Wedding Outfits

Outfits better than your dreams

Getting dressed on the big day

You’ve probably been dreaming of the perfect wedding dress for months or even years, and you’ll want to make sure the final creation fits and flatters you perfectly.

There are loads of options available for finding your perfect wedding dress, from hitting the shops to hiring a gown, to having one made for you or even making it yourself.

The following guide will tell you everything you could possibly want to know about finding the dress of your dreams

Be inspired by what brides of the past

Virginal white, or a shade thereof, is associated in our minds as the traditional colour of wedding dresses but actually for most of the last 2000 years, brides have worn all kinds of colours on their wedding day.

Your wedding dress countdown

From budget to future use (if any), here are the key things to consider when making a decision on your wedding dress.

The average amount spent on a wedding dress is approaching Rs.12000. We have wedding dresses starting from Rs.8000. Any way the quality of materials used and amount of embroidery used will decide the final price of the dress. There are wedding dresses imported from other countries which cost more than one lakh. Stitching a dress in India with imported materials will workout much cheaper for you.
Although some brides strike lucky and find the dress of their dreams at a reduced price, many more overspend the budget in this area. Whenever you set a budget, always factor in 10 per cent for overspends -- but then try and stick to this outer limit. Traditionally, the bride’s family pays for the wedding dress and for the bridesmaids’ dresses. Nowadays, however, more bridesmaids pay for their own, which gives them more say in what they wear. Whatever your arrangements, they need to be agreed in advance.

Will your wedding dress fit the theme?

The trend for weddings is for their overall design to become ever more coordinated and themed. Although it’s by no means a requirement, usually the style of the dress matches the style of the wedding. After all, if you're a minimalist girl at heart, you're likely to regret going for the pink Cinderella outfit when the rest of your wedding is stark black and white. Plus you'll probably want the bridesmaids to wear similar styles of dress.

Religious requirements

Something to bear in mind -- some people may be offended if they turn up at, say, a wedding in a cathedral to see the bride in a short, off-the-shoulder number.

When you imagine your perfect wedding day, do you see a realistic image of yourself?
We all want to look our most gorgeous for the big day -- glowing, beautiful and with the body of a Hollywood starlet, after months of unwavering dieting and rigorous exercise. But when the daydream fades, we know that most of us don't look much like the celebrity icons of glossy magazines.

Worried? Don't be. Beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes, and the best way to look your best is not to conjure up a picture of someone you’re not, but to concentrate on the real image of yourself. Just aim to look like you -- only even more fantastic.

First things first

When thinking about the image you want to create on your wedding day, start from the familiar. Think about what you normally wear, your favourite colours, where the ceremony's taking place, and the tone you're aiming for -- traditional, avant-garde or relaxed. Once you have a clear idea of these elements in your mind, you can start applying them to your wedding outfit.
If your body or choice of ceremony isn't right for a white puffy dress, don't feel you have to go for it just because of the traditional image of a bride. Having said that, it’s usually a good rule to try on a variety of different styles, even those you think you will hate. Often brides who were convinced they are the minimalist type fall in love with a princess ball gown, and wannabe-Cinderellas find they are actually more of a streamlined kind of girl.

Colour counts

Another tip to help you decide on a wedding look that's right for you is to think about colour, especially if you have a fuller figure. The days of brides in obligatory fairy-tale white are long gone. Far better to go for a dress made in your favourite colour or in one that makes your skin glow. Do, however, bear in mind that if you're going for a very bright colour, you should keep the detail on the dress to an absolute minimum.

In the detail

Beadwork has been much in vogue and can transform a relatively plain dress into a stunning bridal gown that will turn heads. Also popular are floral prints and embroidered detail on select areas of a dress which can add a bit of colour to you outfit, or draw attention to a particular area of the anatomy.

A dress for every body

Think about your body shape when you choose your dress.

Wedding dress skirt shapes

Choice of shape strongly influences the overall style and look of the bridal gown. Some skirt shapes such as the ball gown have a classical feel whilst shapes such as the column have a modern sexier appeal. Your decision on what skirt shape to have should not only depend on what you like or what the latest fashion is, but what looks good on you.

