Simple Elegance Dictates Gown Style, reference
Gayle J. McCarthy
Each bride has an idea of what her wedding gown will look like. The challenge remains in matching the vision of the perfect dress to the reality of finding it as you near your wedding date. Most brides are turning to professionals to help find their ideal fashions.
Many wedding professionals on Long Island note that the trend in wedding gowns has turned to a more casual, personalized look with less emphasis on tradition and etiquette.
Simpler gowns with more of an informal look and a smaller train dominate the look for contemporary gowns. Most attribute the trend to an overall shift in couples’ lifestyles, at home and at work.
The ringing in of the Millennium has brought forth a more relaxed, casual feel to wedding gown trends. Gone are the days of stoic tradition and by-the-book etiquette. This “anything goes” attitude gives a bride more freedom than ever before. Whatever she wants, she wears, and for many, this means more color in bridal gowns. Silver, gold, platinum, rum pink, periwinkle and champagne are among the most popular color choices.
Silhouettes are sleeker, with tapered bodies and fuller skirts. Strapless gowns have also made a huge comeback, regardless of season. Brides can “winterize” their strapless or sleeveless gowns with popular wraps, capes, bolero-style jackets and beaded shawls.
Fabrics range from elegant silks and satins to natural linens and lace. Details are simple yet elegant.
Embellishments are taking on a more modern twist, with crystals and rhinestones, hand embroidered to classic Alencon and Calais lace. Today’s bride celebrates her style with color or detail. Selecting your gown begins with the perfect fit and ends as a reflection of your personal style.
It’s important to find the wedding gown that best suits your body type. It’s a good idea to let a Long Island wedding gown consultant help guide you through the process. That person will help you pick out the dress that appeals visually to you, along with flattering your shape. Experts often recommend trying on a variety of different styles, even something you might not go with at first. Often, a bride will end up buying the dress that at first she wouldn’t have picked out herself.
A flattering gown style for almost every body type is the classic A-line. Simple, clean lines remain a favorite choice. More emphasis is being placed on the cut of dress as well as the back of dress because the back is showcased during the majority of the wedding ceremony.
Gown styles should reflect the wedding celebration itself. The gown should fit the wedding day theme. For example, a seaside wedding may incorporate a sleeker look with less embellishments and embroidery. A wedding that takes place outside may feature Irish linen or silk organza.
The size of the wedding should also come into play when choosing your dress. Is this a small, intimate wedding with your closest friends and family at a cozy bed & breakfast, or is this a larger, grand affair with many guests? Your gown can help set the overall tone.
Many women are marrying later in life. Careers, education and relationships with family and friends have taken precedence in recent years. This, in turn, has produced a more focused, savvy bride. These women have in mind what kind of dress they want the minute they walk in the door.
A more focused, mature bride means a more educated consumer. More brides are spending time researching the different designers, silhouettes, and fabrics on the Internet. Many are contributing their own money to the wedding, so there’s less parent involvement and more of a personal choice in the gown the bride wants to wear.
You’ll want to be sure that the shop you’re dealing with can get your dress, and is doing business in an ethical manner. If your dress isn’t in stock, ask when the delivery date is. Find out what other services the shop offers, like alterations, steaming the dresses and dyeing shoes.
Have fun while picking out your wedding dress, but keep the crowd to a minimum. Most experts suggest you bring one or two close friends or trusted family members when trying on wedding gowns. Too many opinions often bring about confusion. The bottom line is, it’s your dream and you’re the one that’s going to wear the dress. The decision should be yours.
Above all else, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Don’t fall apart over the tiniest detail about your dress. After all, it’s not about the dress at all. It’s about you, the person inside the gown, and the man standing at the altar waiting to spend the rest of his life with you.