A Bride's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Wedding Outfit
You’ve spent years dreaming of the day you would walk down the wedding aisle, a radiant vision in white. Now the ring is on your finger and it’s time to make that dream a reality.
The Wedding Gown
The most important component of the wedding outfit is the wedding gown. All other accessories will be chosen to coordinate with and complement the gown, so it should be the first thing you buy. Many wedding gown manufacturers take more than six months to deliver a gown once it has been ordered, so make sure you begin searching early for your gown.
You can ask for recommendations or look in the yellow pages to find bridal shops in your area. Large department stores often carry wedding gowns as well. When shopping for your wedding gown you might want to bring someone along for a second opinion, but remember that it’s your dress and what you like that counts. While it helps to have an idea of what you’re looking for in a gown, don’t be afraid to try on different styles. For example, one bride was convinced that she wanted a long sleeved wedding gown. In one shop the saleswoman brought dress after dress to the fitting room, but the bride was unhappy with all of them. Finally the saleswoman slipped in a sleeveless gown with braided shoulder straps and a string of faux pearls woven in among the braid. The bride fell in love with it instantly and knew she’d found the perfect dress for her.
Veil
The headpiece and veil should be chosen to complement the style of the wedding gown. There are several veil lengths to choose from. An elbow length veil is usually worn with shorter gowns. Just like it sounds, a fingertip veil falls to the bride’s fingertips and can be worn in a semiformal or formal wedding. A chapel veil falls to the floor, while a cathedral length veil trails the floor and is generally worn in formal weddings with a gown with cathedral train.
Headpieces come in many different styles to suit a bride’s tastes. These include headbands, tiaras, hats, flower wreaths, barrettes, bows and combs. Make sure to take the headpiece and veil with you to the hairdresser when planning your hairstyle for the big day.
Shoes
Wedding shoes come in a variety of styles and fabrics. Some are elegantly simple while others are adorned with lace, ribbons, pearls or tiny rosettes. They can be flats, boots, stilettos – even wedding sneakers are available. The wedding shoes should be selected early and worn to all wedding gown fittings. This is especially important for getting the hem just right.
Not only are shoes an important component of a bride’s overall look, but they play a vital role in your comfort on the wedding day. Uncomfortable wedding shoes can make you miserable, and it’s hard to dance the night away on aching, blistered feet. Make sure the shoes feel good on your feet when you purchase them, then begin breaking them in a couple of weeks before the wedding by wearing them around the house. Don’t wear them outside, since you don’t want to chance getting them dirty.