Selecting Your Wedding Gown: Dress Tips
Choosing the perfect wedding dress to suit your body, personal style and pocket is no easy feat! As Paula Cooperman, from Millcrest Vintage, in New Jersey, USA, says : “This is one of the most special days in any woman’s life and often it is the dress that sets the tone for the entire day”.
Since nothing beats having a personal panel of experts to guide you to realising your wedding day dreams with the perfect wedding gown, read further to learn from the hearty advice so generously dished out from the best wedding dress designers and stockists from all over the world in this week’s Wedding Planning Series special.
Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Dress
- Begin with a clear budget – Cape Town-based wedding dress designer, Cindy Bam advises that you start your wedding dress search with a clear budget in mind.
- Do your research – London-based designer, Kate Edmondson suggests that you should gather as much information from magazines on the fabrics and details on wedding dresses that catches your eye and create a collage of dresses detailing the areas of the dresses that you like.
- Be realistic about your body type – South African designer, Ilse Roux suggests having a figure analysis done. More of her great tips and designs can be seen in her exclusive feature: {Wedding Dress Design} Ilse Roux Bridal Wear. Choosing a silhouette that accentuates the positive is the way to go and can be best achieved by trying on an A-line cut gown, which Dolly Thicke, owner of Dolly Couture, in LA and New York, USA explains will be sure to flatter every woman.
- Don’t limit yourself, try them all on! Global wedding dress experts Elbeth Gillis, Elizabeth Avey, Cindy Bam, Ilse Roux, Abigail Haughton, Hannah O’Byrne and Kate Edmondson all agree that trying on as many wedding gowns as possible is so important to see what styles suit your shape, what you will feel most comfortable in and to get a clearer idea of the overall look that you are trying to create.
(Above Left) Gahlia Lahav 2013 Empress Wedding Collection | (Above Right) Shot by: D’amor Photography
“This is one of the most special days in any woman’s life and often it is the dress that sets the tone for the entire day” – Millcrest Vintage, in New Jersey, USA
- Consider your venue and wedding – Cape Town-based designer, Elbeth Gillis, advises that you keep in mind your venue and the type of wedding that you intend to have when considering your wedding dress. Check out our {Wedding Dress Design} Elbeth Gillis Bridal Wear – Cape Town feature, which shares her unique style and beautiful designs worn by real brides.
- Choose a dress that makes you feel comfortable – According to Dolly, from Dolly Couture, your comfort on the big day is paramount so stick to a dress that makes you feel secure.
- Buy your dress at least 9 months in advance – It can take 6 months for some designers to deliver your wedding dress and additional time will be required for alterations and accessorizing, so be sure to buy your dress at least 9 months before your Big Day to avoid both stress and rush fees, says Erin Juchima, from The Bridal Atelier, in Geelong West Victoria, Australia.
(Above) Shot by: Skyla Walton Photography
Tips for Wedding Dress Fittings
- Book a consultation with at least one designer that you trust – Hearing their advice can be very helpful, says Ilse Roux. If the store allows, the Biji Couture team, based in Gauteng, South Africa suggests that you even go as far as to “take photographs of yourself in the gowns you try on”, as it helps to have the photos to look back on later and get a technical view of which styles really worked best.
- Spread out your dress fitting appointments – Rather than book too many appointments into a single day and to avoid feeling overwhelmed when browsing for wedding dress options, UK designer, Elizabeth Avey, tells us that one should instead try to spread dress fitting appointments over a period of time.
- Wear the right underwear – Wearing the right underwear (preferably nude in colour) will provide proper support when trying on different dress styles, says Cindy Bam and Erin, from The Bridal Atelier.
- Always take along a friend or someone you really trust – Receiving input from someone whom you trust can be helpful, says Abigail Haughton, from Abigail’s Vintage Bridal, in East Midlands, UK. However, be sure to choose your companions wisely! Although it is a great idea to turn dress fittings in to a day out, Elizabeth Avey suggests that you “try to resist the temptation to take along large parties of friends and family to each fitting as your voice may get lost and you could find yourself pulled and pushed by too many opinions”.
- Take along a pair of shoes of the same height you plan to wear on your wedding day – Erin, from The Bridal Atelier explains that this will help you to picture the overall effect.
Make sure you check out the rest of our Wedding Planning Series to help you with all the details for your special day!