As you probably have begun to realize, planning a wedding is both exciting and often more than a little nerve-wracking. Preparing for a ceremony as special as a wedding is plenty of cause for excitement and anticipation. However, there is so much to do and, most likely, since you’ll want it to all go perfectly that’s plenty of cause for anxiety and stressed nerves. And when you consider that it isn’t the kind of thing we do on a regular basis, nor something that we normally have any training for, you need to ease up a little on the quest for perfection and try to focus on the excitement.

Your wedding dress is likely to be the most significant component of the wedding ceremony. Everyone’s eyes will be on the bride. Whatever style of wedding you settle on, you’ll find that there’s a lot of traditions that relate to the wedding ceremony - even with some of the more unusual themed weddings. Still, there is room for you to add your own special touches - to make your wedding uniquely your own.

If you’ve never thought about actually designing your own wedding dress, you should give it some thought. If you’ve priced wedding dresses, you’ll be aware that even low-end brands may cost over 5 or 6 hundred dollars. Dresses sold by bridal shops tend to include a lot of overhead and additional costs which you can avoid by designing your own wedding dress. If you have a friend or relative who is well-skilled in sewing, you can save even more money. One of the greatest benefits of designing your own wedding dress is that you will end up with a true one of a kind, a wedding dress no one else owns.

One caution - before you start designing be certain that you have or can find a person with the needed skills to actually create your wedding dress from your designs and ideas. This is not something you can wait until the last minute to do. You’ll need to spend some significant time working with this person - well in advance of the wedding - so make sure of both the person’s skills and availability.

A good place to start generating ideas for your wedding dress design is to consider the theme of the wedding and when and where it’ll be held. Is it going to be a summer wedding? A winter wedding? Will it be outdoors or indoors? Will the reception be indoors or outdoors? What special characteristics does the location have? This is particularly important for an outdoor wedding since the answers can have a significant bearing on the style of wedding dress you design. As an example, an outdoor wedding in Texas in the month of August requires a wedding dress design that will not leave you soaked in perspiration. You should also consider how formal or informal the wedding ceremony itself will be.

If you don’t already have some ideas for a design, a good place to start may be with bridal magazines, wedding dress catalogs and even on-line bridal shops. All these can be good sources for ideas to use in designing your own wedding dress.

While you are always free to design your wedding dress to reflect your personal style, most likely you’ll want to follow one of the standard shapes generally used for wedding dresses:

A-line - Empire - Straight - Ball Gown - Mermaid - Strapless.

The shape of your body is an important factor in choosing a wedding dress shape that is most appropriate for you. If you have a full figure, or what is considered a “pear” shape, an A-line style dress may work best for you. A dress with this style accents the top-half of the body which is smaller while concealing a larger bottom half.

Not many women tend to opt for a straight wedding dress, including women with coke-bottle figures for whom this style of wedding dress was designed.

If neither of these styles seems to suit you, then a ball gown may be a good choice. This style of wedding dress has a snugger fit at the waist with a somewhat exaggerated full skirt.

A strapless style can be integrated with several shapes. The so-called mermaid style tends to be somewhat uncomfortable and not particularly popular. If you feel uncertain about what shape may work best for you, you can always visit a bridal shop and try on several styles to find the one that appeals most to you.

Once you have chosen the shape, design and style for your wedding dress, you are ready to consider the type of material. Silk and linen are both commonly used in creating wedding dresses. Both can be fairly costly and linen, in particular, tends to be quite delicate and require considerable care when putting the wedding dress together. There are also blended materials which use silk or linen along with other man-made materials allowing the creation of a fabric which is both beautiful and substantially easier to work with.

Once you’ve decided on the shape and design, and chosen the fabric, it’s time to get together with the individual who will be making the wedding dress for and begin bringing the wedding dress of your dreams out of your dreams and into reality.

Copyright 2006 Richard Keir

You can visit Elena’s Completely Weddings at http://Completely-Weddings.com for more on weddings and wedding dresses.

Informal wedding dresses are becoming the IN thing today. Not only are the gowns leaning more toward informal - but brides have chosen to move away from the traditional white Victorian style gown. It is becoming more common to see the blushing bride sporting colors ranging from the light pastels of a few years ago to the more subdued shades of greens, browns, purples, and pinks.

