How to Choose a Wedding Dress

Choosing your wedding dress is one of the most important and exciting parts of planning your big day. It’s the moment most brides have been dreaming of for a lifetime. There’s a pressure that comes with getting the dream wedding dress because dreams need to be met and, sometimes, the dream dress may not be the reality. What you may have always dreamed of could not look right, lower your confidence instead of boosting it or even be completely out of your budget. Alongside this, there are many considerations to make as the dress is what makes you feel confident on your big day and ties everything together perfectly. Plus, with lots of different silhouettes, fabrics and styles available to choose from, finding the perfect dress can feel overwhelming.

But it doesn’t have to be this way if you go into it prepared. At Love Bridal, we aim to make this an enjoyable experience with no hassle or stress. This is why we’ve created a wedding dress guide to help you know what to consider when shopping for your dream dress to avoid feeling overwhelmed and actually help you find the dress that’s right for you.

Top Wedding Dress Ideas

Before you go shopping for your wedding dress, it’s also good to know various styles to gain an idea of what you want for your big day. To help you with this, we’ve outlined some of our top wedding dress ideas for all the different styles, silhouettes and accessories that can be very overwhelming if you don’t know about them.

Choosing a Wedding Dress with the Right Neckline

When choosing a wedding dress, the neckline can make all the difference, so it’s good to understand each different one and what they are before you go shopping.

Sweetheart is a very popular neckline, and it’s a classic look. It’s a strapless dress with a heart-shaped bustline and usually comes with a tighter bodice or a full skirt.
V-neck is more of a plunging shape than the sweetheart that helps to make the neck look longer. It’s a great neckline to add a little sophistication, and it can go with any type of skirt – A-lines or fitted.
Off-the-shoulder is a more modern choice that’s becoming very popular. This choice shows off the shoulders and adds a timeless, fashionable and romantic touch to your big day.
Straight is a neckline that’s similar to the sweetheart option but a bit more contemporary. It’s a strapless style that is sleek and elegant and goes straight across.
Halter is a romantic and stylish choice that wraps around the neck. It shows off the shoulders and draws attention to your arms and back, perfect for beach and outdoor weddings.
Illusion is made to appear strapless or low-cut while providing coverage through a layer of lace or sheer fabric. This gives modesty and makes a statement at the same time.
High neck is a traditional and elegant neckline that offers a lot of coverage around the neck. It’s a modest option and usually is very intricately detailed.
Queen Anne is also a more modest neckline that gives you a high collar at the back and a sweetheart or scoop at the front, mixing coverage with romance for a classic look.

Alongside these, there’s also the scoop, square and boat necklines that wedding gowns can come in. The scoop is perfect if you want a soft, rounded shape that flatters your body, while the square offers a more structured and elegant look that frames your shoulders. As for the boat neckline, this is a classic look that offers a wider fit around the collarbones for a soft frame.

Choosing the Best Wedding Dress Styles

Another huge part of shopping is choosing the best wedding dress styles for you. There are so many styles available that it can be overwhelming if you’re not prepared.

Some of the most popular wedding dress styles are:

Ball gown is a classic option and offers the dream fairytale style. This style comes with a fitted bodice and a full skirt that comes out from the waist.
A-line is a popular silhouette that offers you a softer look than a ball gown. It gradually flares from the waist and flatters a lot of different body types, giving you volume without a full skirt.
Mermaid silhouettes make a statement and help you show off your curves. It hugs every part of your body from the bodice to your knees and then comes out at the bottom for a stunning hourglass shape.
Empire is another popular choice of wedding dress style that adds elegance and romance to your big day. The skirt flows from under the bust for a long silhouette that softly skims the body.
Drop-waist styles offer that regal look and make the torso longer by starting lower on the hips before flaring. It’s a sophisticated style that’s traditional yet unique.
Fit and flare is a silhouette that gives you a twist on the mermaid style, but with a little more room. It’s fitted at the bodice and hips, and then the skirt subtly flares around the thighs.
Tea-length is a quirky style that is inspired by the fashion of the 50s. It’s a shorter dress that stops just above the ankles and offers a vintage look.
Slip is becoming a more popular choice for modern brides. It’s a silhouette that is sleek and minimalistic because it skims the body with a soft yet close fit. This style is chic and understated.

At Love Bridal, we offer a wide range of silhouettes to choose from that all offer something unique to suit your figure, make you confident and fits perfectly with your big day! Take a look at our collection of high-quality dresses and find the dream dress that truly wows in your own way.