The following illustrations are a guideline to some of the main bridal gown skirt shapes and the body shapes they best suit -- and don’t suit so well. You may decide to reject all these styles and go for something totally off the wall. Remember it's not just about the dress -- you also have your personality, an aura, vitality, your face, hair... a whole package to work with. If you're happy about what you’re doing, nothing could look more stunning and beautiful than that.

Empire line

The empire line dress is for brides who don't want a figure-hugging gown. The skirt starts just below the bust and is not as full as the ball gown or has an A-line shape. This style of dress suits a small-busted, slim figure. 

Neckline shapes for wedding dresses

Stapless, halter or scoop -- which one’s right for you?

After the general profile of the dress, your next concern is usually the neckline. Most brides find themselves firmly one side or the other of the straps/strapless divide, but there are many variations beyond those simple choices.

The neckline is important because it draws attention to the upper part of the body, especially the face, collarbone and décolletage (neck) areas. For these reasons, getting a neckline exactly right for you is very important. Necklines also add to the overall style of the gown, and will affect what accessories you could (or couldn’t) wear with the dress.

The following illustrations show the most common necklines.

Sleeve styles

Choose the sleeve to suit your bridal gown

Whether or not you have sleeves on your wedding dress used to be dictated by seasonal fashion, but is now more related to personal taste. What type of sleeve you have is usually a matter of the overall style of the dress and how you feel about your upper arms.

Sleeves don’t have to be in the same fabric as the rest of the dress. they can be made of lighter, more translucent material, which is particularly good for brides not wanting to bare their arms on a warm day.

The following illustrations show some common types of sleeve.

Choosing a bridal train

Choosing a bridal train

A train -- the elongated portion of material at the back of the bridal gown -- can go with any dress shape or style. Trains vary in length from very short to very long, but most brides opt for a train no longer than eight feet.

Many brides prefer not to have a train at all, but it is possible to have the best of both worlds by having a detachable train which is usually attached to the dress at the waist via hooks or buttons.

If your train isn’t detachable then it should have hooks that you can use to loop it up to the waist (bustle style) or the shoulder. Some dresses use an old-fashioned but elegant style where the loop is held over the fingers.

Another type of less common train is a watteau -- one that falls from the back near the shoulders to the floor. These are usually detachable.

Here we take you through the most common types of train.

DIY dresses

Handy with a needle and thread? Then you could try making your wedding dress on your own

Can't find exactly what you're looking for when it comes to your dress? Seen the dress of your dreams -- only to find it's out of your price range? Decided on a bevy of bridesmaids -- only to discover that off-the-peg dresses aren't in the right tones for your colour theme?

At times like these, many brides decide to ask a dressmaker to create dresses for them or their bridesmaids. Alternatively, if you or your mum is a dab hand with a needle and thread, you might well be tempted to make your own gowns.
Here's what you need to think about.

Material matters

The style and fabric you choose will depend on the type of wedding you're planning. A formal wedding might call for a full-skirted, floor-length duchesse satin gown, complete with train and veil. However, for a less formal affair, you could opt for a slinky bias-cut crepe number with a flirtatious feathery headdress.

It's also important to bear in mind where your wedding will take place. If you're getting married on a tropical beach, there's no point in hankering after a heavy brocade Victorian-style gown with corset and flowing train. Instead you'd be better advised to choose a floaty chiffon dress suitable for a hot climate.

If you’re planning to have a theme to your wedding, it can be reflected in your dress. A wedding at a medieval stately home might inspire a Tudor-style gown in devoré or crepe and bridesmaids in rich jewel colours, while a silver satin gown in a simple, sleek style would be perfect for a contemporary celebration with a dramatic metallic theme.

Take your size and shape into account too. A full-skirted dress suits anyone tending to the top-heavy, as the full skirt gives the gown balance. Slinky bias-cut numbers favour those with a boyish figure. Princess-line gowns are ideal for the English pear-shape as they camouflage heavy hips and large bottoms. And the Empire line is perfect if you are petite.

Finding the perfect fabric

Material matters when you’re making your wedding dress

If you're making your own wedding dress, or having one made, then you'll need to select the right fabric to suit both you and your dress.

