Wear Again Wedding Dresses

Recessionistas rejoice! In these economic times, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to wear your wedding gown more than once (without looking ridiculous)? NY-based designer Sioloonim offers a couture line of white silk taffeta blouses and floor-length silk skirts that – when paired together – create a one-of-a-kind look for wedding dresses. As an added bonus, brides can get more mileage out of the top, which is simple and chic enough to be worn again for a night on the town with skinny jeans and stilettos or to the office with a pencil skirt and pumps.

Read more about these wear again wedding dresses at the Unveiled Wedding Blog

Wedding Dresses Ideas for Every Season

Take a cue from the seasons with our favorite wedding dresses and attire ideas for spring, summer, fall, and winter...

Summer Wedding Dresses and Attire
Think breezy dresses with airy silhouettes and light fabrics for a summertime affair...

• Lighter fabrics: for the wedding dress – think organdy, linen, chiffon, crepe, georgette or any light-weight silk. Bridesmaids dresses in linen, eyelet, or seersucker will ensure your girls are comfortable. You may want to forego tuxes and dress the guys in traditional cape cod style – khakis, blue sport coats and colorful ties like those from Vineyard Vines, or morning suits for a more formal affair.


• Simple silhouettes: opt for a slip dress or sheath – as opposed to a voluminous ball gown. Keep your veil simple as well – look for airy, not poufy.


• Dare to go barefoot: a casual outdoor setting can be made more so with a barefoot bridal party


• Add color: summer is a time to incorporate some color into your ensemble.

Get more advice on finding summer wedding dresses.

Fall Wedding Dresses and Attire
Embrace fall with rich textures and luxurious accents that complement the season...

• For the bride: 1. off white - cream or off-white wedding gowns accent a richer color palette. 2. lace up - antique or vintage lace adds texture to a rustic setting


• For the ´maids: select jewel tone bridesmaids dresses in rich fabrics such as brocade or velvet


• Stay comfortable: be prepared for chilly or warm temps. Strapless dresses with wraps, capelets or stoles are a safe bet

Winter Wedding Dresses and Attire
Add some sparkle with glamorous gowns that glisten like new fallen snow...

• Rich fabrics: warm up to velvet, satin, brocade, and heavy silk


• Add a layer: if your wedding dress is sleeveless or strapless, add a wrap, shrug or cape in white or in one of your wedding colors


• Winter white: dress the wedding party, flower girl and ring bearer in winter white for a chic, clean look.


• Black tie: formal attire at an elegant winter wedding is always a classic

Spring Wedding Dresses and Attire
Embrace the outdoors with floral elements and touches of color...

• Loosen up: feel free to relax the dress code a bit, especially if the wedding will take place outside


• Lighten up: lighter fabrics like lace or cotton create a perfect springtime look


• Wedding gown: add some color with a sash or detailed embroidery


• Bridesmaids dresses: 1. pastels are a springtime classic. Keep yours fresh by choosing a color and allowing each of your maids to select a different hue. Or go in another direction with a bolder turquoise, fuschia or mango. 2. avoid satin shoes – they don´t hold up well under springtime showers


• The guys: they´ll look seasonably appropriate in tan suits, colored shirts and ties. For a formal evening affair, a basic tux always works.

Get even more wedding dresses style tips and budgeting advice, and browse thousands of designer wedding dresses

5 New Wedding Dress Designers You Need To Know

Move over Ms. Wang - these emerging wedding dress designers represent the next class of high-style designer names to remember…

In the world of wedding fashion, your name is your trademark. From couture one-of-a-kind dresses to breezy ready-to-wear styles, these five new wedding dress designers are all making a name for themselves in the world of wedding fashion.

Here's a sampling from the list at Elegala.com:

Tamara Catz - the island fashionista who creates breezy beach wedding dresses.

Miosa Bride - the custom husband and wife duo who create couture wedding dresses that perefectly fit a bride's body type and style.

Deborah Lindquist - the green pioneer who designs a highly stylized line of eco-friendly green wedding dresses.

Suzanne Perron - the New Orleans southern belle who creates once in a lifetime traditional wedding gowns in white and ivory.

Mariana Leung - the embelishment artists who's custom designs begin with intricate wedding dress embroidery.

Get even more style tips, trends, and advice for wedding dresses

Wedding Dress Styles - Basic Components of a Wedding Gown

Before stepping into a bridal salon, you should know the basic styles of wedding dresses and the terms used to describe them.

A wedding dress is typically described by five parts: silhouette, sleeves, bodice, neckline and train. For each part of the dress, there are many different styles:

Silhouette

The silhouette is the basic shape of the gown:

Ball Gown: The ball gown is characterized by a fitted bodice and a waistline leading to a very full skirt (think Cinderella)

Empire: An empire-style gown features a high waistline (right under the bust) falling to a slimmer (yet not body-fitting) skirt.

