Category: Wedding Tips

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Choosing the Right Fabric for your Wedding Dress

Fabrics for Wedding Dresses

The style of your wedding dress will determine which fabric you choose. Choosing the right fabric can be the difference between a fabulous wedding dress that flatters you and a wedding dress that just doesn’t look right. Some wedding dresses look fabulous in one type of fabric but will just not look right in another. If your wedding dress fits well and is made of the right fabric it will look like a million dollars even if it costs a fraction of the price.

The overall appearance of a wedding gown is made up of many factors. The fabric chosen can make a dramatic difference to your wedding dress. Fabrics all have different qualities that effect the drape, and cut of a wedding gown. Some fabrics hug the body, and give a soft silhouette while others may have more body and are suited to a more tailored design.

Silk fabrics are undoubtedly the most desired and cherished for wedding gowns, and have lustre and luxury. Satin, duchesse satin, charmeuse, shantung, chiffon, organza all can be woven from silk but will behave very differently. All of these fabrics can be made of other fibres, such as polyester or nylon and will have similar properties at a more affordable price.

Below is a list of some popular fabric for wedding gowns with some explanations of their qualities.  You can find definitions of the different Wedding Dress Styles here.

Brocade

Softer, lighter than satin.

Surface: Woven Pattern
Fibre: Silk, polyester
Weight: medium, Heavy
Drape: Semi Stiff

Best for: Structured wedding gowns, A Line, Column, Mother of the Bride

Charmeuse Satin

Softer, lighter than satin.

Surface: Semi sheen
Fibre: Silk, polyester
Weight: Light
Drape: Soft

Best for: Unstructured wedding gowns, flowing styles. Empire, Mermaid

Chiffon

Drapey, sheer fabric not as heavy as Georgette.

Surface: Sheer, translucent
Fibre: Silk, rayon, polyester, nylon
Weight: Light
Drape: Soft, fluid

Best for: Overskirts, layered wedding gowns, sheer sleeves. Ballgown, Empire,

Crepe

Slightly wrinkled appearance, heavier than Georgette.

Surface: Textured
Fibre: Silk, acetate, rayon
Weight: Light
Drape: Soft

Best for: Flowing wedding gowns, soft silhouettes. Ballgown, Empire, Mermaid

Damask

Pattern is the same colour as the fabric.

Surface: Dull jacquard design
Fibre: Silk, cotton
Weight: Medium
Drape: Semi stiff

Best for: Bodices, tailored wedding gowns, shrugs, jackets. A Line, Column,

Duchess Satin

A beautiful heavy fabric with lustrous rich finish. Also know as Bridal Satin

Surface: Glossy, very lustrous surface with a dull back
Fibre: Silk or silk/rayon blend
Weight: Medium
Drape: Semi Stiff

Best for: Tailored silhouette, simple formal wedding gowns, excellent base for embellishments. A Line, Ballgown, Column, Mermaid

Dupion

Heavier, stiffer than satin.

Surface: Semi sheen, smooth
Fibre: Silk, polyester
Weight: Medium
Drape: Semistiff

Best for: Structured styles, suits, jackets. A Line, Ballgown, Column,

Georgette

Light and floaty as a top layer it forms a soft silhouette.

Surface: Sheer with a slight crepe finish.
Fibre: Silk or polyester
Weight: Light
Drape: Soft, floaty

Best for: Layered wedding gowns. Ballgown, Empire, Mermaid

Knit Fabric

Comfortable, yet stable enough to hold a tailored shape.

Surface: Matte
Fibre: Various, wool, polyester, rayon, blends
Weight: Medium
Drape: Soft

Best for: Tailored Suits Mother of the Bride outfits

Organza

Crisp, sheer fabric for top layer or inserts

Surface: Sheer, smooth finish
Fibre: Silk, polyester, nylon
Weight: Light
Drape: Crisp

Best for: Layered wedding gowns, veils, trains full layered skirts. Ballgown, Column

Peach Skin

Smooth, finely woven Micro fiber

Surface: Smooth, soft
Fibre: Silk, polyester
Weight: Medium
Drape: Soft

Best for: Mother of the Bride outfits, Empire line, Column

Satin

In between charmeuse and dupion.

Surface: Lustrous, smooth. Matte satin has a dull sheen.
Fibre: Silk, polyester
Weight: Heavy
Drape: Soft

Best for: Almost any wedding gown. A Line, Ballgown, Column, Empire, Mermaid

Shantung

Similar to dupion with a textured surface, may be satin backed.

Surface: Slubbed texture, dull
Fibre: Silk, polyester
Weight: Medium
Drape: Stiff

Best for: Tailored wedding gowns. A Line, Ballgown, Column,

Taffeta

A stiff fabric with good body. Moire is a watermark pattern.