The fabric you choose will be dictated partly by the style of your dress. A stiff satin, for instance, is more effective for a ball gown silhouette than for an informal style, which would be much better suited to a floating chiffon.

Here are some of the main types of fabrics and their qualities...

Chiffon

A delicate, matt fabric which drapes and skims. Feather-light and perfect for layering, sleeves and even veils, this fabric makes a beautiful complement to crêpes or satins in the same dress, or can be used for sheer wraps and scarves for brides and bridesmaids.

Crêpe, georgette and satin-backed crêpe

Crêpe is a softly flowing fabric with a crinkled texture, popular for both brides and bridesmaids. It works well on slim-shaped dresses that can be cut on the bias to create a flattering silhouette. Georgette (sometimes called georgette crêpe) is very similar. Satin-backed crêpe is reversible so that the satin side can be complemented by the matt crêpe side in the same dress, for instance in cuffs, borders, panels or neckline.

Organza and silk organza

Similar to chiffon but stiffer, organza works well on shimmering skirts and ballet-dancer style dresses for bridesmaids. Silk organza is often embroidered.

Shantung and raw silk

These are very popular textured silks, with natural imperfections and 'slubs' making each length unique. They are medium to heavy fabrics, and their natural texture makes them suitable for simple gowns.

Duchesse satin

This is what most people think of when they hear the words “wedding dress material”. A rich, glossy satin with a matt back, this is a good fabric for embellishing with beads and jewels as it is relatively strong.

Taffeta and moiré

Taffeta is the classic formal party dress material, quite stiff and usually made from silk, although it can be synthetic. Moiré is taffeta with the classic watermark look. Both fabrics are traditionally used for ballgown style dresses.

Jason's Fabric Collection catalogues offer a wealth of designer fabrics to choose from and make shopping for fabric easy and enjoyable

Your wedding dress A-Z

Your wedding dress A-Z

As you click through our fashion articles in your search for the perfect dress, you may sometimes wonder exactly what we're talking about! Here's a guide to bridalwear terminology to make sure you always know your Empire line from your fish-tail...

Can you find your perfect dress online?

Buying online versus hitting the shops

Both paths to finding the perfect wedding dress have their advantages and pitfalls.

Pros of online shopping

• The main benefit of buying online is clearly the price. Online dress stores will generally be less expensive, giving you more to play with in your bridal budget.
• Buying online doesn't involve shopping! It sounds crazy, but not all brides love shopping and this way you don't have to.

Pros of offline shopping

• Buying online doesn't give you the option to try on your dress. As well as being one of the most exciting aspects of planning your wedding, you really need to try on to know what suits you best. If your dress arrives and it doesn't fit, you'll have to find a company to alter it for you. A bridal retailer will alter your dress to ensure that it fits perfectly.
• If you buy online, there's no absolute guarantee that the dress you’re purchasing is genuine.
• You're relying on your dress to be delivered from an online retailer. Panic stations will really kick in if it's not with you a month before the wedding.
• You're also relying on your dress arriving in pristine condition. There's no way to check for any faults before it reaches you.

The final decision is yours, but make sure you're happy with whatever you decide, and confident in your retailer… and enjoy wearing it!

Going shopping

On the hunt for the wedding dress of your dreams

Whether your every shopping trip is organised with military precision, or you usually forget to bring something important (like your purse), shopping for a wedding dress requires even more care than usual to get the most out of it.

Choose your shopping partner

Many brides – more than 70 per cent according to a survey – choose to take their mothers if possible when they go wedding dress shopping. However, you know your mother best, and if there's a chance that this particular pairing may cause more rows than harmonious agreements, steer clear. It's best to avoid situations that you know might get a little heated.

Whoever you take, make sure it's someone whose taste you trust and who will be honest with you. Furthermore, take someone who is genuinely interested in watching you try on dresses all day – friendships have been tested when brides have felt their shopping partner wasn't showing enough commitment…

Dress for success

In order to make the most of the dress, and get the right size, you need to try on dresses wearing the same kind of shoes as those you plan to wear on the day. If at all possible, aim also to have roughly the same hairstyle, as many stores will have tiaras and veils for you to try on at the same time.