A-Line or Princess: An A-line or Princess shape features vertical seams flowing from the shoulders down to a flared skirt, creating and inverted V — or A — shape

Sheath: The slim sheath closely follows the line of the body, creating a form-fitting look

Mermaid: The mermaid style is form fitting at the top, similar to the sheath, and then flows out around the knees, creating a mermaid shape.

Sleeves

For wedding gowns, sleeves are more than just long or short. Read below to decide which type of sleeve is best for you.

T-Shirt Sleeves: As the name indicates, these sleeves resemble those of your favorite T-shirt. This style is a good option for brides who want to cover their upper arms but don’t want to go all the way.

Cap Sleeves: Shorter than a T-shirt sleeve and more rounded, therefore a little more baring. Cap sleeves work best on women with fairly slender and well-toned upper arms.

Off-The-Shoulder Sleeves: These sleeves cover the upper part of the arms while leaving the tops of the shoulders exposed. The sleeves also cover enough of the upper arm to make most feel comfortable.

3/4 Length Sleeves: This style has a classic, ladylike feel, with the sleeves ending midway between the elbow and the wrist. An elegant look suited for a formal or winter wedding.

Spaghetti Straps: These are skinny straps with no sleeves attached. Not for the “arm-shy,” this style works best for brides with well-toned upper arms or who just want to look sexy!

Sleeveless: Today, strapless gowns with no sleeves are actually the most popular choice among brides. This style works for many body types.

Bodice

As the name indicates, the bodice represents the “body” of the gown, or the section between the neckline and skirt.

Corset: This is a form-fitting bodice, complete with boning and lace-up or snap closures. This bodice style is fashioned after the ladies undergarment with the same name.

Empire: This bodice style ends just below the bust and flares into a full skirt. This style is flattering on almost all body types.

Halter: The halter is a sleeveless bodice that wraps around the neck. Sometimes backless; always sexy.

Midriff: This bodice fits closely around the mid-ribcage, and is a great choice for accentuating a small waist.

Princess-line: This sleek bodice, characterized by two vertical seams that travel from bust to hem, is super-slimming and gives the illusion of extra height.

Surplice: The surplice bodice cross-wraps the fabric in either the front or back.

Tank: The tank is a short, sleeveless top with wide armholes. This popular style looks great on most body types.

Learn the terminology for the rest of a wedding gown's anatomy - including the neckline and train in the Elegala.com guide to wedding dress styles. Visit the complete wedding dresses guide for even more style advice, tips and a gallery of designer wedding dresses.

Top Wedding Dress Trends for 2009 and 2010

Want to ensure a fashion-forward look for your upcoming 2009 or 2010 wedding? From sleek silhouettes to mini-dresses and tiered gowns, these latest looks for wedding gowns will help you put your best fashion foot forward to get you down the aisle in style.

This article lists the top 7 wedding dresses trends for 2009 and 2010. My personal fave from the list? Tiered skirts - I just love the romantic and feminine look. As the article says,"Whether chiffon, tulle, organza, or even feathers – layers of fabric are the newest major detail designers are playing with to create soft, yet dramatic gowns. This flowing style is perfect for the bride who is a romantic at heart."

Once you've brushed up on the latest styles, this complete guide to wedding dresses will walk you the rest of the way towards finding the gown of your dreams.

Browse hundreds of Designer Wedding Dresses!

Let's face it ladies - there’s something about whiling away the hours browsing images of gorgeous wedding dresses that becomes so addicting once a ring adorns your left finger. Well, it’s all here for your viewing pleasure - provided your boss doesn’t catch you surfing the web while on the clock. Search hundreds of Designer Wedding Dresses by price, silhouette, sleeve, fabric - you name it - to find the latest styles, trends - and most importantly, the perfect wedding gown for you!

How to Choose the Right Wedding Dress Fabric for Your Gown

Just what is charmuese, and what does it have to do with your wedding gown?

In addition to silhouette and neckline, fabric plays a key role in selecting the right gown, since the same style of dress looks and feels very different in a variety of fabrics. And while most of us can discern between satin and lace, what about shantung, crepe or organza?

Thankfully, this handy guide to wedding dress fabric will help you sort through the sea of Silk Mikado and Chantilly Lace to find the most appropriate fabric for your wedding day look.

Once you've got your dress fabrics down, this complete guide to wedding dresses offers style tips, budget advice, and trends to help you choose the right wedding gown.

