Category: Weddings

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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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Dealing with Hand-Me-Down Wedding Dresses

If you are stuck with a hideous hand-me-down for a wedding dress from your prospective mother-in-law, you are in big trouble. How do you get out of this dilemma without insulting your groom’s mom?

wedding gown

When It’s Hard to Say No

When you and your groom announce your engagement, your mother-in-law already has visions of dusting out her 60 year old wedding dress. Not that she want your groom to scrimp on the wedding budget but for her it is a matter of tradition and would like you to wear the dress her mother wore and which she wore to her own wedding. But when you caught sight of the wedding dress you wanted to scream.

Your groom can understand your dilemma and offer to let you shop for a nice wedding gown but the problem is your mother-in-law. Before you say goodbye to wedding dresses, take a courteous tack and give her the idea that you will use her wedding dress for the wedding rehearsal and have a photo shoot of you in her wedding dress.

If the wedding dress in poor condition and needs massive gown alteration for your fit tabulate the cost of repairing the dress and let her compare it with the prices of more fashionable wedding dresses you have been eyeing for long. If the cost of the repairs can convince her that you are right, you wiggle out of the predicament without bruising her pride and alls well that ends well between the two of you.

Dealing with Heirloom Bridal Dresses

Unless it is an unbroken tradition in the family that family brides wear the 95 year old wedding dress, you have no choice but wear the bridal heirloom on your wedding day. Usually heirloom wedding dresses are cared for and kept in top condition. These are usually made by top couturiers or ordered from foreign countries. Expect the bridal gown to be stuffed with pearls if it came from Japan, or made of the best lace if imported from Belgium.

bridal dress

Because of the several brides using the bridal heirloom of dress, several skillful alterations have been made. If the dress is too long for you, it cannot and should not be shortened because taller future brides may have no uses for it. If the wedding dress is too short, ask the seamstress to improvise without damaging the dress. Just as the wedding dress has been stored carefully for years, you might be wearing your groom’s family ‘crown jewels’. No problem here; jewelry of top caliber is never outdated and always go well with the heirloom wedding gown. You can compensate for wearing these family treasures with stunning shoes from your favorite Italian shoemaker or order custom-made bridal shoes.

Making Do with Hand-Me-Down Wedding Dresses

Wearing a 95 year old wedding dress has a romantic ring to it. But not all brides would give their eyeteeth for second-hand wedding dresses. But in case you cannot say no, ask your mother-in-law’s permission to alter the dress. Warn her though that the dress may no longer be recognizable because drastic adjustments must be made for a good fit. Be gracious enough to show her where changes will be made and hope she changes her mind about your mutilating her wedding dress. But if you are still stuck with the problem, make the most out of your mother-in-law’s wedding dress by altering it to suit your taste and accessorize and hope the next family bride comes soon to get a taste of a 1970 hand-me-down wedding dress.

For your wedding needs, wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and wedding flower Toronto bridal shops can deliver. Visit BestforBride.com today for more choices and amazing bridal package deals.

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The Irresistible Glam of Wedding Dresses

When brides march down the aisle, all eyes are riveted on the wedding dress; the bridal dress is the cherry on the cake so to speak and all brides are beautiful in their stunning wedding dresses. What’s about these dresses that fire the imagination of little girls and stoke the longings for grand weddings?

The Dress of a Lifetime

Every girl has her favorite dress and there are dresses to mark milestones in their growing-up years and during their transition from girls to women. But the best dress of all is the wedding dress. Girls have visions of satin and lace, pearls and bows, misty veils, and flowers, running in their minds when they imagine themselves in a bridal dress. They see themselves as princesses ready to float away to a magical land.

bridal gowns

The wedding gown or dress is the ultimate dress; it transforms ordinary-looking women into gorgeous brides. There must be something about wedding dresses. No wonder, brides spend three-fourths of the wedding preparation time planning their wedding dress. They want the best wedding dress whether it’s a discount dress or an heirloom or a second-hand wedding dress or custom-made wedding gown from top Parisian designer houses.

Wedding dresses are worn once and never used again for a second wedding. It would rather be passed on from bride to another. For a woman who is getting into a second marriage, the wedding dress is still an important detail in the wedding planning. Either it must surpass the first wedding gown or must be less glamorous, but nevertheless, it must still be the best of all wedding dresses. Second wedding or not, this is still the ultimate dress.

The Evolution of Bridal Dresses

Different decades have made their mark on the wedding dress. Traditionally, these dresses were dark in color for white gowns or dresses were difficult to clean. As time marched on, dresses for wedding rituals favored long white wedding gowns. All these changed with each incoming generation. Currently there is breakaway from traditional white nuptial dresses.

The modest styles of these dresses have been replaced with shorter versions and these days it is not unusual to see wedding dresses with thigh-high slits or red or even black wedding dresses. Whatever the changes, the glam does not disappear; instead it comes on hotter than ever to please every woman’s secret fantasy of a wedding dress.

Brides wear their wedding gowns to bungee weddings, parachute weddings, and underwater wedding rites. The more the unusual the wedding, the more brides insist on the traditional white wedding dress. It’s a matter of choice and style and there’s no stopping brides from choosing their style for their wedding getup.

Follow the Glam

If you have a fixation for wedding dresses and planning to have the best wedding dress when the time comes, follow the glam. Keep up with the wedding fashion of celebrities and royalty. You can get several ideas for your dream wedding gown; mix and match some styles, and copy accessories that would impress yourself and your wedding guests.

wedding dresses

While you are still waiting for your dream wedding or for your man to pop the question, keep a vigilant watch on wedding dresses to keep up with changing styles. It’s the glam of your wedding dress and beautiful bride that will make your man proud as peacock when you march down the aisle.

Shopping for a wedding dress? Take a look at the glam wedding dresses that money can buy. You can always get a stunning bridesmaid dress for your bridesmaid too. For gorgeous wedding flowers Toronto bridal shops have these too. Visit BestforBride.com today.

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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.