Wedding
Services
Wedding Gown Advice
A good time to start thinking about your wedding gown is 12 months before your wedding date. Set yourself a budget for the gown, but remember that you may need to add additional costs for alterations or delivery in some shops. Alteration prices vary widely so enquire at the time how much on top of the gown price you may be looking at.
Start looking at magazines and think about styles and colours you like. When you find something cut it out and stick it into a file to build up a picture board that you can take to the shops!!!
About 10 to 11 months before the big day is a good time to start visiting bridal wear shops. Remember that size is not everything! Some of the smaller boutiques are excellent and have very experienced and friendly staff.
Many shops can be snooty and you may feel intimidated or overwhelmed. Don’t be. Make appointments at shops that you feel comfortable with when you approach them. Ring them or better still visit them to make an appointment as you very quickly sense how friendly and helpful staff are. This is a special occasion and buying your dream dress should be one of the most exciting aspects of the experience.
Start looking at magazines and think about styles and colours you like. When you find something cut it out and stick it into a file to build up a picture board that you can take to the shops!!!
About 10 to 11 months before the big day is a good time to start visiting bridal wear shops. Remember that size is not everything! Some of the smaller boutiques are excellent and have very experienced and friendly staff.
Many shops can be snooty and you may feel intimidated or overwhelmed. Don’t be. Make appointments at shops that you feel comfortable with when you approach them. Ring them or better still visit them to make an appointment as you very quickly sense how friendly and helpful staff are. This is a special occasion and buying your dream dress should be one of the most exciting aspects of the experience.
Ask what to expect and how long your appointment will be. Are you allowed to look through the gowns yourself or will a selection be brought to you to meet your budget and maybe to meet the shop owners opinions of what suit you! Remember - you are the bride! If you want to try a certain style you should! But do also remember that many retailers can offer you helpful advice on colours to suit your skin tone and styles that flatter your shape.
Many shops can be snooty and you may feel intimidated or overwhelmed. Don’t be. Make appointments at shops that you feel comfortable with when you approach them. Ring them or better still visit them to make an appointment as you very quickly sense how friendly and helpful staff are. This is a special occasion and buying your dream dress should be one of the most exciting aspects of the experience.
Many shops can be snooty and you may feel intimidated or overwhelmed. Don’t be. Make appointments at shops that you feel comfortable with when you approach them. Ring them or better still visit them to make an appointment as you very quickly sense how friendly and helpful staff are. This is a special occasion and buying your dream dress should be one of the most exciting aspects of the experience.
Ask what to expect and how long your appointment will be. Are you allowed to look through the gowns yourself or will a selection be brought to you to meet your budget and maybe to meet the shop owners opinions of what suit you! Remember - you are the bride! If you want to try a certain style you should! But do also remember that many retailers can offer you helpful advice on colours to suit your skin tone and styles that flatter your shape.
Try and take someone with you to offer a valuable second opinion.
Enquire about payment methods and schemes as these also vary widely.
It is very well worth trying dresses on with bridal lingerie as it can really change the look of a gown, especially up top! Ask the retailer for advice. Bridal lingerie is often the best to choose as often it has a low back and extra grip. It is also design to enhance the best bits and disguise the worst!
Shoes are also worth trying on at the same time as your gowns - elegance and COMFORT are key. You will be on your feet all day and do not want the aggravation of sore feet! Spend a bit more on the shoes you really feel are comfortable, yet suit the style of your dress. Some shoes have built in padding - like built in party feet! Like the Filippa Scott range.
These shoes are exquisitely made, and well padded for comfort. They are well worth their price tag. Your photographer will take images of your shoes and they will peek out from your gown, so are as vital to look right as well as be comfortable.
About 9 months before the big day is a good time to order. Gowns can take up to 16 weeks to arrive and alterations can take a few weeks after that as a good seamstress is a busy seamstress and bookings may be weeks in advance! Your bridal shop will help you with this and may even have an in house seamstress. The most common way to order is to make a 50% deposit.
Once you have ordered ask if you can have a photo of yourself in the dress and/or a swatch of fabric to help you plan your colour themes. A good store may even photo you themselves and allow you to see yourself on screen.