Because of their increased popularity there are more sources than ever to shop for informal wedding dresses. Many bridal shops carry lines of informal gowns. In addition, there are several outlets on the internet, and of course there is always the option of making your own dress.

Regardless of where you choose to shop for informal wedding dresses, keep in mind that if you are having a theme wedding you will want to choose a dress in keeping with the style of the theme. Consider what type of attire would be worn if that theme were not a part of a wedding. For example, if you are celebrating your wedding with a Italian Renaissance Nobility theme the attire, and virtually everything else, would be formal as they had rules governing virtually every aspect of court life. On the other hand if your wedding theme is a celebration of your love of the wilderness, then your choices would probably tend toward the more informal gowns.

Suggestions for themes that could work well with an informal wedding dress:

The western theme lends itself nicely to choosing an informal wedding dress. Whether your celebration is little more than a garden wedding on a greensward with horses grazing nearby or an all out barbeque amidst the hay bales, a long formal wedding dress is likely to not fit into the theme at all.

The garden wedding is another great choice if you want to wear an informal wedding gown. Search for an elegant summer style to compliment this type of wedding.

A dog lovers wedding is another fun way to personalize your wedding ceremony that would embrace an informal wedding dress. Design the wedding around your own adorable canine friends or use Disney classics such as “101 Dalmatians” or “Lady and the Tramp” as inspirations. Either way, biscotti makes a wonderful favor.

A beach, or destination wedding, is another option that sticks with the informal style. The strapless or halter gowns - made of a very light material - are good choices for this type of wedding.

Theme weddings that allow for a light and airy gown - informal style - are numerous and limited only by your imagination. Use movies as inspiration for theme ideas, but do not forget to consider your own interests and style. Once you have decided on a theme it should be easy to find the right wedding gown for your specific celebration - whether it’s a formal affair that places you in the time honored Victorian styles or a more informal style of wedding dress.

Jeanette Shinn is a wedding professional with over a dozen years experience making dreams come alive. Find tips and unique wedding favors along with bridal shower gifts at http://www.ExcitingWeddingFavors.com.

Beach weddings are so convenient. The planning and decorations are minimal. Therefore, this is the best plan for couples who prefer short engagement. As for the beach wedding dresses, just go for minimal since the setting is on the sand with the ocean behind you. You wouldn’t want to be too glammed up.

There are various styles and designs to choose from, even if shopping for an informal or casual beach wedding gown. It is wise that you bring a family member or a good friend when trying on gowns and dresses. This is the most important dress a woman would have in her life so “okay” and “fine” are not enough in choosing the beach wedding gown. It must be “fabulous!”

The beach wedding dress must be comfortable. As much as possible, it must have a nice fit. Is it heavy? Is it bulky? Bear in mind that this beach wedding dress is what you will be wearing the whole day. Is anything itchy? Imagine this driving you nuts in an hour. Yikes? Can you sit while you’re wearing it? Are you able to walk?

Camera adds ten pounds so always look at yourself in the mirror. You may be wearing your dream beach wedding dress but there is still a possibility that you in it won’t look good on cam. Now this is a no-no because you obviously want to preserve the memories of your special day, particularly the one with you wearing your beach wedding gown.

So while trying it on, check whether the dress looks heavy in the mirror. If yes, then this will also be registered on cam and in the pictures. You shouldn’t be overwhelmed with the dress. Be rational.

Take the time to have the dress that you want customized in order to fit you specifically. After all, it is your wedding dress. Even if it is a beach wedding dress, you still deserve to have it appear to be a designer-made wedding gown.

To learn more shopping tips on beach wedding dresses, visit http://www.beachweddingdress101.com

Out of all the things that you want to be perfect for your wedding day, the way that you look is probably at the top of the list. With all the pictures that will be taken, you will want to be able to always look back at them and be proud of how gorgeous you looked. When it comes to choosing a wedding dress, more and more people are taking advantage of wearing a vintage wedding dress on their special day.

The term “vintage” applies to all products that are at least thirty years old. Right now we are finding that the fashion industry is in love with using vintage pieces. So to wear a vintage wedding dress would really show your sense of style off to everyone. The great thing about vintage wedding dresses is that you aren’t limited to a certain decade of style. You could go with any era that appeals the most to you and makes you look the most attractive.

