Find Wedding Dress Fabrics

A Guide to Wedding Dress Fabrics

When looking for your wedding dress, there's a great deal of choice when it comes to fabric - and sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to make a decision, or work out the right fabric for you. Many dresses are made from materials that you wouldn't normally wear for your day-to-day clothes, so it's handy to know what to look for, and the different attributes of each type of fabric. Here's a general guide to wedding dress fabrics and how to wear them:

Taffeta: Taffeta is a popular choice for wedding gowns as it is useful to create structure and shape. A fairly heavy fabric, taffeta has a stiff weave and is made from silk or a silk mix. Great for big gowns and full skirts, taffeta comes in matte or with a slight sheen.

Tulle: Tulle is a slightly stiff, fine net fabric that can be used to add fullness and structure. Made from silk or a silk mix, tulle is light and sheer and is often used to make trains and veils.

Duchess satin: This is a luxurious fabric; smooth and rich. Often chosen for traditional and simple dresses, Duchess satin also combines wonderfully with structured wedding gowns. Made from a heavy silk or silk-rayon blend, this fabric is beautifully glossy and looks expensive.

Chiffon: A classic fabric for wedding dresses, chiffon is a sheer fabric that is usually combined with heavier materials to add detail to wedding gowns, such as cut out sections or sleeves. It can also be used to create layers, underskirts, veils and trains, with its wonderful draping properties.

Silk georgette: This is a light, floaty silk fabric that can be used as a sheer layer over skirts, bodices, as a veil or train. Adding a draping, flowing element to any bridalwear, silk georgette is great for loose-style wedding dresses.

Organza: Organza is much like georgette, except it has a little more body and stiffness, helping to create shape and structure in your dress.

Wedding dress made from taffeta and organza

Italian satin: This fabric is a manmade silk mix that is versatile and resistant to creasing. Great for any style of wedding dress, Italian satin is adaptable and has a smooth, silky finish.

Velvet: Best for winter weddings due to its heaviness, velvet is a sumptuous fabric that can look wonderful with patterns, embroidery or other detailing. Velvet comes in lots of different weights and thicknesses, and can be used creatively to provide both draping and structure.

Don't pass by non-traditional dresses and fabrics, however. Some jersey and simple cotton dresses can be great for summer weddings, with their loose and draping qualities. You can also adapt the fullness of skirts with the addition of underskirts and petticoats, and add to your bridal look with veils and detachable trains.

Whatever fabric you choose for your wedding dress, make sure you take time to feel and try on a variety of dresses to see which is most comfortable and flattering. Some very structured gowns, or those that have in-built corsets, can be very heavy and cumbersome. If you plan on doing lots of dancing at your wedding you might want to consider a second outfit to change into. You also need to take into account what time of year you'll be getting married in - some fabrics are heavier and hotter than others and you don't want to be sweating or freezing on your big day!

Other materials used for wedding dresses include a variety of silks, satins and cottons, and detailing such as pearls, sequins, diamonds, silk flowers and feathers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6481180

Bold Fashion Wedding Dresses

Wedding Dresses That Make a Bold Fashion Statement

Many brides are more than happy to wear a classic wedding gown with a fitted bodice and a flowing, fluid skirt. They will look beautiful, but there will be no big surprise for the guests as she floats up the aisle.

For those who want to make more of a fashion statement on their big day, there are some tricks to setting yourself apart. With the right gown, you can be the bride in that fabulous gown that your guests long remember.

Here are some key details that can help your wedding gown make a bold fashion statement.

The Neckline

Since the first thing people will notice about a bride is her face, the upper torso is a great place to try something different. That means experiment with different necklines. Find one that works well with your bone structure, your hair and your figure:

1.Off the Shoulder: Find a dress with straps that flare off your shoulders. If you want more than a strap, look for cap sleeves that sit just below your shoulders. This wide look will elongate your neck.

2. Strapless: Before you are sure you want to wear a strapless gown, try it on and move around. It may be an incredibly glamorous dress, but if you are constantly pulling it up or looking uncomfortable, there will be no confidence in your demeanor - and you won't make any kind of bold fashion statement.

3. Sweetheart: This heart-shaped bodice is similar to the strapless gown and carries the same pitfalls. It's not a matter of having enough chest area to hold it up - it's having the confidence to wear it.

4. Spaghetti Strap: If you find you lack the confidence to go strapless, spaghetti straps might be the way you can wear that glamorous dress while being confident that it's not going to head south. The straps offer that little bit of insurance some brides need.

5. V-neck: This neckline is a great way to draw all eyes upward. A wedding gown with a fitted, crystal-encrusted V-neckline is one that your guests will remember.

