Wedding Dresses: Be You!

photo courtesy of adoringdress.com

Dressing in all white, carrying pink roses, and wearing something blue is no longer the dream of every bride. Today’s bride wants to be herself and not follow any traditionally set rules - unless that is what she wants to do. Showing personal style is not just a trend in the bridal world, but it is one of the more difficult places to be unique. Despite the fact that most wedding dresses are still white and many brides still want to carry pink roses, there are plenty of other ways to show your unique style as you traditionally walk down that aisle.


Choose the dress you want and love. The first way to be you is to wear a dress (or something else) that you absolutely love. Maybe you choose to wear a skirt or pants and a top. Brides are no longer expected to wear the traditional white dress. You might even want to wear a dress with color, like pink, gold, or mint green.


Show your style with accessories. Maybe you do want to wear a traditional white wedding dress, but you want to accessorize in your own style. Bridal salons are full of unique accessories, like colorful sashes, glorious tiaras, and sparkling earrings. You could even go outside of the traditional accessories and pick a statement bracelet or a gorgeous necklace with a statement gem. You might even want to wear a jaunty little hat or a hippy headband that shows off your eyes.


Shoes can do it. You do not have to wear pearly white shoes under your wedding dress. If you love to wear your Chucks, then wear them! If you want to go barefoot because that is your style, go barefoot. There are so many great ways to show your individuality and shoes are one of the easiest ways to do it. If you are wearing a long dress, your guests might not even get a peek at your shoes - which can be a fun way to keep your style a secret. Or, you can make your shoes a true focal point by wearing a dress that highlights them!


Hair it goes. Your hairstyle can also show your style. Even with a traditional bridal style, you can have fun and be you. Maybe you have a strand of hair that you color pink, or you include a decoration like your favorite tropical flower. Since most people will be seeing your back during the ceremony, this is where you can plan to have the most stylish fun with your hairdo. Since this is the only time you will have bridal hair, take the opportunity to have fun and show off your gorgeous locks.


Bridesmaids can have fun, too. Along with your own personal style, your bridesmaids can be themselves, too. Some brides are letting their bridesmaids pick their own dresses. If this lack of bridal-control scares you, you could let them pick a style of a dress in a certain color, or a color in a certain style. If you want them all in the same dress, maybe you let them choose their shoes or their hair styles. The personal style will only add to the fun of getting married because your bridesmaids will be comfortable, which makes them more relaxed and ready to enjoy your day!

Vintage Wedding Dress

Photo courtesy of alfredangelo.com

Vintage seems to never go out of style, which is why it is having a revival in the wedding industry. Vintage wedding dresses have a style that simply cannot be reproduced by today’s designers. The intricate lace work, the headpieces, and the accessories evoke a feeling from days long gone, but when added to a modern wedding they seem fresh and new. While some designers try to recreate the feeling of a wedding dress from the 1930s, 1950s, or 1960s, the textiles still look like they were made now. The only way to go vintage is to purchase and wear a dress that was made by a designer from the decade you love.


Before you commit to buying an actual vintage gown, there are a few important considerations. The first is the condition of the gown. Some fabrics do not weather well and can truly fall apart over time. If you are buying the gown online, you could easily be tricked by photographs. So, before you buy, you should see the gown up close and in person. If it is not possible to actually touch the dress before you buy it, ask the seller to show it to you via Skype or another face-to-face real-time communication app.


The size of the dress only matters if it is too small. A dress that is too big can easily be altered by a professional tailor. But, if a dress is too small, it can be challenging to find vintage fabric to match. You could spend more on the replacement fabric that you did on the entire dress! Because you are buying a dress from decades past, it is important to understand that it will most likely need alterations and a professional cleaning. Since you will be wearing this dress for your wedding, you want it to look its best, so the money you spend will be an investment.


When you shop for your vintage dress, you should look at what you can do with the dress, not just what the dress can do for you. If the dress has a beautiful neckline or a full tulle skirt, what accessories can you add to accentuate those details. If you are using part of the dress to add to another one, look at the little details you can take from both dresses to incorporate them into one special gown. Sometimes the silhouette of a vintage dress is so perfect that the dress does not need to be changed at all. If you find that perfect gown, you could even create a vintage feel through the wedding and reception. Keep your options open when you decide to go vintage.


Wearing vintage means you can be playful with your hair. There are plenty of beautiful hair pieces that can create the perfect look to compliment your dress. Bird cage veils are popular because they flatter most dress styles and hairstyles, too. You never know what you will find in your grandmother’s cedar chest or at your local vintage shop.


Since vintage dresses are often shorter than modern cuts, beaded shoes can be a fun way to add your personal style to your wedding. It can be difficult to find vintage shoes, but it is relatively easy to find shoes with vintage styling. Since shoe textiles have not changed much, it is easy to fool people with modern shoes that look like they are vintage.