What Type of Wedding Gown do I Want?
Choosing Your Wedding Gown
Why do brides wear white? In olden times, white cloth was actually a sign of wealth, so upper class brides wore white but most brides didn't. For one thing, it was harder to make white cloth from natural fibers and terrible to clean. Poorer folk could not afford to wear a dress only once, so white was impratical for them.
During the mid 20th century, white became fashionable again. The new bride was to be clean and ready for a new life with her husband. Now, it's still traditional for a bride to wear white on her first marraige, yet ivory or off-white is acceptable. Another trend is to have a sash of deep red or blue around the waist of a white or ivory gown.
Sometimes a If this is a second wedding or a wedding after already having children, then the bride may choose a light pastel color other than white. Again, there is no real rule, just a rule of thumb.
Regardless of the color you choose, keep these things in mind as well. If you are planning a destination wedding, you will want a simpler gown that travels well. If you are having an outdoor mountain or beach wedding where you may be walking barefoot, consider gowns that are appropriate for these venues. For example, a gown for an outdoor mountain wedding may be made of more natural fibers and won't get caught easily on tree branches.
No matter what you will spend on your wedding gown, you'll want to try on a bunch and get familiar with the styles that you like. Since every girl is a different size, one dress in a magazine photo or on the hanger may not be as flattering as another.
You should attend a few wedding shows - they are often held at hotels, event halls or convention centers and cost little or no admission. (This is not just for the dresses but for everything wedding). While you may not be able to try on gowns here, there is most always a Fashion Show of models wearing a wide array of wedding gowns. This is another way for you to get ideas.
Fairytale Endeavors (at right) has beautiful weddings gowns and loads of other wedding goodies. Sydney's Closet (at right) has lovely wedding gowns, formal dresses and more in sizes 14 to 44.
Our articles on Used Wedding Dresses and Saving Money on Your Gown may also interest you.