6. Halter: A halter design can be used with several necklines. It pairs well with a shirt collar neckline, as straps on a strapless gown or with a keyhole halter bodice and beaded neckline, which offers a very sophisticated look.

7. One Shoulder: Now this is a way to make a fashion statement. An especially glamorous one-shoulder silk chiffon wedding dress features a floral layout along the strap and the same matching look along the hemline. Another design made of silk satin chiffon features one strap that forms a cap sleeve over the right shoulder. The bust features a unique cross-draped effect.

The Fabric

Yes, wedding gowns are almost always white or ivory, but that is where the similarities end. Fabrics can range from classics like satin to something more exotic, like Shantung. They can be natural like linen or cotton - or more elaborate:

1. Charmeuse - A lightweight woven satin that comes in polyester or silk.

2. Chiffon - Often used as an overlay fabric, chiffon is French for the word "cloth." It is a lightweight, plain woven sheer fabric. It can be a synthetic material, silk or cotton.

3. Crepe de Chine - A gauzy fabric made of silk or polyester. It can also be made from wool, but that would not be seen in a wedding gown.

4. Faille - Cotton, rayon or silk can be used to weave faille, a woven fabric with a lightly ribbed pattern like grosgrain ribbon.

5. Garza - A soft, natural silk that is often used by couture designers. If it is made of Paris Garza, that is the same silk process created in Paris.

6. Georgette - A slightly sheer fabric that is usually made of silk or polyester. It has a crepe texture. It isn't smooth, but it creates lovely flowing lines.

7. Lace - Among the most delicate and traditional fabrics for wedding gowns.

8. Linen - This fabric is not commonly used in wedding gowns because it lacks sheen. Made from the fibers of the flax plant, linen is one the coolest and most breathable fabrics.

9. Mikado - A heavy, blended silk that can create a crisper look than 100 percent silk.

10. Satin - A tightly woven fabric, with varying degrees of sheen on one side.

11. Shantung - This used to be called raw, or natural silk, and it has a nub to the grain of the fabric.

12. Silk - This fabric comes from silkworm cocoons that are woven into a rich, lustrous fabric that can be dramatically draped.

13. Taffeta - A smooth, crisp fabric that comes in different varieties: matte taffeta, satin-backed taffeta, double satin-faced taffeta and moiré taffeta.

The Silhouette

Most people are aware of the more common silhouettes used, like empire, A-line and ball gown. But if you want to make a fashion statement, consider going with a less-often used outline such as the fit-to-flare trumpet shape, which is fitted from the bust to mid-calf, where it flares out. Another choice might be the corset waist, which has a snug, bodice-fitting corset top that fits to your hips. Boning is used as an embellishment. It's somewhat bold, but that is what some brides are looking for.

Article Source: By Jeff H. Benson

Jewelry In Wedding Party

Bridesmaid Jewelry

The selection of your bridesmaid jewelry is as important as the selection of your bridal jewelry. Finding the perfect bridesmaid necklace, earrings and bracelets is essential to finishing off your bridesmaids ansamble. With trends changing on a regular basis, selecting your bridesmaid jewelry early is more than a wise decision. Find the latest styles of jewelry as well as many timeless pieces of bridesmaid jewelry that will be cherished by your closest friends for a lifetime.

When selecting the bridesmaid jewelry your maids will wear consider the style of bridesmaid gowns they will be wearing as well as the colors in your wedding party. If your bridesmaids are wearing a strapless dress, then a bridesmaid jewelry choker would be perfect, as well as a single or double strand necklace. If your bridesmaids are wearing a gown that the neckline plunges, then a y-drop or pendant necklace looks amazing. Whatever your bridesmaid selection, choose jewelry that will enhance the bridesmaid gown they are wearing.

Your friends are not the same people and their bridesmaid jewelry does not have to be either. More and more brides are opting for the same color of jewelry in each piece of bridesmaid jewelry, but different styles and types of bridesmaid necklaces, bracelets and earrings. For instance, if your wedding colors and bridesmaid gown colors are burgundy, and you have three bridesmaids with very different tastes try mixing the necklaces they wear, but give them all the same style bracelet. This is a great way to keep consistency but change the overall appearance of each individual bridesmaid.

If you are a more traditional bride and want all of your bridesmaids to wear the same exact jewelry you, look for bridesmaid jewelry that will look great on all of them.

