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Charming Choices: An Essential Guide to the Diverse Styles of Flower Girl Dresses!

Flower girls are precious little angels who add a touch of innocence to your wedding ceremony! Little girls dressed in beautiful dresses, and scattering flowers as they cruise down the aisle are absolutely enchanting. Although flower girls are not an essential part of the wedding party, the beauty that they bring to the ceremony is unbeatable. Hence, it is no wonder that many brides decide to have them at their wedding.

Since they are part of your wedding party, it is important that their outfits also match the theme of your wedding. You may not have as many options as with bridesmaids dresses, in flower girls dresses. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing them.

  • Your flower girls will typically be between the ages of 3 and 8. At this age, they are not old enough to manage a high-maintenance dress. So, choose one that is simple but effective.
  • Young girls grow quickly. Hence, it is best that you buy the dress closer to the wedding. This way you can ensure that it will fit her.
  • Comfort should be one of the most important factors when choosing your flower girl’s dress. Avoid dresses that are too long, too tight or too warm. This can irritate your flower girl and spoil her mood.
  • Don’t expect your flower girl to sit still and take good care of her dress, so she looks fresh at the wedding. Not all girls are capable of doing that at their age. So, choose fabric that is wrinkle free and you needn’t worry about her spoiling her dress.
  • Although the common practice is to choose a dress that is a miniature version of the bride’s outfit, this isn’t necessary. Your flower girl can have a dress that is colorful, matches the bridesmaids dress colors or in any way ties to the theme of the wedding. If you choose a white or ivory dress for your flower girl, consider adding accent colors that match the wedding color palette, with suitable accessories.
  • Flower girl dresses can be expensive. So, be mindful of the parent’s budget when you choose a dress. Also, it would be a good idea to pick a dress that can be used by the girl again, so she gets more use out of it.
  • If you have more than one flower girl, either dress them up in the same dress or mix and match styles, colors and features, just like you would in the case of your bridesmaids dresses.
  • If your flower girl isn’t comfortable wearing a party dress, have her dress up in an outfit with pants or divided skirts that match the bridesmaids dresses. It doesn’t really matter as long as it comes together with the overall look.
  • Don’t forget your flower girl’s accessories when planning her look. Simple and convenient pieces of jewelry are the best. You can also think of adorable accessories like flower crowns and pretty waistbands for that extra dainty touch.
  • Your flower girl’s dress should match the formality of the event. A fancy-looking dress would be appropriate at a formal function. For a casual, outdoor event or an informal wedding, light, airy dresses would be better.

Now that we have covered the essential points that you should keep in mind when choosing your flower girl dresses, let us take a look at the various dress styles that are available to choose from.

V Neck Ivory Satin Champagne Tulle
V Neck Ivory Satin Champagne Tulle

Fairy-tale flower girl dresses

If you have your heart set on a princess wedding gown, a fairy tale flower girl dress would go well with your outfit. These dresses are typically miniature versions of ball gowns, with embellishments like lace, beading and hand embroidery. The dresses are usually floor length, but you can also have them altered to just skim the ankles, so it is comfortable for your flower girl to move around. Although fairy tale dresses are typically available in white and ivory, you may also be able to find them in different colors also.

Two-piece flower girl dresses

This is a versatile choice for brides who want to mix and match the top and skirt, to create the intended look. Here, the dress has a separate bodice and skirt, but when worn together, it will resemble a single dress. There are different options when you choose this alternative, and you can either have poufy flower girl dresses, or choose simple silhouettes that are easier to carry and comfortable to wear. The added benefit of a two-piece flower girl dress is that it allows you to mix and match different sizes, if your flower girl doesn’t really fit into a specific size. Thus, you can find a dress that fits her shoulders and her height correctly.

Full-length gown

Perfect for a formal wedding, these dresses are full-length, and extend just beyond the ankles to make sure it is comfortable for the little girl to carry it. Since it is a long dress, it is best to keep the details simple on it, so the bulk of the material isn’t overwhelming on the small frame. These dresses are usually created in A-line style, since this is easy to wear and looks good on most children. Full length gowns are available in color or white, and the skirt may either be pleated or plain. The dress shown here is from the Mori Lee collection, and features an empire waistline and sleeveless neckline.

Tea length dresses with poufy skirts

Very ornate and voluminous, this is a party dress style that is sure to look perfect at a formal ceremony. Usually fashioned in an A-line silhouette or ball gown style, the dress is characterized by the volume of its skirt. The fabrics used are net, tulle or organza, and sometimes it may feature a satin finish in the bodice and the lower layers of the skirt. Although the dress is short, it is still very effective as the skirt adds a dramatic overtone to the overall look. It is common to find the skirt gathered at various points and little flowers scattered at these gatherings for a beautiful effect.