Choosing Your Wedding Dress for You

The main thing to remember when choosing your wedding dress is that it’s a choice that’s for you and no one else. This means that if a dress isn’t what you want or you don’t like the different styles of dresses, you don’t have to choose a dress at all. There are other alternatives you can wear on your big day that aren’t a dress. It’s your day, and you need to wear something you feel comfortable and confident in. Some alternatives to gowns are:

A jumpsuit.
Pant suits.
Playsuits.
Bustier and trousers.
A kaftan.

Picking the Right Accessories

To tie your look together, you also need to think about accessories and what would go with the styles you love. The right accessories bring everything together flawlessly and even improve the look of your dream dress, adding sparkle, elegance or even personality.

Accessories you can choose from are:

Veil: A veil adds visual interest and a traditional look to your gown. However, you don’t have to have one if you don’t want to. Think about whether the veil will improve the dress you choose and not overwhelm it. You should also think about the length of the veil you want, whether you want a dramatic, long look or a shorter, simpler look.
Jewellery: This can make or break your look, as too much jewellery can overwhelm your dress. You can choose sparkling diamonds, a unique piece, subtle sparkle or elegant pearls. Make sure the jewellery doesn’t clash with the type of dress you want.
Garter: A garter is a bridal staple which adds tradition and fun to your look. You can choose the classic lace option, something blue or even one with some sparkle.
Gloves: For an elegant and regal touch to your dress, you can add gloves. They can come in lace, silk or satin to add a vintage yet glamorous touch.

How to Pick a Wedding Dress

When it comes to how to pick a wedding dress, there are many considerations you need to make before you even walk into a shop and try on dresses. Shopping can be a lot easier if you have a few styles in mind you want to try, or even just one. However, you need to have an open mind to try silhouettes that are outside of your vision and expectations, as a lot of the time, the most unexpected dress is the one that steals your heart.

Some key considerations to plan your wedding dress shopping properly are:

Research Shops

Each boutique is different and offers various dresses to meet the needs of specific brides. For example, high-end boutiques tend to stock designer and custom-made gowns, independent shops may stock unique dresses and chain stores will more than likely offer budget-friendly and simple gowns. So, researching shops in your area can save you time and help you find your perfect dress.

Define Your Vision

Before heading to shops and trying on dresses, carefully think about the style you want, what fits into your big day, what will make you feel confident and what statement you want to make. Within this, you should also think about whether you want to match a specific theme or venue.

Consider the Mood of Your Day

Your dress can tie everything in your big day together flawlessly, so it’s good to consider the venue and the mood before shopping. This helps you to envision each dress in your wedding environment to see if it suits the mood.

Think About Movement

As you try on dresses, make sure you don’t forget to pay attention to how the dress feels on you. The last thing you want on your wedding day is to be uncomfortable and struggling to move. You need to be able to sit down comfortably, move around comfortably and greet people with no issues. Basically, your gown needs to be practical for your day, not just stunning.

Set a Practical Budget and Stick to it

Before shopping, you should set a budget for your dress that’s realistic for you. This will help guide you to the dresses you can have for your wedding and avoid falling in love with a dress that’s way too expensive.

Trust Your Gut

Choosing a wedding dress for your dream day isn’t about following trends, picking a gown that’s stylish or even listening to family and friends’ opinions. It’s all about how you feel when you’re in the dress. It may seem cliché, but when people say it’s not the dress, it’s the feeling, it’s true!

Tips for Choosing a Wedding Dress – Dos and Don’ts

There are a few key dos and don’ts when choosing a wedding dress to help you find the perfect one for your big day. These can put you on the right path for finding the dream dress and avoiding common mistakes that brides can make.

Dos

Read reviews about a boutique before you make an appointment.
Arrive on time for your dress appointment.
Bring the best shoes and undergarments for the dress you want.
Be genuine about your feelings for each dress you try.
Get a professional alteration for the perfect fit.

Don’ts

Settle for the first dress you try on, even if it’s perfect, come back to it.
Show up at a shop without an appointment.
Wear too much makeup or no makeup at all (if you plan to wear makeup on the day, you should wear it when shopping).
Having too many people with you can be hectic and stressful.
Always listen to people’s opinions and don’t be put off by a dress if you love it.
Obsess over sizing because your dress can always be altered.

Start Your Journey for Choosing Your Wedding Dress with Love Bridal

Start the exciting journey of choosing your wedding dress with Love Bridal. Our team are on hand every step of the way to help you find your dream gown that suits your style, personality and big day. We stock various collections of elegant dresses from luxurious international brands, providing you with stunning, completely unique designs to choose from. Whatever you’re looking for, we can make sure that you get luxury, refinement and perfection in your dress that suits your silhouette and boosts your confidence.

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