Tag: Wedding Dress

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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.

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Wedding dresses with features that Wow!

To look amazing on your wedding day, all you need is a spectacular wedding dress!

Although there is a universe of wedding dresses, not all of them are alike. A wedding dress that doesn’t flatter your build will not help you, however fantastic its features may be. So, keep in mind that your choice should be a dress that enhances your best features. Give due importance to your comfort and fit, and then look at the factors that can make a gown stand out against the rest.

While many wedding dresses qualify as “just another dress”, there are certain features that make a statement. So, how do you find one that will have your guests spell-struck? Let us look at the features in a wedding dress that are worth a “WOW!”

Stunning illusion necklines

Illusion necklines are the rage this season. Choose a dress that has stunning details in lace or with embellishments in crystal or metal beading and it will impress! It is not only the neckline, but the details on the back also, that play a crucial role in transforming a dress from good to Fantastic!

Take a look at this stunning Mori Lee tulle ball gown with a decadent illusion neckline.

via Best for Bride

The stunning display of embellishments on sheer fabric, starts at the neck and continues down the bodice. The effect is amazing. The dress also features a beautiful illusion back that is perfect from every angle.

Oversized motif that grabs attention

A striking motif which is executed with perfection is hard to miss, and it enhances the overall effect of a dress. It could even be a detachable accessory that adds to the visual interest and transforms an average-looking wedding gown into an exquisite one.

In this elegant Mori Lee 2724 Chantilly lace gown from the Spring 2015 collection, the embellished heart-shaped applique at the bust is the one factor that makes the dress one stand out.

via Best for Bride

Drama of a signature element

Who can resist the allure of a stunning signature element that adds oodles of glamour to a wedding gown? Choose a dress with a uniquely attractive feature that pops out, and nobody will be able to take their eyes off you.

Notice the impressive waterfall of laser cut organza ruffles in this 2685 bridal gown from the Mori Lee 2014 Fall Collection. A stunning skirt like this is dramatic and will forever be remembered as a phenomenal wedding gown.

via Best for Bride

Opulence of silk

Silk is considered the epitome of luxury, and it is hard to beat the richness and royalty of a dress that shines with a silky flourish. Dresses in Larissa Satin or Duchess satin look elegant and classic, and when these are embellished with further details, the effect is mesmerizing.

This Mori Lee 2722 bridal gown in Larissa Satin not only features the glossy shine of silk, but its beauty is further enhanced by the pleated details in the bodice, the scintillating waistband and the cascading layers in the skirt.

via Best for Bride

For more details on these wedding dresses that Wow, as well as for simpler choices, visit our collection at Best for Bride, and be prepared to be amazed!

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Trends we love – Wedding dresses with fantastic back details

There is an alluring and romantic charm to dresses that have fabulous details at the back. When a pretty bride in an amazing outfit turns around and we notice that the dress has fantastic details on the back too, the dress immediately finds place in our memories. Now, isn’t that an easy way to make sure your wedding day look is never forgotten!

It isn’t wise ignoring how your dress looks from the back. After all, you will be spending quite some time facing away from your guests, during the wedding ceremony. It is beautiful to have dresses with intricate back details facing them at this time.

A bride looks exquisite when she has planned her entire look with care. Moreover, why should you cover up your dainty back with a veil, when you have enough options to make a stunning appearance from this angle too?

Unique designs for the back of wedding dresses is a favorite trend now, ranging from sheer and modest to plunging and sexy. Let us look at some of the various designs that are worth our attention.

Modest illusions with details

via Best for Bride

This Mori Lee 2719 features a sheer back which is discreetly sexy. The high neckline continues into an intricately detailed back that offers modest coverage, while also allowing the bride to highlight her slender back with floral motifs that embrace the torso. Adding further elegance to the intricate details, is a strand of fabric buttons engulfed with floral lace details, that runs all the way from the neckline to the derriere.

Cutout backs that say peek-a-boo

via Best for Bride

Another favorite trend, this back features a cut out which is usually shaped like a tear drop or a diamond. Adding charm to this cutout is exquisite detailing in floral lace or using crystal embroidery. This Mori Lee 2723 gown features embellished beadwork on lace, which forms a beautiful border for the lace that wraps around the tear shaped cut out. The entire design has a feminine charm and it is stylish and definitely more sexy than a low cut back, with a hint of skin that peeps out!

Daring low-cut backs

via Best for Bride

For those brides who are in perfect shape and can beautifully carry off a plunging back, there are unlimited options. You do not have to be showy with a completely backless dress, you can flaunt your best feature in one with a low cut back, like this Mori Lee 2673 and still look elegant. Here the daring low scoop neckline is bordered with a thin band of intricate silver beading that adds a flourish of luxury to the already stunning design. Low cut backs are a trending favorite, as it allows the bride to show off her figure, but not go overboard with exposing too much skin.

At Best of Bride, we have a huge collection of dresses in all three of the options mentioned here. Browse through our online gallery to view our fantastic collection and make your choice.

So, which of these patterns would you love to wear to your lifetime event – Illusion, peek-a-boo or daring deep?

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Most Popular Wedding Styles

Wedding favors
Have you been bombarded with different wedding style trends and were not really clear about what they mean? From vintage to rustic chic, wedding styles that reflect a particular decorating theme are becoming all the rage. However, many of the terms get confusing. What’s the difference between retro and vintage? Is rustic chic and country the same thing? These wedding style definitions may help clear up some of the confusion.

Classical vs. Romantic

While these terms are often confused, there are some distinct differences. Classical weddings are described as timeless. The classical style can be defined as simple elegance. Classical weddings are generally very formal and sophisticated. Romantic style is characterized by flowery or flowing fabrics, lace, and floral accents. Romantic styles can have a storybook feel or be reminiscent of an English garden.

Shabby Chic, Rustic Chic, and Country

The shabby chic style is characterized by including worn, well-used items. This can be furniture with distressed wood. The items may be new but made to have an aged appearance. Country style describes the use of items that are typically thought of to be used in a country setting. The style is simple, down home, rugged, and useful rather than decorative. A country wedding may also be held at an outdoor country venue like a barn or orchard. Accents relating to farm life might be including in a country wedding.

Rustic chic combines the decorative with natural and country items. For example, a weathered wooden table partially covered in lace would be an example of rustic chic. It’s common for those who want to emulate the rustic chic style to combine things like mason jars, dried flowers, worn wood, and burlap with roses, lace, strings of pearls, and draped white fabric.

Retro vs. Vintage

Vintage and retro are two terms that are often used interchangeably. In fact, many businesses such as antique stores may have their own definitions of what is retro and what is vintage. One store classifies everyone made before 1960 as vintage. They call things made in the past but after 1960 retro. Another retailer calls anything before 1950 “antique” and anything made after that is called “vintage.” So, as you can see there are different opinions about the uses of these words.

A Retro wedding might highlight a particular period of time in the past such as a 1960s theme. A vintage wedding could display antiques and old-fashioned dishes. Other wedding styles like rustic chic and classical weddings include vintage or antique accents. The way the bride and groom define their wedding is completely up to them.

I hope you find these definitions helpful in learning about the different wedding styles. For more tips about wedding decor, please browse the Best for Bride blog. There you will find helpful descriptions about reception decor, centerpieces, and wedding themes.