Understandably, you probably won't know what kind of underwear you need until you have chosen your dress style, but if you know you are looking for a clingy or halterneck dress, for instance, make sure you are wearing appropriate undergarments!

Essential equipment

Take a pad and pen, or a PDA to note down ideas, thoughts and reminders. Baby wipes are essential too – they’re invaluable for cleaning your hands and generally freshening up. Take a camera/camera phone –you'll want to remember what Your Dress (or candidates for the title) looks like, and bring along the bottled water – most stores will offer you some but do take your own.

Are you being served?

The store staff should be thoroughly knowledgeable and able to give the help or advice you need. It's important that you buy your dress from a shop you feel comfortable with – after all it's quite a lengthy process from choosing it to taking it home, and you have to feel you can trust them. Good store assistants recognise the importance of this purchase and treat every bride and dress as special.

Stay sober!

If you are suffering from nerves, or just feel in need of some support, it may be tempting to have a large glass of wine – or something equally fortifying – at lunch while you are shopping. Remember, though, that our most intelligent and considered decisions are not necessarily made while we are a little tipsy, and it's important to keep a clear head.

Big and Beautiful

Personal space

You won't have to negotiate communal changing rooms in a bridalwear shop, and most provide a more personal style of service which should help you feel more confident. If you are having your dress made to measure, try to have confidence in the person making it. Remember, they have experience of making dresses in a variety of sizes and will have a good idea of what will suit you.

Styles to suit

There's no particular style that suits any particular size – it really depends on your proportions. A completely straight dress, however, is unlikely to be flattering if you are curvy and it's wise to avoid puffs and gathers too. Princess lines and A-lines generally always look good, and silks and satins are preferable to very body-hugging material. Basques are also a great idea if you want to define and show off a curvy waist.

Perfect fit

Every bride-to-be has an image of how they want to look on their wedding day, and being bigger simply may not fit in with your picture of yourself as a bride. That's why many brides-to-be embark on that time honoured wedding tradition – the diet.

If you're intending to slim down for your wedding, be realistic about what you can achieve. There isn't any point in ordering a size 12 dress for your wedding in a month's time if you're a size 18. Trying to squeeze into a too-tight dress is also a mistake. Brides have to do an awful lot of moving around and wearing something uncomfortable really will spoil your day.

A sensible diet is one thing, but going on a crash diet before the wedding could leave you exhausted and unhealthy looking. Better to stick to a sensible plan and some stress-busting exercise.

And before you diet, remember that everyone is self-conscious when trying on dresses, regardless of their size. No one has the perfect body, but rest assured: it IS possible to find the perfect dress, no matter what shape you are.

Getting dressed on the big day

At last – it’s time to put it all on...

Wearing your wedding dress

Be careful getting into your transport to the reception – you don't want to pick up a smear of engine oil on the way. Make sure your dress is arranged to minimise creases. If you are wearing a veil over your face, you may want to wear it up until you get to the ceremony, so you can see what is happening.

If you are wearing a dress with a voluminous skirts, you’ll need to practice walking elegantly in it – the key is to keep the skirt moving forward just ahead of you by giving it a tiny kick before you take a step. You will probably wear your dress in its full glory only for the ceremony itself. After this, many fancier dresses have detachable parts or trains that can be bustled, which will aid movement during the day.

Don't try to deal with your dress on your own. Ask for your bridesmaids' help to make sure your skirt is lying properly during photos, and don't attempt to go to the loo on your own. For brides in large skirts this is a two-person job, and those in ball gowns may have to take their dresses off altogether.

Emergency kit

You should give a “wedding handbag” to your chief bridesmaid to carry for emergencies. The following contents are recommended to keep your outfit in tip-top condition during the day:

• Spare stockings or tights : If you're one of those people who only has to look at a pair of stockings to ladder them, it’s worth carrying spares just in case the worst happens.
• Anti-perspirant deodorant: If you're prone to stress sweats, this is a must. If your sleeves are tight-fitting, you might want to get your dressmaker to sew in some perspiration pads, so as to avoid those unsightly underarm damp patches.
• Aching feet: After posing for too many photos, pep up tired and swelling feet with a cooling foot spray. These tend to come in fairly large bottles, but you can decant a small amount into a handbag-size vaporiser.
• Safety pins: In case the worst happens and a zip goes.
• Baby wipes: These will remove most small stains and unsightly smudges that might occur during the day.