A-line skirts

A-line dresses are a flower girl favorite, and can be either short or long. Like the name suggests, the dress silhouette resembles the shape of an A, with the top part fitted closely to the body, and the skirt flaring out into the shape of an A from the waistline. There may be a demarcation at the waistline with a sash or waistband, usually in a different color. When choosing this style, you can consider adding a waistband in your theme color to match it to the overall look easily. Many variations are possible with the humble A-line silhouette. This includes a dropped waist, draping on the bodice, embellishments along the skirt and many more options.

Pick-up skirts

Another style that instantly dresses up your flower girl, dresses with pick-up skirts are elaborate and stylish. Here the hemline is gathered and pushed upwards at regular spacing, along the length of the skirt. This is usually done in different tiers, adding more texture and volume to the dress. This Mori Lee flower girl dress looks like it is bubbling with excitement, as it features a ruched skirt with several pickups along the length. The dark sash at the waist separates the bodice from the textured skirt.

Tiered skirts

Adding more volume to a buoyant skirt are tiered skirt styles that feature a layered arrangement of tiers. These make the dress very interesting. These are usually fashioned out of lace, tulle or similar soft fabrics, so it bounces along. For the tiers to be evident, the skirt has to be long, and so it usually ends at the ankles. Although the tiers are spectacular by itself, this dress may also feature other embellishments in the bodice or at the hemline. This is a dress pattern that will be loved by most little girls.

The Mori Lee 575 features three tiers, each of which is trimmed with a hint of dark color like red or black. The sleeveless dress is simply embellished with a bow at the waist, but it can be accessorized with a bolero-style jacket if desired.

Cap sleeves and short sleeve dresses

If you aren’t fond of the sleeveless feature that is common on flower girl dresses, you can consider dresses with sleeves. There are different sleeve lengths to choose from. These include cap sleeves, T-shirt sleeves and longer styles. The cap sleeve style is particularly endearing, especially when they are embellished with lace or hand embroidery. Short sleeves can also be done with lace, and this will help you match it to a vintage-inspired wedding theme.

The dress featured here is the G339 from the Aglaia collection. This dress not only has lace cap sleeves, but the pretty embellishments continue into a scalloped neckline and further into bodice and skirt  You may also like to check out the dresses here and here, done in similar styles.

Dresses with colorful accents

If you want your flower girl to be dressed with a little dash of color in her dress, you have two options—either choose colorful accessories like a sash or bow to go with her outfit. Otherwise, choose a dress that has just the right amount of color in it. Colors like red, blue and pink are easy to come by in flower girl collections. These dresses are usually in white, and have the hint of color done at the neckline, in the sleeves, waistline and in scattered embellishments.

 

The G3327 shown here is from the Aglaia collection, and is a beautiful dress in white, with red as an accent color. You can see how the red is kept to a minimum to just create the right impact without overpowering the white. Other white dresses with pretty accent colors in embellishments can be seen here and here.

Colorful flower girl dresses

If you wish to dress your flower girl in rich color, there are plenty of choices. From full-length dresses to shorter tea length dresses, these are available in a range of colors, designs and silhouettes. While colorful dresses are always attractive on young girls, ensure that the dress color goes well with the bridesmaids dress colors for a cohesive effect. Since you may not have as many color options as you have with bridesmaids dresses, you will have to choose from what is available or settle for the closest available color. Also consider the rest of the outfit like the shoes and other accessories. Make sure that they complement the color, so it doesn’t look weird together. A safe option would be to choose white or black shoes and socks, or those that match the color of the dress.

The Aglaia collection at Best for Bride contains plenty of colorful flower girl dresses. Most of them can be ordered in colors beside those shown in the pictures on our website. Shown here is the G3307 in a soft shade of blue, that is perfect for outdoor weddings in terms of silhouette, fabric and design. This dress has more embellishments and would be good for a formal ceremony,while it is also an in-between choice that would work for both a formal or informal wedding.

We hope this post has helped you understand the various options in flower girl dresses, for you to pick for your wedding day! This is just another detail you must plan, and it is easier than dressing up your bridesmaids. One factor in your favor is that dressing your flower girl wrong is almost impossible. So, have fun choosing her dress.

Take a look at our gallery of flower girl dresses for more choices and options. Head over to this link at Best for bride for this.

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5 Non-traditional wedding dresses for the bold bride

All of us love the beautiful ball gown. Nonetheless, a bride in a different bridal outfit is refreshing, and let’s face it, we all do like the drama of something unique.

Brides today have it easy, with ace designers bringing forth many a wedding dress that makes it distinct. Whether it is the color, the fabric, the design or even the patterns on it, a bride can choose to show off her personality through the wedding dress she wears on the most important day of her life.

Let us look at some of the brilliant and unusual wedding dresses we have in our Alfred Angelo collection at Best for Bride. Which one will you love the most?

