritating to some brides. Its qualities make it best to be worn anytime, because it's rich enough for the winter and lightweight enough for the summer.

Inner Boning and Construction

The more boning and inner construction in a gown, the higher the price of the gown. The Princess Cut frequently comes with this type of boned bodice. Also many sheath gowns come with boning to help the dress be stiffer. Positively, the price of alterations tends to go down since the dresses fit better. Some people also find the boning uncomfortable and prefer simple seams. The choice is yours as boning is not required. Your preferences govern how the inner construction will affect the cost of your gown.

Ornamentation 

Ornamentation is a definite cost booster. Especially in many of the more ornamented gowns. Some of the wedding gowns that we have in our store have over 10,000 individually sewn beads that have required days of skilled sewing. Other types of ornamentation include lace, beadwork, appliques, and stunning patterns that will cause your guests to gasp in awe at your gorgeous gown! The more specialized the ornamentation the higher the price of the gown. The more skilled the seamastress who sewed the beads, the higher the price of the gown.

The skill of the Seamstress constructing your gown

Many gowns are hand sketched and designed with the most luxurious and exquisite fabrics available and are hand sewn by the most talented artisans on the planet. Here at A Bridal World, our gowns are one-of-a kind. No one else will have the exact gown that you have. It may be similar, but it cannot be the exact same. Our gowns are constructed by private designers. The gowns here at the store are selected by the owner and staff so that we have the perfect selection to reach any kind of bride who walks through our doors. You won't see our gowns at any other bridal salon in town!    

Silhouettes: What style will fit your body best

The Four Basic Silhouettes

What are they?

When beginning your search for the perfect dress there are key characteristics that you need to know. The four basic silhouettes are a great place to start. There are four basic silhouettes for Bridal gowns: Ball Gown, Princess Cut, Empire, and Sheath. These four silhouettes are standard and can help you to easily identify what type of style you are interested in most. Your body type does have an effect on what type of silhouette or style you should try. Here are some tips about what body type is best for each silhouette. However, remember that each dress is different and even though your body type may fit one category, you should still try on one of each silhouette to correctly identify what looks most flattering on you. Wedding gowns are not one size fits all! 

 The Ball Gown

The Ball gown is the most traditional wedding dress silhouette.This style features a fitted bodice and a full skirt. This silhouette has several different waistline options.

Basque: This waistline has a fitted bodice with an elongated triangle beneath and at the front of the center of the waistline. This style diminishes the width of the dress at the waist.

Natural: Waistline for this dress is between the hip and the ribcage. (The gown pictured at the left has a natural waistline.)

Asymmetrical: The waistline changes in height from one side of the gown to the other creating a diagonal slant waistline.

Dropped: This waistline is several inches below the natural waistline and elongates the torso. This waistline is good for individuals with short torsos.

  The Princess Cut 

This style is also known as A-line. The gowns have an A-Shape, created by the seams running from the shoulders to a flared skirt. This style is characterized by a narrow top that flows into a wider bottom. The style is designed to elongate the lines of the body adding an elegance and an illusion of length. This silhouette does not have to have a defined waistline, although some do. The difference between the Princess Cut and the Ball Gown is the fullness of the skirt and how fitted the bodice is.

 The Sheath

This silhouette is a form fitting dress that follows the line of the body. The skirt has either a slit, or can flare out so as to make walking easier. The mermaid and trumpet styles have the flared bottom starting around the knees and fall under the sheath Silhouette. The Fit and Flare and drop waist also fall under this category, but the flare usually starts around the upper leg giving the bride more walking flexibility.

Empire

This silhouette has a high waisted seam just beneath the bustline. From that seam the dress either flows into an A-line (as pictured on the right) or continues to follow the shape of the body into a sheath style. This silhouette has a waist minimizing cut that allows extra room for brides who have tummy problems or are pregnant.

We offer the following suggestions for matching your body type to your silhouette. Please remember that these are merely general recommendations, and each gown fits each body differently. You will still want to try on different styles to find what fits your personal body best and what you fell the prettiest in. Be sure to talk with your bridal consultant about what fits your body best. Feel free to contact one of our bridal consultants via facebook.

Hour Glass Figure (small waist, full hips and bust)

Look at a Princess cut gown with a v-neck or scoop-neck. This silhouette will help to accentuate your small waist.Try to avoid the Empire silhouette as it may hide your figure or make it look disproportional.

Short Waisted and Petite

Think about the Princess cut as it will elongate a short waist and lengthen the torso. Avoid the sheath style as it will emphasize your short waist making it more obvious.

Long Waist

Consider a basque waist ball gown. It will give you the appearance of a shorter waistline. Try to avoid a princess cut. That silhouette is designed to lengthen the torso and will make your long waist more obvious.

Boxy (undefined waistline-the line from your shoulders to your hips is straight)

Look at and Empire waisted gown. It will de-emphasize your waistline and give you a long, thinning look. Horizontal detailing will draw the eye across the body and combat vertical body lines, and oversized shoulders. Sleeves will add width to your top and shape to your overall appearance. Avoid a princess or sheath cut as they will draw too much attention to your middle.

Pear-Shaped (smaller on top; heavier on the bottom)

Choose a gown that will draw attention to the upper half of your body. The silhouette isn't quite as important as the neckline you select. An off the shoulder neckline will flatter your shoulders and chest while drawing focus away from your hips. Avoid the sheath silhouette. It will most likely be unflattering. The neckline is important here-but avoid a V-neck that draws the eyes down.

Full Figure/Plus Size

The ball gown is full and will hide many figure problems in the lower areas. Minimize a thick waist with an Empire waistline. A princess cut will flatter practically any figure. Avoid the Sheath silhouette. It will make you look heavier than you are.