Once you've accepted a gentleman's proposal and booked your reservation, you might think the hard part of getting married is behind you. However, for many brides to be, choosing the perfect wedding gown is a problem. Indecision and disappointment are often the result when ladies go into this process unprepared.
Fortunately, a little background knowledge is all it takes to help you make the right choice on your big day. With just a little preparation, you'll be ready to buy or rent the perfect gown to dazzle your friends and loved ones when it's time to get hitched.
Body Shape
The first thing you'll need to consider when choosing your dress is your overall body shape. This is actually more complicated than it sounds. To understand your body shape, you'll need to take note of your:
- Overall height
- Bust-to-hip ratio
- Waist definition
These general measures combine to form the specific shape of your body. Categories are often used to help describe these combinations in an attempt to make dress shopping easier for the buyer/renter. For instance, your body might be an hourglass, oval, or inverted triangle. Different shapes require different style choices.
As a rule, your dress should always aim to smooth out variations in your proportions. That means if you have a prominent lower body, you'll want to choose a gown that has a lot going on up top. Similarly, if you feel as though your bust or hips are diminished, look for styles that naturally add drama and shape to the smaller area.
Also, your dress should accentuate your best features. If you have a fantastic neck line, show it off! Great legs don't need to be completely covered by a floor-length skirt. Even if you have traditional tastes, be sure to take this opportunity to flaunt your best features!
Color
It's been a long-observed tradition that brides wear white to their wedding. That said, more women are opting for a colorful, dramatic wedding gown than ever before. If you decide to go for a colorful dress, you'll want to understand what types of color look good on you--and with each other. To figure this out, classify yourself as either:
- Warm colored--People who are warm colored tend to have a great deal of brown and red in their hair, eyes, and skin tone. When in doubt, warm colored people should stick to the red, orange, and yellow section of the rainbow spectrum.
- Cool colored--These folks tend to have lighter hair, darker skin, and blue or green eyes. The green, blue, and violet section of the color spectrum is where cool colored people need to choose their colors from--particularly when selecting accents on a lightly colored gown.
Accessories
Wedding gowns are tailored for amazing accessories. Gloves, veils, and flowers are all possible components of your wedding ensemble. That means you'll need to understand what dress styles look great with certain accessories to match everything up correctly.
- Veils--Long, dramatic veils tend to go well with dresses that feature a deep neck and back line. Tiaras, on the other hand, tend to work well with most styles.
- Hair Combs--These ornaments can add flair and drama to your hairstyle, but ornate jeweling can contrast with beading on your dress. Keep either your dress stitching or comb simple.
- Bracelets--Bracelets work well with sleeveless dresses, but not so well with long sleeves.
- Belts and Sashes--These are fantastic for dresses that stay straight through the legs. Be careful when pairing them with billowy bottoms and long trains.
Most importantly, remember that these tips are just a starting point. The most important thing is that you choose a gown that represents your personal style and that makes you feel great on this important occasion. The only person whose opinion really matters is you!
If you like the idea of a nontraditional wedding, you may also want to consider an Elvis chapel wedding. If that theme appeals to you, then try these guys out.
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