No matter what bridesmaid jewelry you choose to give your bridesmaids, they will cherish the jewelry you purchase for them because it is a key to the special memory they were a part of in your life. The best part about giving bridesmaid jewelry as a gift, is that it is a gift that keeps on giving. The bridesmaid jewelry you give your maids will be worn time and time again for special occasions. Let's face it if a dog is a man's best friend, jewelry is a girl's best friend. You cannot go wrong with the gift of bridesmaid jewelry!

Article Source: By Bonita Beck

Princess Wedding Dresses

How to Have a Princess Wedding

Princesses are very popular among little girls these days. However, adult women are quickly joining in on the princess trend and enjoying the fun too! This trend seems to be seeping over into the wedding industry and has created a new niche for brides and princess coinsurers to explore.

If you are getting married at Disneyland, DisneyWorld, or at another princess destination, this article will give you some tips about how to have a fabulous princess wedding on a tight budget. Of course, if you have extra money to spend, you can make it more extravagant in several different ways.

First, you need to decide on a location to get married. Disneyland is a great place to have a wedding and/or a honeymoon. Sleeping Beauty's castle is a stunning location for photographs and sets the mood entirely. Who doesn't want to be swept away by prince charming and honeymoon to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland? However, if Disneyland is not in your budget, you could easily set up a castle or princess theme at your local church or recital hall.

Second, what should the bride wear? Traditionally, brides wear a white wedding gown. This trend is still very popular, but why not change it up a little and wear an adult princess dress instead of a wedding dress? Your guests will appreciate the fun and unique aspect of the wedding and it will be something new and exciting that you can do. There are many adult princess dresses out there including a great brand called Little Adventures. They have beautiful adult princess dresses that are actually machine washable so you can keep them for years to come. They are reasonably priced around $60, but you must have a fullness slip underneath your princess dress to complete the princess look. The slips run around $40. Many online retailers sell Little Adventures adult princess dresses and offer free shipping. So, for around $100, you can be Cinderella, Snow White, or beautiful Belle.


What should your wedding party wear? You could get a prince costume for your husband to be. Your bridesmaids could each wear a different adult princess dress. For example, if you wear Cinderella, they could each wear Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Belle or Rapunzel. The flower girls could wear a princess bride dress or any other princess costume for little girls like mermaid, pink princess, or a beautiful Medieval princess dress.

There are many activities you could provide at a princess wedding like a Royal ball where you invite guests to come dressed up in their favorite prince or princess costumes. You may want to have a special castle wedding cake made and medieval type snacks or finger foods to serve. You could have Cinderella's carriage to take you to and from the reception.


Whatever you decide, your princess wedding will be unique and fun for you and for your special guests!

By: By Shelby Strong

Wedding Dresses Las Vegas 2

Wedding Dresses Las Vegas

Planning a Wedding in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has many many wedding options and depending on how much money you are wanting to spend and what type of wedding you want you are sure to find the perfect wedding for you!

Sure you can get married in a cheesy wedding ceremony by an Elvis impersonator without much planning but if you have your eye on a dream wedding you can find this in Las Vegas with the following considerations:


WHAT TYPE OF WEDDING DO YOU WANT?

Like I mentioned earlier, if you want to be married by Elvis then Las Vegas will accommodate your wedding without much planning. On the other hand if you are looking for a more classy wedding then you should look into booking a wedding chapel at one of the bigger hotels. The offer amazingly beautiful wedding chapels and most hotels offer wedding packages that include EVERYTHING! A wedding package like this will remove most of the planning stress from you. Typical packages include hotel room, flowers, photographer and a wedding planner to do all the work. With a wedding package like this all you'll have to worry about is the wedding dress and the groom's tux.

WHAT"S YOUR BUDGET?
Lets face it, your wedding budget will be the ultimate factor in helping you decide what type of Las Vegas wedding you will be having. Working up a budget before searching for a Las Vegas wedding package is a good idea. There are so many hotels and great deals, if you don't find the perfect package in you price range keep on looking until you find one.

THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
Before getting married you will have to get a marriage license. The good news is they are easy to get and don't cost much money. You'll need a current ID, birth certificate or passport and $60 (at the time this article was published). You need to be at least 18, you will need to provide you social security number, Blood tests aren't necessary in Nevada and there is no waiting period. If you are unsure where to obtain your marriage license, your hotel or wedding planner should be able to help you. You will be needing to visit the Las Vegas Marriage License Beureau Office.


By Daisy Bray

A Line Wedding Dresses

A-line wedding gowns are hot firstly because they make girls' dreams come true. What modern brides hunt for includes luxury, elegance, yet simplicities at the same time. They do thirst for being distinct. However they don' t love to apply heavy accessories or cosmetics. It' s wise to be simply elegant. This is exactly achieved by today' s A-line bridal wears.