If you prefer an elegant and classy look, you will want to check out the 1930’s and 1940’s vintage wedding dresses. Women of this time were known for their charm and grace. By wearing this style of dress, you can truly show off your femininity. The best way to describe the vintage wedding dresses of this time is that they had beautiful bead work, used satin materials, and included gorgeous embroidery.

If you are curious about what you will find with a 1950’s vintage wedding dress, look at pictures of Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy in their wedding dresses. They show us a sophisticated style. With each decade you will find a different kind of look. Each look gives off a message about who you are inside. So choose your dress wisely since it will be part of memories that you will have forever.

Places to look for vintage wedding dresses include antique shops and vintage stores. Since these stores can be difficult to find, you will have the best luck by searching online specialty shops. The wonderful about wearing a vintage wedding dress is that you don’t have to worry about it being in poor condition, since the dress was probably only worn one time. But to make sure that the dress was well-preserved, make sure that you are purchasing from a store that has a good reputation.

Since many times you will find that the vintage wedding dresses have faded to a creamy color, you may be uneasy about getting one. Some people prefer it this way because it gives the dress more character. But if you would prefer it to look the way it did originally, you can request that the seller have the dress whitened for you. Often this can be done without harming the fabric. Before you decide to make the purchase you may also want to talk to the local dry cleaner about the type of fabric used in the dress. They can give you an idea about how well it will hold up and whether it can be cleaned and pressed before you wear it on your big day.

Diane Winter provides information that gives you a lot of tips and ideas on planning your own wedding and how to find the suitable wedding dress. Check out also her website Dream Wedding to find out how to create inspirational wedding speeches.

Just imagine being able to wear a designer wedding gown for your wedding but without the high cost. As we look at celebrities, we see tens of thousands of dollars being spent on one-of-a-kind gowns but for most brides, this kind of price tag is too steep. Here are a few tips on how you can find those beautiful and chic designer wedding dresses at affordable prices.

Time - One of the most important things you can do is to allow yourself enough time to find the right dress. Waiting until you get close to the wedding date will not help. Instead, begin your search anywhere from six months to a full year before the scheduled wedding. This way, you can look at a number of possibilities, which include both local and overseas companies.

Online - Remember, the more places you conduct a search for the perfect wedding gown, the greater your chance of being successful. For instance, be sure you check out online auctions such as eBay. Many times, other brides who wore a designer gown will sell the dress at a huge discount. In addition, search the internet for designer wedding gowns. You will find businesses that sell designer wedding dresses such as Vera Wang, but at reduced prices.

If you purchase your wedding gown online, you obviously eliminate the chance to try the gown on, meaning the fit could be off. However, if you find a dress you love and at a price within your budget, remember you can always have the gown altered. For instance, let us say you typically wear a size 12 and after shopping online, you found a gorgeous designer wedding gown in a size 14. This particular gown will probably cost several hundred dollars less than the gown you liked at the bridal shop. The money saved could easily be used toward having the gown taken in!

To make your search a little easier, here are a few places you should check out:

Bride Couture (www.bridecouture.com) - This company offers a wide range of designer wedding gowns at a reduced cost between 50% and 75%.

Bride Power (www.bridepower.com) – On this website, you will find just about any style and size wedding gown. Focusing on high-end and designer wedding fashions but reduced by as much as 75% off retail price, this resource is excellent.

Bridal Gown (www.bridalgown.net) – Whether looking for a wedding gown, bridal party gowns, or even flower girl dresses, you will find many wonderful designer dresses, again at a huge discounted price.

Bridal Online Store (www.bridalonlinestore.com) – With more than 4,000 in-stock gowns, you have a choice of new and never tried on dresses, hand-beaded gowns, and up to 80% off retail price for both designer and other styles.

Local Stores - You should also look at consignment and outlet stores. Many times, these stores also carry a number of designer gowns, which normally have been worn once, if at all! By having the gown cleaned, you can still enjoy designer quality and style but without the designer price. The same is true for checking clearance sales. Again, it is common for bridal shops carrying designer gowns to have overstock or year-end sales, giving you an exceptional bargain.

