The Beautiful Wedding Gown

Much of the attention at any wedding is focused on the bride, it's her time to shine.  And when everyone looks at the bride, no doubt the first thing they'll notice is her gown.  Choosing the right gown can be a great challenge for any bride, because the options are practical unlimited and many dresses are very costly as well.  The gown selected must suit the bride's personal style, fit her perfectly, and be as exquisitely flattering as possible.

The wedding dress must not only complement the bride, but it must also be in keeping with the wedding you've planned.  The color, fabric, design, and overall style of the gown are important considerations.

Style Choices
The style of wedding you decide upon will have a direct effect on the gown you choose.  Keep in mind these  general guidelines:

Semiformal
- White, ivory, or pastel
- Fabric such as linen, faille, and shantung
- Floor length or tea length
- Veil is elbow length or shorter

Why does the bride wear a white gown?

In modern times a gown has come to symbolize a wide variety of things from joy, fertility and celebration.  In some cultures a white gown is also associated with virginity.  But brides haven't always worn white.  Over the centuries, brides have worn their best dress or national costume on their wedding day.  In colonial America, a bride often wore a homespun calico, her "Sunday best" or even a sober blue, black or brown dress.

In the 1840's when England's Queens Victoria got married in a white wedding gown instead of the traditional royal silver, white dresses suddenly became the rage.  The white gown also became a symbol of wealth, since most women couldn't afford a dress thy would wear only a few times.  Without modern day conveniences, cleaning a pure white dress that elaborate was next to impossible.

Dress Design

The wedding gown should help the bride look her most beautiful.  Although many brides choose classic silhouettes, any dress design is acceptable as long as it suits the occasion and reflects a style becoming to the bride's height, weight and personality.  Consider comfort as well perhaps the bride can choose a design she's felt good in before.  To begin the selection process, look through bridal magazines to see which designs are popular and which ones you like most.

When selecting a design, the bride should first analyze her figure and height, then choose a design that accentuates her best features.  It may be tempting to consider a dress with elaborate features, but the design may be too overpowering, especially for a smaller figure.  Look for balance, most often by accentuating the upper body and minimizing the lower.