5 Ways to Find Cheap Wedding Dresses That Look Anything But

Your wedding gown is arguably the most important garment purchase in your lifetime. No other dress comes with more anticipation – and will be more photographed - than this one. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend like royalty to look like a princess on your wedding day. With these smart strategies, you can still walk down the aisle feeling like a million bucks (without having to spend just that).

Something Borrowed
Today, anything retro screams chic. So consider donning your mother’s wedding gown. You’ll not only honor a family legacy, you’ll save a pretty penny too. With vintage lace overlays and crystal embellishments making a comeback, you won’t have to worry about looking dated. With a few simple (and inexpensive) alterations, you can make it your own.

Avoid Added Adornments
Beading, pleating, stitching, embroidering…all of these trimmings add up and are going to cost you extra. Consider a dress that is simply embellished, yet still elegant.

Shop Savvy
Be on the lookout for sample sales, trunk shows, and outlet bargains. Bridal shops are trying to rid their racks of the previous season’s styles to make room for new ones in the late-summer/winter months. Get ready to brave the crowds for super savings.

Don't Name Drop
Sure, designer duds are nice – but if you’re on a budget – you may want to skip the sought-after label. The good news is that you won’t have to sacrifice on style. If you find a look you like from a high-end dress designer, you can almost always find something similar by another name in your price range.

Be Honest
Just because your wedding dress budget doesn’t match your elaborate vision doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the look you want. Approach this shopping decision with an open mind. When stepping into a bridal boutique, tell them exactly what you can realistically spend, and let them take care of the rest. They are the experts, and you might be surprised to see what they can come up with—the perfect wedding gown exists at every price point.

Think Outside Traditional Tulle and Lace
There’s no written rule that says your wedding day attire has to be an official bridal gown. The look you are going for is often available through another avenue. For instance, many bridesmaids’ dresses come in white or ivory, offering a less expensive, less fussy alternative to the traditional wedding dress.

Get even more tips on finding cheap wedding dresses in this complete wedding dresses guide and photo gallery.

Unique Wedding Dresses for the Indie Bride

If you’re not the stereotypical poofy white dress type of bride, you may have noticed the lack of suitable alternatives that still make you, well, look like a bride. The Unveiled Wedding Blog reports that a handful of independent designers are answering that call with sophisticated wedding dresses that have an artistic, edgy quality while still being pretty. Seattle-based Chrissy Wai-Ching, an artist who forayed into dress design, specializes in custom hand-dyed silk gowns featuring color choices like golds, reds, blues and greens. San Francisco-based Mignonette Bridal offers custom and ready-to-wear gowns with shorter hemlines, svelte silhouettes and non-traditional colors. Both designers cater to brides all over the nation.

Read more on these unique wedding dresses at the Unveiled Wedding Blog

How to Choose the Right Wedding Veil

Ah the veil… the ultimate accessory in the transformation from engaged girl to blushing bride. Though steeped in tradition as it is, unless required by your religion, a veil is strictly optional. Today wearing a veil is more of a style statement than a symbolic gesture. Thus, the ideal veil depends largely on the style of your wedding gown and the overall look you want to create.

This wedding veils guide has everything you need to know about this finishing touch to the bridal ensemble.

Look Your Best on Your Wedding Day!

Few times in your life actually command all to rise from their seats to feast their eyes upon your beauty as you walk into view. For such an occasion, looking “good” just doesn’t cut it. You need to look once-in-a-lifetime fabulous. Feeling the pressure? Fortunately, the one thing you can control on your wedding day is your bridal look. While that fabled bridal glow won’t just miraculously arrive in time for the big day, some planning and prep work can ensure your most radiant self walks down that aisle.

This complete wedding attire, accessories, heath and beauty guide will walk you through everything from finding your wedding dress, bridal jewelry, and accessories to getting in shape for the big day.

Trash Talking

The trash the dress (TTD) phenomenon has been making the rounds as the latest wedding fad for awhile, so I won’t bore you with the details. (For those spared of all the hype, the bride dons her dress for a post-wedding photo shoot – swimming in it, blasting it with paintballs, even burning it - while a photographer captures some artistic images for the wedding album).

I'm all for getting some use out of your dress instead of stuffing it in the attic for eternity, but I can’t help but wonder whether this “trend” is merely a clever ploy invented and packaged by savvy photographers to hall brides back into their studios to shell out more money. Something about it seems to reek of conspicuous consumption, but according to the official trash the dress website, run by – you guessed it – the photographer who coined the phase, “it’s about creation, not destruction.”

That may be, but thankfully your post-wedding dress options aren’t limited to submerging it in a swamp or letting it rot in a box. You can donate it and let it live on by helping another in need.