In summary, there are many ways to to find a designer wedding dress at a price you can afford. The most important element is time. If you have the time and follow our tips, you can find that perfect designer wedding gown!

L Hayes is a wedding professional and owner of Wedding Favors Emporium. They carry an extensive line of unique wedding favors as well as bridesmaids, groomsmen, and bridal shower gifts. For more information about wedding planning and wedding reception ideas, visit their website at: Wedding Favors Emporium.com

If you are looking for the perfect wedding gown and can not think of any designers, try going with Vera Wang. She is considered one of the most sought after couture designers in today’s wedding gown industry. Couture wedding gowns can be found in retail stores and many fine department stores. Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Saks, are just a few of the retailers that carry these gowns. You can even find beautiful wedding gowns online for much less than you would in the stores.

There are many online stores that carry wedding gowns and wedding apparel for discounted prices. Designer gowns can be found in many online stores for prices you would never dream of paying. Since Vera Wang is such a high-end designer, you would probably think that her wedding gowns would cost thousands of dollars. Believe me, they do! But, when shopping online for her clothing or any of her products you could pay a fraction of the retail costs.

Another reason to shop online for her wedding apparel is to find great buys on her bridal shoes and accessories. There are several online stores that carry her wedding gowns like Ebay or Amazon. With Ebay you can even find live auctions that showcase her gowns and pick them up for hundreds instead of thousands. That is a great savings!

Try comparing the retail wedding shop prices to online prices and you will see the savings are phenomenal. So, get online and start your search. Be sure to check out Ebay and see the amazing selections that they offer the bride and bridal party. They even have shops that cater to just the men. Wow, now that’s convenience!

Vera Wang designs gowns that aren’t just for brides. Besides making bridal wear, she also designs ball gowns, evening wear and shoes. Along with her elegant dining and home decor products, she has perfume that all smell like a princess or any women should. Her scents are not strong and overwhelming, but warm and inviting.

Vera Wang even offers tips in her book titled, “Vera Wang on Weddings.” In the book she shares her vast fashion sense with you to help you plan your special day. Be sure to follow the dos and don’ts that are listed in the book. There have been (a many of) eye sores made by brides and the bridal party because of one little slip up. Like for instance, wearing bra straps with strapless gowns. Agh, that is ugly! I have seen it done, please don’t do it!

Choosing a couture wedding gown, will allow the bride to feel a sense of elegance and design to her wedding. Couture also seems to make a bride look and feel glamorous. Knowing that you are wearing a designer wedding gown just makes you feel like more of a beautiful goddess than just an everyday bride. Even though you will still look like a princess in any gown, couture just feels better. If you can have a designer wedding, I say go for it! You only (want to) get married once, right?

So, remember, when looking for your wedding gown or any wedding apparel, look no further than your computer. You can get the best that designer has to offer by just searching the net. There are many sites available for you to get that special gown for a fraction of retail. Go ahead and look…you won’t be sorry!

Nicole Ross has other articles on many online publications dealing with weddings and bridal wear. She has taken all the search time out of the process by having the best Vera Wang wedding gowns available on the internet accessible in one place for you. You can find all your Vera Wang wedding gown needs on her website at
http://www.squidoo.com/vera_wang_wedding_gowns/ where you will find the best for much less than retail.

The most common dilemma facing brides when looking for their wedding dress in London, is deciding what style of dress they want and where to get it from? Unless they have done their homework, it can take considerable time to figure this out.

Brides don’t particularly want to waste time going to the wrong stores and the bridal boutiques certainly do not want to waste time on brides, who are not really in their market. So the following advice should help brides decide on which stores to make appointments to visit.

Firstly brides need to understand that the vast majority of bridal gowns sold in the UK today are from big bridal dress manufacturers, most of whom manufacture out of the Far East. These dresses are usually ordered for the customer by the bridal stores in the closest standard size and then altered to fit the bride. This is not ideal fit wise, but it is the only way to keep prices down.

Unfortunately some bridal stores attempt to pass this off as “made to measure”. Do not confuse “made to order” with “made to measure” and don’t forget to ask if the price quoted includes alterations? As these usually cost extra and can add several hundred pounds to the price of the dress, depending on what needs doing.

