Wedding Dress - BrightWeddingIdeas.com

This will be your most memorable dress. Finding it can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience, but will be well worth it. Several factors will determine the exact type dress you'll need to buy, including your own taste, the theme of wedding, time of day, and level of formality of the event. For example, if your wedding is during summer, you may want to pass on velvet. Or, if it is at night, choose something that sparkles. What you ultimately select may be different from what you think you will look good in, so keep an open mind while looking and trying.

In order to determine what you really like many dress designers suggest going through wedding magazines or searching for pictures online and saving images that you like. You may find designs by Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier or Reem Acra, which often cost over $10,000, or dresses from more mainstream designers - it doesn't matter. What you want is determine the common style that appeals to you. Should you choose to go with a custom-made dress, you can use these images as an inspiration (for example, eBay has manufacturers that will create one-of-a-kind dress for you based on a picture).

Since knowledge is power, you may want to familiarize yourself with basics of wedding dress know-how. Knowing the four basic shapes of wedding dresses and how each can flatter your figure is one of the keys to being beautiful on your wedding day. You should order your dress six months prior to your wedding date to allow enough time for any needed alterations. Keep in mind that while you may plan on losing weight for the day of your wedding, choose the dress that fits your body type today.

There are four basic shapes of wedding dresses:

A-Line or Princess: An A-line or Princess shape dress has vertical seams from the shoulders down to a flared skirt thus creating an A shape. This dress shape flatters most everyone. Although, if you tend to have a thick waist you should avoid this dress shape since it may draw unwanted attention to your waistline.

Ball Gown: This is the most traditional shape of wedding dresses. The ball gown has a fitted bodice and a waistline that leads to a very full skirt. This dress shape will flatter you if you are full figured, pear shape (small on top, heavy on the bottom) or if you are very thin. However, if you have a petite or hourglass figure this dress shape should be avoided since it will make you look disproportionate.

Empire: The empire gown has a high waistline (right under the bust), which falls to a slim skirt. If you have a thick waist the empire gown will elongate your figure. If you have an hourglass figure you should avoid this dress since it will make you look disproportionate.

Sheath: The sheath gown is a slim dress following the curves of the body. This dress shape looks best if you are thin or petite. However, it should be avoided if you are full figured, pear shape (small on top, heavy on the bottom), it will make you look heavier.

Keep in mind that while you are shopping for that perfect wedding dress that there are 3 main factors that affects it’s cost. They are:

1) Luxury designer label, this is the single most important factor in the cost of a piece of clothing. In terms of wedding dresses these would be dresses from Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, and Reem Acra with there dresses costing as much as $10,000 and up, while the national average wedding dress costs $800.

2) Fabric affects the price. Here is where you can opt for some budget friendly fabrics such as raw silk which is significantly less expensive than silk, satin, or taffeta. A simple dress with a small train would require about 10 yards of fabric. Here is a list of the average price of fabric per yard.

Tulle: $1.5-$3.99
Chiffon: $6.99-$29.99
Organza: $6.99-$59.99
Polyester Satin: $12.99-$18.99
Silk: $12.99-$250
Lace: $4.99 - $600

3) The detailing such as beadwork, embroidery, and crinolines (under dresses the puffy ballerina skirts) also add to the costs of gowns.

Dress Idea: Shop department stores in their party dress sections for dresses that can be worn as a wedding dress.

Dress Idea: Make an appointment at a bridal store to try out dresses. You will get more attention that way.

Dress Idea: Consider buying a floor sample dress from a bridal store and taking it to a seamstress for alterations.

Dress Idea: Order a dress from a bridal gown manufacturer that does custom alterations. That way you can save time and money instead of taking it to a seamstress for alterations.

Dress Idea: Take your dress to a seamstress at least one month before the wedding date to ensure enough time for alterations.

Dress Idea: Try on veils with your dress, but don’t necessarily buy it from the bridal store. Instead consider surfing the net and buy it online – it can save you up to 50%. Speaking of online shopping, some brides prefer buying a dress on the Internet. After all, the advantage of online shopping is a wide range of alternatives and the comfort of your own home. Some sites offer significant discounts while others specialize in unique, one-of-a-kind designs that match specific themes of the weddings.

Dress Idea: Lingerie is expensive, especially the bustier. Buy them at the department stores during sales. Or, check out a few of the online sites, such as Figleaves.com and Frederick's of Hollywood.

Dress Idea: Buy shoes and sandals that can be worn again instead of just for the wedding. Sandals or shoes embellished with rhinestones or flowers can be worn during the wedding and afterwards look really great with jeans.