 

 

What do you think of this Grecian goddess inspired Alfred Angelo 2515 gown from the 2015 bridal collection? Everything from the criss-cross draped bodice to the sheer lace that begins at the corner of the bodice and extends into a low cut sheer back, makes this dreamy gown an exquisite piece. The light, breezy nature of the chiffon gown renders it an ideal choice for a beach wedding. The gathered A-line skirt is a universal choice that will suit any body type.

 

 

The new Alfred Angelo collection is all about surprises, as this fabulous wedding dress proves again. The 2512 NT modern fit gown from the 2015 collection is a masterpiece of glamour. The snugly fitting sweetheart neckline frames the bust and a moonstone style waistband that is thicker to one side of the torso are both stylish. There is no beating the perfectly executed high-low hemline with scalloped lace details. Now, if you want a more traditional look for the ceremony, it is possible with the detachable skirt that can be bought with the dress. Isn’t that a brilliant way to take you from morning to evening?

 

 

Now, here is a dress for the bride who wants to make sure she is the star of the day. This Alfred Angelo 2483 wedding dress from the 2015 collection will ensure that no bridesmaid nor wedding guest steals your thunder. Featuring a horsehair crumb catcher neckline and an asymmetrically layered skirt, the dress is poufy, but with personality. We can see many younger brides falling in love with this dress, and yes, it is the right choice if you want everyone’s jaw to drop as you make your appearance. The high-low hemline has a casual look, and the crisp layers that spread throughout the length add a mesmerizing touch to this wedding dress.

 

 

Bewitching and distinct, this black and white wedding 2455 wedding gown from the 2014 collection is unusually interesting. We’ve seen many colored wedding dresses before, but not many create an impact as powerful as this gown does. The sprinkling of black appliques on a pristine white base, all the way down the bodice to the dropped waist, and the culmination in a foam of white spray is fascinating. The sleeves too have black lace appliques to complete the effect.

So, what do you think of these unusually exciting wedding dresses? Will you be bold enough to try any of these yourself? To check out even more unique wedding gowns, check out our bridal gallery on Best for Bride.

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From Silk to Satin: The Essential Guide to Understanding and Choosing Wedding Fabrics!

Every wedding dress starts with the fabric it is created from. The possibilities in wedding fabrics are endless, from opulent silks and satins to rustling taffeta and flowing chiffon.

Did you know that by simply varying the fabric of a wedding gown, the entire effect and feel of the dress is altered?

This is because there are many factors that the fabric of your gown determines—how the dress drapes, it’s pattern, and cut and whether it is suitable for the venue and weather on your wedding day. So, the textile you choose has a huge bearing on how you will look on your big day, and a basic knowledge of the different fabrics will help you choose your gown better.

Let us take a quick look at the various fabrics used in constructing wedding gowns and the features that characterize each of them.

To make it easier for you to understand, we have divided them into two categories: Soft flowing and Structured.

Soft Flowing

Chiffon: Made from silk or silk blends with manmade fibres, chiffon is sheer and soft. It drapes well, is transparent and is a good choice for warm weather.

Georgette: Made from polyester or silk, it resembles crepe but is very lightweight. The material is not entirely transparent, and it’s a good choice for summer.

Tulle: This fabric resembles a very fine net; it is stiffer than chiffon and adds volume to a gown. Tulle is crisp and see-through; it is the choice for wedding veils and is often mixed with other fabrics.

Structured

Silk: Synonymous with luxury, silk adds an elegant and formal touch to any wedding gown. Available in different forms, from smooth mikado to charmeuse, silk wedding gowns are the epitome of style and sophistication. While raw silk is the textured type, other forms of silk are characterized by their sheen.

Satin: Plain, lustrous and shiny, satin is luxurious and has a heavy structure. Duchess Satin and Larissa Satin are the two types used in wedding gowns, and it is an ideal choice for a formal wedding. However, the heavy structure would make it inappropriate for an outdoor wedding, but it is an ideal choice for cooler weather.

Crepe: Lightweight and crinkly, crepe is a soft fabric that is created by blending silk and man-made fibres. It flows elegantly and softly hugs your body. It emphasizes your curves, as it has an excellent drape.

Taffeta: Characterized by the rustle it creates with movement, taffeta is made from silk or a silk blend. The fabric has a glassy sheen and a definite structure. It is often used in ballgown skirts and gowns that need to hold their structure and look poufy rather than fall gently.

Organza/Organdy: Two fabrics that sound similar but are different for the fact that while organza is made of silk, organdy is cotton. Both are crisp and sheer. Organza is popularly used in overlays and embellishments and is stiff and can give structure to a gown. It resembles tulle but is softer.

This isn’t a comprehensive list as the fabric choices in wedding gowns continue to evolve and improve. Nevertheless, with this list in hand, you will be equipped to know whether you want a soft, flowing, dreamy wedding dress or a structured and poufy bridal gown and the fabrics that will work in this direction.

For more wedding dress tips and advice, visit us on Best for Bride.