Romantic Wedding Dresses 2

White Summer Wedding Dresses 2

A Line Beach Wedding Dresses

A Line Satin Wedding Dresses

A Line Pink Wedding Dresses

A Line Wedding Dresses 4

A Line Wedding Dresses 3

A Line Wedding Dresses 2

A Line White Wedding Dresses

Trend Plus Size Wedding Dresses

Plus Size Wedding Dresses - 4 Hot Summer Trends for 2007

In the world of bridal fashion, following trends is not always an easy thing to do for a BBW. The top designers always seem to have a size 0 in mind when they are designing their current line of wedding gowns, and some trends seem to pass the plus size world by. However, this year there are several trends that are actually full figure friendly and will transfer into a beautiful, plus size wedding gown choice for your summer wedding.

Trend 1 - Sweetheart necklines. A sweetheart neckline is a low-cut neckline with two curves over the bust, making the bodice"shaped like the top of a heart." This is ideal for average to small size busts but can work well on large busts if the cut is not too low and there is sufficient support in the bodice.

Trend 2 - Color. A big trend this year is a touch of color. Whether it be colored lace appliqué, colored thread piping, or the entire dress a shade other than white. Anything goes and colorful wedding dresses are very fashionable now. Plus size brides can take advantage of this trend by using dark colors in the bodice area to draw the eye up if you are "pear" shaped or bottom heavy. Alternatively, you can use color in the train or hem, or add colored appliqué's on the skirt and colored sashes if your very top heavy. All over color is in now and can be flattering to all brides off all sizes. Popular shades for summer are lavender, blue, jewel tones and metallic fabrics of silver and gold.


Trend 3 - Lace. Lace appliqué's, dresses that are totally lace and lace sheathings are all in style this summer. Although overdoing lace can actually accentuate figure flaws, a little lace in the right places can be very figure flattering. Instead of a dress that is total lace, try a gown with some lace appliqué's with or without a touch of color. Also, a simple Lycra enhanced dress with a lace sheathing can be extremely beautiful on an extra curvy bride.




Trend 4 - Accessories. How you decide to accessorize your wedding dress will depend on what style of dress you are going to wear. If keeping it simple and you are going to wear a casual wedding dress, you will want to add very little for fear of overwhelming the beauty of your selected gown. A simple flower for your hair or a jeweled hair comb instead of a veil or tiara would be appropriate and not much else. If you are wearing a formal style wedding dress then of course you can add much more to your ensemble. veils, tiaras, gloves, shawls, flowered sashes, bows, and beads are all popular trends for 2007. The only item mentioned that may not work well on the plus size bride are wide sashes, although there are some wedding dress styles that incorporate this trend in a very understated way, and would look good on women of all shapes and sizes.


Remember, don't let the latest fashion trends be the only factor when you are choosing your perfect wedding dress. You have to feel comfortable, and your gown should reflect your personality and your inner beauty. That is the number one consideration, and when you follow your instincts you will certainly shine like a star on your most special day.

By Jackie Shumpert

Plus Size Wedding Gown

For we plus size women, shopping for the perfect wedding dress can present a challenge. Truly though, most rules are the same for any woman.

The first, and most important tip is to begin your search six to nine months before your wedding day. It may take time to find the perfect dress and then you must allow more time for any alterations.

The second most important consideration is to set a budget. Don't forget about accessories!

When shopping, know what looks good for your figure. A-line dresses flatter most voluptuous figures, skimming over the hips. V-shaped necklines are flattering as well. Avoid full ballroom skirts and tea length dresses. The former may add more bulk to a round figure and the latter can make a curvy woman appear squatty.

Try on several gowns. A dress that appears unflattering on a hanger may very well be stunning on a body. Consider, also, the view from the back. This will be what your guests will mostly see. Think carefully before choosing a very long or large skirt. These can be cumbersome in small areas.

Will the gown you seek be for a winter or summer ceremony? Choose the fabric accordingly. For summer, go for light fabrics such as lace, chiffon or silk. For cooler weather months, consider brocades, velvet or satin. Will the wedding be formal, semi-formal or casual? Choose fabrics and dress styles accordingly.


Size does matter! Wedding dresses tend to run small. Always buy a dress in at least a size larger than you normally wear. This will allow for any weight gain and is easy to alter to fit as your big day draws near.

Be comfortable. You will be standing, sitting and dancing in your gown. If it is ill fitted or too tight, you'll be worrying with your dress and not enjoying your day. You can look beautiful without suffering for it!

Shopping for a dress does not need to be stressful. Take a few friends, who will also serve as advisors, and make a fun day of it.

By:By Nikola Marshall