Wedding Clothes
The Bride and the
Bridesmaids
The Groom and the
Ushers
Accessories
The clothes may not make the man, but
they can make a big difference in a wedding.
The clothes set the overall tone for the
wedding. They're also going to be one of the most talked-about
and remembered aspects of the day.
The Bride's
Gown
Before the white wedding gown was made
popular by Anne of Brittany, Queen of France, in the late 15th
century, brides used to just wear their best dress. Today,
shopping for bridal wear is an event often dragged out for
months. Start early!
Shopping for a bridal gown should begin
once the overall theme of the wedding has been decided upon. The
style of the dress -- formal or informal -- and the season when
the ceremony will be held -- summer or winter -- will set the
tone that the bridesmaids' dresses and the groom's attire should
follow. Lighter fabrics and short sleeves are more appropriate
for summer weddings, and evening weddings are generally more
formal.
But where to start shopping? Here are
some options:
Buying from a
bridal shop: One advantage to shopping at a store that sells
hundreds of gowns is that you can try on many styles before
deciding what you want. If you order a custom-made gown, you're
likely to pay a lot more for it and you won't have the luxury of
seeing it on you until it's finished. If the engagement is
rushed, make sure you're organized before you start shopping. A
good place to begin researching and narrowing down gown styles
is bridal magazines.
Before going to a store, call first to
check if they have the styles that interest you. To further cut
costs, visit consignment shops that sell once-worn wedding
gowns.
A custom-made
gown: The advantage to hiring someone to custom make your
gown is obvious -- you'll get exactly what you want, although
you're likely to spend hundreds of dollars more. A designer can
also create a headpiece that matches the gown.
Restoring an old
gown: Sometimes, brides will choose to restore a dress their
mother or grandmother wore. The gown restorer can alter not only
the fit, but also the gown's style. Bring pictures of gowns you
love when you meet with the restorer to explain what you want.
Also, ask if the restorer will clean your gown for you. Leave
plenty of time -- seven months is recommended -- for the
restorer to make changes.
The
Bridesmaids
Unless the costs of the bridesmaids'
dresses and shoes are coming out of the bridal budget, not all
of the bridesmaids are going to appreciate spending a lot of
money for a dress that they will likely only wear once. Also,
dresses that are too formal are less likely to be worn again
than styles that can be worn for a romantic dinner, to a party,
or to another wedding. Despite overwhelming anecdotal evidence
that bridesmaid dresses rarely get worn twice, it's at least
nice to leave the possibility open.
To be sensitive to the bridesmaids'
concerns, try to pick a style that looks good on everyone. Stay
away from styles such as two-piece outfits or suits that cut the
body in half, sleeveless dresses, or body-hugging styles. If the
selected color is available in slightly different styles in the
same fabric, the future bride may let her bridesmaids chose the
style more flattering for their body types.
Also, pick colors that look good on
everyone. For example, orange on a redhead won't be flattering.
Colors such as blue and green are recommended. Also, check with
the photographer to make sure the bridal party's colors
photograph well against the backdrop where photos will be taken.
Stay away from styles that are too trendy; instead, opt for
styles that have a longer lifespan.
A different or darker color in the same
style as the bridesmaids' dresses is usually selected for the
maid or matron of honor. The dress and bouquet may be the
reverse colors of the colors selected for the bridesmaids. The
flower girl's outfit should be appropriate for her age and
coordinate with the bridesmaids' gowns in color and
fabric.
Buying from a
bridal shop: Allow some time for this process. Each
bridesmaid must be individually measured before the order is
placed, and then you should expect to wait about three to five
months for the dresses to arrive. Plan on an extra two to three
weeks for any alterations.
Take a browse
through the local mall: Chain stores, such as Macy's,
Filene's, or Ann Taylor, often carry gowns appropriate for a
wedding. The dresses may be less expensive than custom-made
gowns, and the bridal party can skip the fittings. This is a
plus if some of the bridesmaids live far away. The bridesmaids
can stop by the store near them with the dress-code number and
pick up their size. If the dress is not in stock, often stores
will order the dress from another location. However, make sure
everyone keeps her receipts until everyone has her dress.
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The Groom
Unlike the bride, who has to shop early, the groom can
start looking for his outfit two to three months before the
wedding. Again, the first question is how formal the affair is.
Is this a top-hat-and-cane affair, or will a tuxedo or casual
suit do? Night weddings require more formal dress than morning
ceremonies.
When shopping for the outfits of the
groom and the other men in the ceremony, bringing swatches of
material from the bridal gown and from the bridesmaids' dresses
will help coordinate the party. If the gown is ivory, the groom
and the ushers should wear ivory shirts. The material from the
bridesmaids' dresses can be coordinated with accessories from
the groom's outfit, such as the vest, cummerbund, or tie.
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Accessories
Headpiece:
Like the gown, headpieces come in a variety of styles and can be
custom-made, even if the gown is store-bought. Some brides
choose to make their own veil. A shorter veil is nice when the
back of the bride's gown is decorative. A long veil can also
double for a train. Veils can be held in place with a circlet of
pearls or flowers, by hairpins concealed by a tiny bunch of
fresh flowers, or by a diamond tiara.
Jewelry:
Pearls and diamonds, set against silver, white gold, or a
white-gold, yellow-gold combination, are the most common
selections for the bride's jewelry. Many jewelry stores have
collections specifically for weddings, and jewelry sets can also
be custom-made. And like the other purchases, the style and
exact coloring of the jewelry should be determined by the style
and color of the gown. As a gift to the bridal party, sometimes
brides will buy earrings and bracelets to match the outfits.
Cufflinks for the ushers and best man also make a nice gift from
the groom.
Shoes: Bring
color swatches from the bridal gown and the bridesmaids' dresses
when picking shoes. If you have to fit shoes for your entire
bridal party, the ideal shoe store should stock sizes 2 - 14 in
narrow, wide, and extra-wide widths. Bridesmaids' shoes should
be dyed at the same time to prevent variations. Another option,
to cut costs for the bridesmaids, is picking simple styles in
colors that the bridesmaids probably already have, such as black
pumps or white slippers.
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