Taking it off

On the happy couple's first night together, few brides can manage the transition from wedding dress to seductive lingerie alone. Usually you will need your new husband's help to undo all those buttons, laces, hooks and eyes. As most new husbands are – rightly – inexpert at this (and possibly a little tired too!), allow some time and patience for this.

Allow the dress to drop to the floor and then take his hand to step over the skirts. Many brides like to lay their dress on a clean sheet under the bed for the night. It doesn't matter too much what you do with it, as it is only one night, but don't wrap it in plastic and don't fold it into sharp creases. It's not a disaster if you simply leave it on the floor for that night…

Bouquets to suit your body shape

It is important that how to find what suits you best and how to coordinate your wedding outfit with the rest of your wedding. After all, it’s going to be one of the most- in-the-spotlight accessories. Everyone is different and requires individual and personalised advice on how to dress right. It is important to follow your body line when choosing your wedding dress and ultimately your flower bouquet. Before deciding on your bouquet colour, shape and type you need to know what body shape you are. The goal is to create balance and harmony in your overall physical appearance. Therefore the bouquet you choose should highlight and balance your overall look: It shouldn't be overpowering, out of context or proportion, or unmanageable.

The neat hour glass is considered the perfect body shape, because its proportions from shoulders to waist and hips to waist are perfectly balanced.

All other body shapes refer to the qualities of this ideal body shape in order to create the illusion of being balanced and correctly proportioned. The aim is to achieve this proportion in your wedding dress and choice of flower bouquet.

Once you know which body shape you are you will know which wedding dress lines and shapes work best for you.

Wedding dress shapes

There are many styles to choose from, but that is not to say your choice will not be limited for your individual shape. Again, it is all about proportional dressing to accentuate your best features and downplay your worst. Read more about wedding dress skirt shapes to find the bridal gown that's best for you.
 
Your flower bouquet should be selected with the same principles that apply to choosing your wedding dress and veil (like colour and shape). It should follow your bodyline and be in proportion to your body shape and scale. Colour should coordinate with your personal white and reflect your wedding style.

Neat Hourglass

You can carry off any style and shape of flower bouquet, but keep in mind that it has to be in your scale and complement the line and shape of your chosen wedding dress.

Full Hour glass

Your shape is as well proportioned as the neat hour glass, the only difference is your scale is bigger.

Avoid: Petite Flower bouquets

Triangle/ Or pear

You are fuller around your hips than shoulders.
Avoid: Triangle flower bouquets

Inverted Triangle

Lean Column

Rectangle

You don’t have much of a waist, but you have a straight line between hips and bust.
Avoid: Petite or long and straight lines

Round/ or apple

Your fullest point is around your tummy and waist.
Avoid: Petite or round shapes. Avoid wearing them at your fullest point

General tips:

·  Small round clusters of flowers are easy to carry, but they need to be in proportion to the dress and bride
·  Big gowns need the balance of bigger and denser bunches of blooms, but keep the overall shape and look in mind
·  Cascade (waterfall-like spill of blooms) needs some height- not recommended for short brides
·  Pageant (a longer, hand-tied bouquet with stems showing - carried sideways-draped over the forearm) is not the best option for brides with big arms or broader shoulders
·  Short dresses look best with smaller or petite bouquets or just single stems
·  Your flower bouquet needs to reflect the overall tone of your wedding, but if your dress is simple, don’t be afraid to go bold in colour or style
·  Keep in mind that your flower bouquet is grander than those carried by your bridesmaids. Theirs show showcase yours by complementing its colour, style and shape

Choosing a bridesmaid's dress

You should coordinate your wedding outfit with the rest of your wedding. After all, it’s going to be one of the most- in-the-spotlight accessories.