Surface: Either dull or a light sheen, moire finish
Fibre: Silk or polyester
Weight: Light
Drape: Stiff

Best for: Wide skirts, structured silhouette. A Line, Ballgown, Column,

Tulle

Available in different weights for and stiffness.

Surface: Netting
Fibre: Silk, nylon
Weight: Light
Drape: Stiff

Best for: Layered skirts, veils, under shirts, petticoats. Ballgown.

Velvet

Softer than velveteen, luxurious.

Surface: Plush plain under surface
Fibre: Silk, cotton, rayon, acetate
Weight: Heavy
Drape: Soft but luxurious

Best for: Soft silhouette, full skirts. A Line, Ballgown, Column, Mermaid
Wanda Arnold’s website http://weddingsdresses.tv will help you find your dream wedding dress and buy it online. Helpful tips and information for choosing fabrics and styles. Explanations of different wedding dresses to help you choose your perfect wedding gown. Site reviews and links to online Wedding Dress Stores. You can find explanations of wedding dress styles and tips to help you choose the style to suit your figure type on our website. http://weddingsdresses.tv/wedding-gown-figure-types/.

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The Size Factor and All Sizes Bridesmaid Dresses

It’s an exhausting emotional roller coaster ride struggling to lose weight or mustering enough feminine curves before the wedding day just to squeeze into the best of the bridesmaid dresses. Why go through all these trouble when there are all-sizes dresses and gowns for bridesmaids?

Choosing Your Bridesmaid Dress

Whatever your size and body shape, there are heaps of bridesmaid dresses galore to choose from. These dresses come in various sizes to fit petite, small, medium, large, and extra-large frames. The designs and colors are also intended to hide body flaws and enhance physical assets so Instead of punishing yourself with that awful water-and-bread diet, choose a dress that fits perfectly with an extra inch or two just in case.

bridesmaid dress

In most cases, the bride decides the dress color for ‘ladies-in-waiting’ but agrees that her bridesmaids choose the dress design, especially if the bridesmaids are footing the bill. If it is possible that the bridesmaids shop together; it is financially advantageous for everyone because bridal salons give away a whooping 10 percent discount for an order of four or more dresses.

In the final stages of choosing bridesmaid dresses, you still to oscillate between pastels and bold colors, floor length evening dresses and shorter cocktail dresses, strapless and backless creations. Finally you are down to three top picks. The rule of thumb is always choosing a dress that makes you look glamorous and should it be comfortable wearing whatever you have selected from the rack. Whatever size you are blessed with, comfort must always precede style.

If you are overweight and there’s no time to lose all those unwanted pounds in six months times, you shouldn’t be scared to choose a stylish design. If the bridal salon does not have the dress-size in stock, they can stitch you up a dress with a design you want. You must go to the scheduled fittings and visit the shop two weeks before the wedding to give them time to alter the dress if you lost or gained a few inches on the waist. Pimp up your style with accessories and don stylish shoes and you’re ready to go.

If you are petite with a small frame to go with it, check out the petite section for bridesmaid dresses. Fit on the styles that catch your eye and choose one with a good fit and a cut that enhances your body shape. Avoid dresses with enormous ruffles and wide belts – you’ll disappear from sight. Instead opt for simple lines and dresses that show more of your legs and arms and cleavage.

For a regular frame and size, ‘massive alterations’ will not be required. A few stitches to raise the hem might be in order and that’s about it. Still, you have to choose a dress that flatters your figure and hides your flaws.

bridesmaid dresses

When to Shop for Your Dress

Brides shop for their wedding dress six month before the altar date. This gives them time to compare prices for bridal packages. You girls should do the same when shopping for bridal dresses. You cannot find the dream dress in a day. You need at least two weeks to shop around. Once you have found your perfect dress, make an order and appear for fitting sessions. The dresses are usually delivered a week before the wedding so make sure you go to the final fitting before the delivery date. Whatever size and shape you’re in, you must have the best fitting of bridesmaid dresses. So take the shopping seriously instead of struggling to fit into a dress that definitely won’t fit on the big day.

Getting ready for the big day? Shop for bridesmaid dresses and plus size wedding dresses or petite wedding gowns in top one-stop bridal shops in Mississauga. For more particulars, visit BestForBride.com today.

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When Wedding Dresses Are no Longer Needed: Dealing with Broken Engagements

The moment you get engaged, it seems like there are fireworks everywhere. Your dreams are finally coming true and you can’t wait to spend the rest of your life with the one person that you want to see day in and day out. Of course, you also get so excited about all the wedding planning – bridesmaid dresses, wedding dresses, wedding centrepieces in Toronto or elsewhere, just to name a few.