There are also a number of designers who mistakenly describe their dresses as “couture” when in fact they are really made to measure. These are all rather cynical attempts to take advantage of the bride’s lack of understanding and to persuade her that she is getting more for her money than she actually is.

Made to measure is where the bride chooses an existing design, that is then made up to fit her. The price quoted normally includes a number of fittings. Made to measure dresses typically start from £1500 upwards. In the ideal world, if price was not an issue, all brides would have their dresses made to measure, to ensure a perfect fit.
Couture is where the customer sits down with the designer and the dress is designed from scratch to the customer’s specification. With couture, there is usually always a toile fitting, (to check the fit of the pattern), before the dress is cut and made up. Couture dresses typically start from £3000 upwards, as they are very time consuming and expensive to manufacture.

Brides can now understand why wedding dresses vary so much in price and also in terms of what you get for your money. For example, you can purchase a perfectly adequate off the peg dress, from the larger bridal chain stores, for as little as £300. But at this price, you have to accept that the dress will be mass produced in the Far East, and is unlikely to be in silk fabrics or particularly unique.

On the other hand you can also purchase famous brand name, designer dresses for £2000 or more (which are also manufactured in China and then altered to fit you) from some of the West end’s top designer bridal stores. Admittedly the service is better and you should expect silk fabrics, but one could argue that if you are paying £2000 or more, for a dress which is altered to fit, then you are simply paying for the name. There is a popular misconception, that as with anything to do with weddings, brides ordering made to measure designer dresses are somehow being over charged. This is simply not true for the following reasons;

Firstly made to measure dresses are generally hand made in the UK and labour costs and overheads are obviously a lot higher than for dresses manufactured in China. Designer stores also offer a much higher level of service and have a major investment in sample dresses for brides to try.

Secondly brides are paying for the experience and expertise that British designers have acquired over many years in the business. Dealing with designers who actually make their own dresses should give brides confidence that the dress will fit properly and be ready in time, which is not always the case with imported dresses, which often have to be altered to fit.

Some brides decide to use a dress maker to copy a designer dress to save money. Dressmakers can often under cut designers on price, because they have much lower overheads. But brides considering this option would be well advised get references because this can often prove to be a disaster. Very few dressmakers have the necessary skills or experience to manufacture a comparable dress for less money.

Once the potential bride has decided which stores she should make appointments to visit, the next problem is working out what style of dress will suit her figure and the type of wedding she is having?? Looking through bridal magazines will help, but the quickest way is to go and try dresses on. It is also helpful if the bride is able to get some professional advice on what styles suit her figure, her budget and her venue.

Thankfully, there are a reasonable number of reputable west end bridal designer stores, which offer a good selection of styles (at prices from £1500 to £10,000) These can often be altered to fit, made to measure or couture dresses, depending on the bride’s budget. Luckily for brides looking in London’s West end there are a number of designer own label bridal stores, which offer a personal made to measure service on many of their designs, unlike the majority of stores outside London.

Bridal etiquette: Getting the best from your appointment.
Before proceeding it is worth noting that most reputable West End bridal establishments are busy and usually see brides on an appointment only basis.

Ideally one should make appointments at a number of these more reputable stores to try on styles and hopefully get some intelligent advice of what styles will suit the bride’s figure, her style of venue and budget. It is best to be honest about how much you are prepared to spend. There is little point is trying on £3000 dresses, if your budget is £1500.

This advice is normally given for free, but brides should be aware that it is extremely frustrating for the bridal stores, (and unfair on other brides), when brides fail to show for their appointments.
The best bridal stores always have a waiting list for appointments and when brides do not bother to turn up or cancel, this effectively deprives other brides of that appointment slot. For this reason, many of the top designer bridal boutiques charge a cancellation fee if you do NOT give them advance notice of cancellation.

Saturdays and week day evening appointments are generally in high demand for obvious reasons, so it pays to book well in advance.

Bearing in mind these small courtesies makes for a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable experience!

Johanna Hehir is one of London’s top wedding dress Designers specialising in made to measure designer wedding dresses and evening wear. She has one of the largest selections of different wedding dresses in London

You’re getting married! And as a mother-to-be, you picked the perfect time to tie the knot. The selection of maternity wedding dresses today is truly mind-boggling.