Once you have decided on your dress - try on accessories to match. Although it is not essential to buy them from the same shop as your gown, it is good advice to try them on with your gown to see the overall effect. It can make a huge difference and also allow you to make your decision more confidently and happily. Some shops may allow you to bring in a dress bought elsewhere to try on lingerie, shoes or accessories, but these are few and far between.
Do not be tempted to buy a gown on line. Sizes are often not true nor are colours. Quality can be dubious and so can delivery! However - some bridal shops also offer an on-line service for items such as shoes and lingerie. This allows you to try on with your gown in the comfort of your home. Go for branded makes and also for websites that have a ‘physical’ shop that you can actually visitor contact for advice if necessary, not just an anonymous on-line store.
Fitting Advice
Once your gown arrives you will probably need the services of a seamstress. If you are losing weight aim to get to target before major adjustments are done if possible. Take your shoes and lingerie with you to your first visit at least as these effect the length of the hem and the waist and bust etc. If you are not content after a second fitting then arrange a third one. Take someone with you to the final fitting who will be with you on the day to help you dress. Some dresses have intricate lacing and having someone on board that knows what to do will alleviate stress on the day!
Keep your dress covered. The best storage is a non-woven fabric gown cover that allows the fabric to breathe and prevents discolouration. Your bridal shop will be able to advise you on this. The day before, hang the dress and do not allow anyone to smoke in the house or cook strong smelling foods etc. Be careful not to touch it with dirty fingers or makeup. The dress may need a steam, depending on the fabric. If so, do it the day before as it will leave the gown slightly damp and prone to creasing if not left to hang after steaming. Some stores will steam the gown for collection (check they are insured). Others will sell small hand held steamers for around £40. These are very effective and can used after the day too. Some gowns may be able to be hung in a steamy bathroom for any creases to drop, but again do this the day before. The same can be done with a creased veil. Do not be tempted to iron a gown or veil. It can be disastrous!!!
Gown styles and Body Shapes
On deciding the style of gown you want ask yourself two key questions:
What don’t I like about my body? and What do I like about my body?
Then the trick is to find a gown that enhances the bits you like and minimises the bits you hate! That sounds too simple to be true, but it is a good formula to start with.
Don’t be afraid to try on a gown that on the peg does not look like ‘you’. You may be surprised!
Think also of your venue and what kinds of gown suit it. Be practical too - a long train on a sandy beach is difficult to keep clean and manoeuvre and heavy satins can make you very hot.
Think about colour - very fashionable brides are wearing pinks, creams, golds, beiges and some even in lime or peacock blue!
Ivory remains a timeless classic.
If you are tall and thin, then a strapless ball gown style may suit you. If you are shorter, be careful with ball gown styles as they can make you look shorter, aim to go for an A line style or Empire cut dress. A sheath style dress can also look stunning if your legs are on the short side or a little heavy. This style is slim, but not clingy and can make your appearance taller.
Avoid layered dresses if you have big hips, an A line or ball gown style will do well here.
Bodices can either hide a big bust or accentuate it depending on the style and neckline.
The most important thing is that you are happy and that you feel special, beautiful and have that WOW factor!!!! Many gowns are beautiful off the peg - but you will find one that you think WOW - that is the one!!! Once you have found it, don’t look again elsewhere - be confident. Here comes the bride!!!
© 2006 Anne Maingay Princess Brides Staffordshire
Try and take someone with you to offer a valuable second opinion.
Enquire about payment methods and schemes as these also vary widely.
It is very well worth trying dresses on with bridal lingerie as it can really change the look of a gown, especially up top! Ask the retailer for advice. Bridal lingerie is often the best to choose as often it has a low back and extra grip. It is also design to enhance the best bits and disguise the worst!
Shoes are also worth trying on at the same time as your gowns - elegance and COMFORT are key. You will be on your feet all day and do not want the aggravation of sore feet! Spend a bit more on the shoes you really feel are comfortable, yet suit the style of your dress. Some shoes have built in padding - like built in party feet! Like the Filippa Scott range.