But then, just when everything is in its proper place, just when you are all set, the unthinkable thing happens – you get jilted. Your fianc‚ backs out. Regardless of the reason for this, one thing is clear: there will no longer be a wedding to plan, no wedding to go to. There will no longer be a happily-ever-after for the both of you, at least.

So what should you do?

1. Have someone take care of the mess.

Indeed, a broken engagement is messy. There’s so much to take care of. What would happen to those purchased bridesmaid dresses, lovely wedding flowers and fabulous gown that you’ve carefully chosen from a pile of equally stunning wedding dresses?

Of course, you can’t expect yourself to take care of all those – given that you are all devastated being left behind by the one person that you expect to be with you through thick and thin. So, you need to mobilize your minions – make use of your entourage. Request your maid of honor to inform the guests that a wedding will no longer be taking place. She could also cancel the caterer, the flowers and the wedding decorations. She will be more than happy to do all that – even including getting your wedding gown and all things reminiscent of wedding dresses out of your sight.

Your parents could also be of so much service to you during this time. They can call the guests – inform them of the situation without having to spill all the gory details. They could also take care of the church and explain the cancellation of the wedding.

Whatever material thing that needs taking care of, your parents and the other members of the entourage could handle.

2. Embrace the sadness.

Now, here’s something that you can do – acknowledge the devastation. Feel it. For quite a while, it would be painful for you to see wedding dresses and anything related to marriage. But this will not go on forever. So while the feeling is still so fresh, accept it. Cry, wallow in your misery. Get a new environment, sulk in your room. Whatever it is that would get the negative emotions out, do it. Your body can only be in that devastated state for quite a while. After that, you will see the sunshine.

3. Move on.

It’s not easy to move on. It is a process and it takes a while. But simply wallowing and relating wedding dresses to sadness will not a better person make. So compose yourself, stand up and smile. Sooner or later, you will find the person that’s meant for you. Sooner or later, you will understand why such a wedding never materialized. And that is because there’s someone else out there that could make you very happy… there is someone out there who can bring out the best in you.

Your one and only dependable source for bridesmaid dresses, wedding dresses and wedding centerpieces in Toronto is here. Check out BestForBride.com.

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Want to be the Perfect Wedding Guest? Here are a Few Pointers

Are you invited to a friend’s or a family member’s wedding? If so, then you might be checking your closet now for the perfect dress, the perfect shoes, and of course, the perfect handbag that will go with your planned outfit. Or, you might be concerned as to what the dress code specified by the bride and groom really means? When they say formal, do they mean that it’s a black tie event where wedding dresses, including guests’ dresses, need to be full-length and dressy? Or, are you concerned that when you go there, you won’t have friends to talk to or socialize with?

To appease you from all these unnecessary worries, you might want to take note of the following reminders. These cover almost all aspects of the wedding ceremony, from wedding gowns to wedding favors and socializing skills.

1. Follow the dress code

Wedding invitations usually bear the preferred dress code. So before you hop from one shop to another, you must first understand what the couple requires you to wear. You might already be checking bridal boutiques that sell expensive wedding dresses and formal gowns when all you really need to wear is semi-formal attire.

Now, the last thing that you want to happen is to be over- or under-dressed for the occasion. The other guests may not be that vocal about their side comments on your out-of-place attire but analyzing what their stares mean is very stressful for you.

Therefore, to keep this scenario from happening, you must know and understand what the dress code means. If you are not sure, ask the bride or the groom. It’s better to be sure than sorry.

In addition, refrain from wearing white as you might compete with the bride’s gown. There’s a purpose why wedding dresses are white – that is, to distinguish the bride from all the other ladies in the room, including you.

Some cultures discourage wearing black during weddings as well. If yours is one that adopts this tradition, then follow it.

2. Socialize

A wedding is a social event. Therefore, you must interact with the other people in the ceremony. This comes with the invitation.

Of course, since you have spent a fortune for your perfect outfit and your make-up, might as well put that “more beautiful version” of yourself into better use. Who knows, you will meet your Mr. Right there. So, the next time that you go shopping, you will be spending your time in the bridal dresses section already.

3. Come with a wedding present

Out of courtesy to your friend or your family member, do bring a wedding present. You don’t have to buy the most expensive gift that caught your fancy while you passed by the wedding dresses racks. You can always get inexpensive yet useful items such as kitchenware.

To be invited to a wedding is a privilege – much more if you are part of the entourage. Therefore, if you have been invited to one, make the most out of it. Do everything in your power to be the perfect wedding guest!

Excited to shop for wedding dresses? Visit BestForBride.com now. Not only is the site about fabulous wedding dresses, it also offers great ideas for wedding favors.