Before deciding on your bridesmaids outfits, you need to choose your personal white for your wedding dress. Your wedding dress should be colour coordinated with your dominant colour and the personal colouring of your bridesmaids.

In order to choose the right white you need to know what your dominant colour is. Your dominant colour depends on your skin, eye and hair colour. Make sure when you buy your wedding outfit that your hair colour won't be different on your wedding day because this could affect your dominant colour and ultimately your personal white and the colour for your brides maids outfits.

Once you know your perfect white you can start to colour coordinate your bridesmaids, your mother, the flower girls, your flower bouquet, the table decorations for your reception and so on.
Choosing outfits to suit you all can be tricky if there are a lot of bridesmaids or there is a large age range. Adults won’t want to be dressed the same as children, and the bride should bear in mind that the outfit(s) she picks need to flatter people of different ages (and sizes!).
 Alternatively, you can ask all your bridesmaids to wear the same style and fabric, but let them choose the colour from the colour palette, which works best with your personal white, wedding theme, wedding season (summer or winter wedding) and with your wedding place.

Modern bridesmaids’ outfits

While the traditional wedding scene features a row of identically dressed bridesmaids in frilly dresses, the days of “one style fits all” are gone.

If you don’t have your heart set on dressing your bridesmaids identically - here are a few reasons why it might be better to be more flexible:

• Your bridesmaids have very different heights and figures.
• You have a mix of child and adult attendants.
• Your bridesmaids are from different cultural backgrounds.
• You can’t imagine your choice of attendants being happy dressed identically.

Just because the bridesmaids aren't dressed the same doesn’t mean they can’t look stylish and formal. There are several ways to create a unifying look, while retaining individuality and flexibility...

 Choose the same colour
It’s perfectly acceptable to select a favourite colour that expresses your personality as part of your colour palette when choosing a colour or different colour combinations for your bridesmaids outfits.

Keep in mind that almost every colour has positive as well as negative characteristics. By combining colours you can emphasise either the positive or negative aspects. Here are some tips on colour combining your wedding dress with a bridesmaids dress:

Red

Red is the colour of power, love and energy. Combined with your personal white it will underline the love and passion you feel on the day as well as the perfect union and new beginning you are about to enter.

Pink

Pink suggests a sense of softness and gentleness. Dressed in pink, you will have an aura of feminity and romance around you. It adds a touch of sweetness to your white wedding dress and brings out the youth in every woman.

Blue

Choosing blue creates positiveness and tranquillity around you. Blue induces a sense of calm and, combined with your wedding dress, will make you appear peaceful, trustworthy and perceptive.

Green

Green conveys freshness and reassurance and demonstrates imagination and a sense of living life to the full. Combined with your wedding dress, it symbolises hope, good luck and fertility for your new life ahead.

Orange

Orange is a more intense colour to wear than yellow. Picking orange will present you as a fun loving person, comfortable in your own skin, who has a love of exotic things. Orange is a good colour for late summer weddings.

Purple

Dressing in purple is a statement of creativity and individuality. It shows confidence in this new chapter in your life.

Material matters

When choosing a material keep in mind that some material will look more figure hugging and shiny, which might not work for all your bridesmaids who may feel uncomfortable bringing attention to certain parts of their body.

A popular option is to choose a fabric and let the bridesmaids get their dresses made from the same material. That way they will be able to choose a style that suits them and still retain the bridesmaid look. The only drawback is you will give up control on the overall look of your wedding theme.

Long and short of it

A must is getting agreement on the length of the dress in order to create a uniformity within the wedding theme. If your bridesmaids are going to choose different dresses it can look a little odd if some are in full length silk and others in short mini dresses.

Separates solutions

Separates are becoming very popular among modern bridesmaids. Choosing two-piece styles gives a wider scope of tops in the same colour and fabric. It also enables a maid of honour to stand out from the other attendants by having a different-style top from the other bridesmaids.

Adults only

No adult wants to appear at a wedding party dressed like a toddler. Children in identical dresses can look adorable, but if there are to be adult attendants too it is usually best to contrast their outfits with those of the children rather than try to match them!