These shoes are exquisitely made, and well padded for comfort. They are well worth their price tag. Your photographer will take images of your shoes and they will peek out from your gown, so are as vital to look right as well as be comfortable.
About 9 months before the big day is a good time to order. Gowns can take up to 16 weeks to arrive and alterations can take a few weeks after that as a good seamstress is a busy seamstress and bookings may be weeks in advance! Your bridal shop will help you with this and may even have an in house seamstress. The most common way to order is to make a 50% deposit.
Once you have ordered ask if you can have a photo of yourself in the dress and/or a swatch of fabric to help you plan your colour themes. A good store may even photo you themselves and allow you to see yourself on screen.
Once you have decided on your dress - try on accessories to match. Although it is not essential to buy them from the same shop as your gown, it is good advice to try them on with your gown to see the overall effect. It can make a huge difference and also allow you to make your decision more confidently and happily. Some shops may allow you to bring in a dress bought elsewhere to try on lingerie, shoes or accessories, but these are few and far between.
Do not be tempted to buy a gown on line. Sizes are often not true nor are colours. Quality can be dubious and so can delivery! However - some bridal shops also offer an on-line service for items such as shoes and lingerie. This allows you to try on with your gown in the comfort of your home. Go for branded makes and also for websites that have a ‘physical’ shop that you can actually visitor contact for advice if necessary, not just an anonymous on-line store.
Fitting Advice
Once your gown arrives you will probably need the services of a seamstress. If you are losing weight aim to get to target before major adjustments are done if possible. Take your shoes and lingerie with you to your first visit at least as these effect the length of the hem and the waist and bust etc. If you are not content after a second fitting then arrange a third one. Take someone with you to the final fitting who will be with you on the day to help you dress. Some dresses have intricate lacing and having someone on board that knows what to do will alleviate stress on the day!
Keep your dress covered. The best storage is a non-woven fabric gown cover that allows the fabric to breathe and prevents discolouration. Your bridal shop will be able to advise you on this. The day before, hang the dress and do not allow anyone to smoke in the house or cook strong smelling foods etc. Be careful not to touch it with dirty fingers or makeup. The dress may need a steam, depending on the fabric. If so, do it the day before as it will leave the gown slightly damp and prone to creasing if not left to hang after steaming. Some stores will steam the gown for collection (check they are insured). Others will sell small hand held steamers for around £40. These are very effective and can used after the day too. Some gowns may be able to be hung in a steamy bathroom for any creases to drop, but again do this the day before. The same can be done with a creased veil. Do not be tempted to iron a gown or veil. It can be disastrous!!!
Gown styles and Body Shapes
On deciding the style of gown you want ask yourself two key questions:
What don’t I like about my body? and What do I like about my body?
Then the trick is to find a gown that enhances the bits you like and minimises the bits you hate! That sounds too simple to be true, but it is a good formula to start with.
Don’t be afraid to try on a gown that on the peg does not look like ‘you’. You may be surprised!
Think also of your venue and what kinds of gown suit it. Be practical too - a long train on a sandy beach is difficult to keep clean and manoeuvre and heavy satins can make you very hot.
Think about colour - very fashionable brides are wearing pinks, creams, golds, beiges and some even in lime or peacock blue!
Ivory remains a timeless classic.
If you are tall and thin, then a strapless ball gown style may suit you. If you are shorter, be careful with ball gown styles as they can make you look shorter, aim to go for an A line style or Empire cut dress. A sheath style dress can also look stunning if your legs are on the short side or a little heavy. This style is slim, but not clingy and can make your appearance taller.
Avoid layered dresses if you have big hips, an A line or ball gown style will do well here.
Bodices can either hide a big bust or accentuate it depending on the style and neckline.
The most important thing is that you are happy and that you feel special, beautiful and have that WOW factor!!!! Many gowns are beautiful off the peg - but you will find one that you think WOW - that is the one!!! Once you have found it, don’t look again elsewhere - be confident. Here comes the bride!!!
© 2006 Anne Maingay Princess Brides Staffordshire