How can you sort through all the different styles and find what’s right for you? How can the pregnant bride show her fertile figure at its best?

Five things you should know before shopping for that dream dress:

Find a Slim Silhouette

Yes, you’ve gained some weight. But tent-like maternity dresses will only make you look shapeless. And you don’t want that on your wedding day.

The two best silhouettes for the expecting bride? Sheathe-style wedding dresses and A-lines. Sheathes work best for the early stages of pregnancy. A-lines look good on everyone.

Pull the Eye Upward

Think embroidered bodices. Plunging or off the shoulder necklines. Sequins.

Keep it Simple

Just say no to shiny fabric, bows, or rosettes below the bustline. The key is to get the eye to flow right over your belly.

Longer lengths are dramatic and slimming.

Keep it Soft

Find a soft fabric that follows your curves without adding bulk. Think silk, organza, georgette. But make sure it isn’t shapeless.

Look in the maternity section for wedding dresses with Princess seams or darts.

Accentuate Your Waist

Yes you still have one. It just moved to the point directly below your breasts. This is the narrowest point on you - make it the most fitted part of your wedding dress.

Empire waists are particularly flattering.

You might have to shop for your wedding dress in the maternity section, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look gorgeous. This is your wedding we’re talking about. You have the right to look fabulous. Follow the guidelines above, and you’ll find the perfect dress to wear on your perfect day.

Amy Lee Johnson is a freelance writer that often contributes to Wedding Vows 4U - a site that offers information on such topics as writing wedding vows and selecting wedding gowns.

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.

Jackie Shumpert is the owner of several websites and blogs. If you found this article helpful please visit. http://www.squidoo.com/plussizeweddingdress/

Other sites dedicated to BBW:
http://www.squidoo.com/sexyplussizelingerie/
http://hubpages.com/hub/Find_the_Perfect_Plus_Size_Swim_Suit

When selecting the proper or correct bride’s dress for you, many factors come into play. First of all, one has to take into consideration the body shape of the bride to be when choosing your dress. Are you short, tall, slim or a bit on the chunky side?

Let’s say you are short, a sexy dress in an empire style is always a good choice because the illusion of height is given. Give careful attention to not having too much width of the skirt to the bottom of the hem, otherwise it will take away from the effect of the height that you want to achieve. Better yet, choose a straight skirt.

The empire style is also a great choice for someone who is a little stout; although a bell skirt style with just a little bit of flare gradually widening to the bottom of the hem is the better choice. Just enough fabric, to fit nicely over the waist without the the dress being neither too tight nor having too much fullness so as not too give the look of added weight to the waistline.This style of bride’s dress will divert the eye of the beholder toward the upper part of the garment. So why not choose a lower cut empire sexy dress that is embellished with some lace or beads. Enhancing your best asset, be it a beautiful face and or bosom is the way to draw the eye away from the waist. Never wear a waist fitted gathered gown.

This style will cut the body in half if you are either short or stout or both and leaving you with just the opposite effect that you are trying to achieve. For the tall person, you can wear just about anything your heart desires. The tall bride can select any sexy formal dress be it hour glass, box, bell or gathered from a natural waistline, even a cheap designer wedding dress because her body can carry it off , providing she is not too stout. She will look stunning in just about anything. The only style that the tall bride may want to avoid is the long thin straight wedding dress, as this will emphasize her height. That is fine if her husband to be is equally tall.

Secondly, where you are planning to be married is something else that needs to be considered. Will you be married formally in a church or informally on the beach? If you have chosen a beach wedding, a more casual wedding gown or beach wedding dress can be chosen. It can be any length, whether short, in between or long and flowing. It can even be a cheap wedding dress.
Bridal lingerie is always a personal matter. How much or how little is up to you. Just make sure that it is sexy. Perhaps you may want to get away from wearing a layered slip or any slip at all..
Whether getting married in a church or on the beach, your wedding day should be special and a day you will always want to remember. So ladies,choose a bride’s dress that that has a cut and style that is right and proper for you. If you do so, you will be picture perfect.

June huffman is the owner of http://www.yvonnesdesign.com where she specializes in bride’s, bridesmaids, mother of the bride and prom dresses.