But before you dive in, it’s important that you know what kind of wedding you’re having so that your style of dress goes with the aesthetic and is something that will fit in with your surroundings. For example, a ball gown at a beach wedding wouldn’t be all that comfortable, and neither would a sultry and light sheath dress in the Scottish Highlands in the middle of winter.
We know it’s a lot to think about, so that’s why we at The Wedding Secret are here to give you our three top tips for choosing a dress that suits you and your venue.
Choose your venue first
Okay, we’ve probably already made this one pretty clear, but it bears repeating.
Finding your perfect venue first and foremost means that, when it’s time for you to go dress shopping, you already know what your wedding theme and season will be. These are questions your bridal consultant is bound to ask you at your dress appointment, as they make finding options for you so much easier.
By all means, go ahead and book a dress appointment or two in the early stages of your planning before you’ve found a venue. It’ll help you figure out what style of dress suits you and what you feel comfortable in. But avoid firming up your choice until you’ve said ‘I do’ to your venue.
We know it’s a lot to think about, so that’s why we at The Wedding Secret are here to give you our three top tips for choosing a dress that suits you and your venue.
Choose your venue first
Okay, we’ve probably already made this one pretty clear, but it bears repeating.
Finding your perfect venue first and foremost means that, when it’s time for you to go dress shopping, you already know what your wedding theme and season will be. These are questions your bridal consultant is bound to ask you at your dress appointment, as they make finding options for you so much easier.
By all means, go ahead and book a dress appointment or two in the early stages of your planning before you’ve found a venue. It’ll help you figure out what style of dress suits you and what you feel comfortable in. But avoid firming up your choice until you’ve said ‘I do’ to your venue.
For a laid back beach wedding, pick dresses that offer light and breezy Boho perfection. Consider dresses like this ‘Poppy’ dress. For more extravagant affairs, take a look at dresses that offer delicate yet elegant layers of tulle.
Consider the season
The time of year at which you plan on tying the knot should have a good amount of sway over what dress you choose. Why? Well, maybe it’s obvious, but wedding dresses often involve a lot of fabric and can be very heavy. So as a typical rule, the more dress there is, the warmer you’ll be. This silk dress will be ideal for keeping you warm.
“But what if it’s strapless?” I hear you ask. My answer for you: It doesn’t matter. You’d be surprised how much all the natural adrenaline you build up on your wedding day generates internal heat; a dress that involves a heavily boned corset and a skirt with ten layers of tulle will end up insulating you. That means the warmer the season, the lighter your dress should be. You certainly don’t want to look like you’re experiencing a hot flush in the middle of your ceremony.
Consider the season
The time of year at which you plan on tying the knot should have a good amount of sway over what dress you choose. Why? Well, maybe it’s obvious, but wedding dresses often involve a lot of fabric and can be very heavy. So as a typical rule, the more dress there is, the warmer you’ll be. This silk dress will be ideal for keeping you warm.
“But what if it’s strapless?” I hear you ask. My answer for you: It doesn’t matter. You’d be surprised how much all the natural adrenaline you build up on your wedding day generates internal heat; a dress that involves a heavily boned corset and a skirt with ten layers of tulle will end up insulating you. That means the warmer the season, the lighter your dress should be. You certainly don’t want to look like you’re experiencing a hot flush in the middle of your ceremony.
Spring and summer brides or those planning a destination wedding should look to light sheath dresses. Autumn and winter brides should look for dresses with some more fabric to keep them warm.
Think about logistics
The last thing you want on your wedding day is to realise that your dress is making it difficult for you to enjoy yourself. Before committing to the princess dress with a massive hoop skirt, consider how much travelling around you’ll need to do on the day. Is your ceremony in the same place as your reception? If so, great. But if you’re going to need to travel in a car more than once during the day, you might want to think about how annoying it could be to try to shove all that dress in there with you (and your new husband) over and over again.
Similarly, a dress with a gorgeous cathedral-length train could look incredible during a church ceremony, but is much less appealing later on when you’re trying to dance and your drunken cousins keep stumbling over it.`
Think about logistics
The last thing you want on your wedding day is to realise that your dress is making it difficult for you to enjoy yourself. Before committing to the princess dress with a massive hoop skirt, consider how much travelling around you’ll need to do on the day. Is your ceremony in the same place as your reception? If so, great. But if you’re going to need to travel in a car more than once during the day, you might want to think about how annoying it could be to try to shove all that dress in there with you (and your new husband) over and over again.
Similarly, a dress with a gorgeous cathedral-length train could look incredible during a church ceremony, but is much less appealing later on when you’re trying to dance and your drunken cousins keep stumbling over it.`
If your venue has a massive ballroom with plenty of space so that dancing anywhere near you doesn’t become an assault course for your guests, then the train won’t be as big a problem. For smaller venues, though, you’d do well to make sure that that beautiful train can be bustled (tied up at the back) before you commit to buying it.
I hope I’ve helped you to feel inspired and ready to go on the hunt for your dream dress! Check out The Wedding Secret for a directory of bridal boutiques in your area.