The decision is yours…

Trash it! Trashthedress.com has a list of photographers offering TTD sessions. Some may be willing to provide a complimentary shoot to beef up their portfolios, so call around. If you’d still like the option of donating your dress post TTD, request a photo shoot that minimizes the destruction (no burning). Some organizations can resurrect gently damaged dresses.

Donate it! A number of organizations re-sell used wedding gowns and donate the proceeds to charity. Brides Against Breast Cancer, a division of the Making Memories Foundation, uses donated dress sales to grant wishes for terminally ill cancer patients, while The I Do Foundation will donate a percentage to the charity of your choice. Bridesagainstbreastcancer.org, idofoundation.org

This guide offers even more on the latest trends and ideas in wedding dresses

Is a Casual Wedding Dress Appropriate for an Evening Wedding?

Q: I'm planning an evening outdoor wedding, and I would like to maintain a relaxed and festive atmosphere (no stuffy arrangments and soft mood music!). I would prefer to wear a casual wedding dress (I think a simple white cotton dress from a store like J Crew would be perfect), however I have read that etiquette dictates formal attire for evening weddings. Can I wear a casual wedding dress or should I adhere to traditional wedding attire etiquette?

A: When it comes to wedding attire guidelines, the "rules" are just that - guidelines. The only "rule" you should follow is to wear something in which you feel comfortable and that complements the overall style and tone of your event. In fact, for a relaxed outdoor wedding - even one that takes place after dark - donning an elaborate ball gown just doesn't make sense. So by all means - wear a casual wedding dress, and feel comfortable on your wedding day!

-Cori Russell - style and etiquette editor

You can find even more advice on planning an outdoor wedding and wearing a casual wedding dress at Elegala.com -Elegant Galas Made Simple

Wedding Dress, Wedding Gown and Bridesmaid Dress Search!

When it comes to planning a wedding, we brides all know what is the most important (and fun!) task on your to-do list (and no, it's not the seating chart). Nothing beats shopping for your wedding dress. Thankfully, spending hours a day doing just that - from the comfort of your own home - just got a lot easier.

Look no further than this interactive Wedding Dress search. Here you can search thousands of wedding gowns by price, designer, fabric, silhouette, hemline, sleeve style - you name it. And while your there, you can even search for a Bridesmaid Dress, Mother of the Bride Dress, or Flower Girl Dress. Just don't blame me when your boss catches you surfing for dresses when you should be working :) Happy Hunting!

Your Wedding Dress - Cost and Budgeting Tips

As a recent bride myself, I know this... Shopping for a wedding dress is one of the most anticipated wedding planning milestones for a bride-to-be. There's just something awe-inspiring and almost magical about "the dress." Whether you have been dreaming of it since age four or have yet to give it much thought, seeing yourself in a wedding dress for the first time can be a wonderfully disarming moment.

That said, shopping for a wedding gown is a tad more involved than shopping for your basic pair of slacks. After all, this is a dress that will most likely be the most expensive and most photographed you've ever owned. But don't let the potentially high price tag scare you. This being a budget basics blog, I've compiled some useful cost and budget information so that you'll be prepared when shopping for your wedding dress.

Determine Your Budget
It's best to have an idea of what you would like to spend before stepping into a bridal salon. This will save you the hassle of going to salons out of your price range or allowing the sales clerk to bring you dresses you cannot afford. The average cost of a wedding dress is around $800. However prices can range from anywhere as low as $100 to as high as $10,000 and beyond. Shop around online and in magazines to get an idea of how much wedding dresses cost and how much you want to spend. In general, your wedding gown shouldn't exceed 10 percent of the cost of the wedding reception.

When determining the cost of your wedding dress, remember to factor in the cost for the veil, (which can run up to $500 and beyond), and other accessories such as shoes, headpiece etc.

Know Where to Shop
The most popular choice is the bridal salon, known for a high level of customer service. Bridal salons exist almost everywhere; you can search the local wedding services directory at Elegala.com for ones nearest you. Of course, all bridal salons are not the same. Some feature wedding gowns from multiple designers, others feature only gowns from one specific designer custom for their particular store. Price ranges vary as well. While many bridal salons offer gowns starting as low as $300, prices at other stores can start as high as $4000. Call and inquire before choosing a store.

Brides on a tighter budget can try an outlet. Bridal outlets offer hundreds of dresses, often from past seasons, at a discounted price. For more information on bridal shops, this wedding dress shopping guide can help.

Or try a nationwide bridal chain store (such as David's Bridal) These national chains manufacture, import, and sell their own private label wedding gowns. While the style selection is more limited than in other types of stores, the prices are usually lower. For more information on national bridal chains, review the wedding gown shopping guide at Elegala.com -Elegant Galas Made Simple.