Tips On Choosing Your Gown

One of the most fun things to do when preparing for your wedding is choosing your wedding gown. You get to try on a lot of dresses and find one that is perfect for you. You can even have it made especially for you - there is nothing like having a dress that is truly and completely yours, design, style and all.

Of course, whether you have it made to order or choose one that is ready made, the hunt can be exciting. It can also be tiring, frustrating and a very long process. But there are ways to make sure that the hunt never becomes too tedious.

• Bring someone with you when you go looking for the perfect dress. It’s always more fun to do things with your best friend or your siblings or your mom. Ask someone you enjoy shopping with to go with you as you window shop. Make a day of it. They’ll be great company and they can help you by giving you a different point of view. If you decide to try on some dresses, they can provide an appreciative audience or a necessary critic. They’ll help make sure you have a blast and leave the ill-suited looking ones on the rack.
• Attend bridal fashion shows. If you want to be up to date and gowned in the latest styles, the runway is definitely someplace you should go. One of the best things about a bridal fashion show is that you can see how the dress will move when you wear it. You’ll be able to see if the train is difficult to manage or a skirt too hard to maneuver in without having to try it on yet. You can also get some ideas for your hair and make-up based on what the models are wearing. Just make sure to have a camera handy (if the show allows it) or a pen and pad for quick sketches and notes.
• Why not have your very own bridal fashion show? Go ahead and try on all the gowns you are interested in. There is no other way to find your dream piece and playing to a supportive audience is always more fun than trying on just one or two in the dressing room.
• You can now check out runway fashions from the comfort of your home. There are websites where you can watch the bridal fashion shows on demand. You can catch the latest trends from some of the biggest names in wedding fashion such as Vera Wang and Moica Lhuillier without ever leaving the comfort of your home.
• Compile pictures of dresses you like. Many brides have a vague picture in their head of what their dream dress actually looks like. Sometimes, you like the skirt of one dress to go with the top of another. Add the embellishment on the third and the train of a fourth and you get your dream gown. It is a lot easier for your seamstress to make your dress if she has pictures to base on rather than just your description so go ahead and put together the ones you like. It will help ensure you get the gown you really want.

2007 Wedding Trends

If you’ve just begun planning your wedding and want to know what are the trends for this year check out the list below. These are so far the most popular looks for weddings this year according to our various wedding professionals:

• Hot colors for the year. Chocolate brown is coming out as the favorite color for the wedding theme. This rich color is often partnered with bright colors such as blue or pink, in some cases even lime green. The colors are both young, colorful and yet mature and elegant.Orange is the other popular choice among the brides. It can be paired with any number of colors, depending on your taste. It can be paired with chocolate brown for a really cool theme. Mixing it with another bright color makes for a very vivid and lively look at your nuptials. More of a romantic? Mix it wth gold or red instead.
• Detailed Backs are definitely a hot trend. Since most of the wedding ceremony is spent looking at the couple’s back, doesn’t it make perfect sense to make sure that your back looks absolutely gorgeous? The dressmakers definitely think so. That’s why embroidery, lace and jewels decorate not just your bodice, but your back as well. It will be a mark of how creative and talented a dress maker you have.
• Italy is the current favorite honeymoon destination. Thanks in no small part to the attention that the media gave the place during the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes ceremony. Italy is a beautiful country and is a great choice for celebrating the first few days of your union.
• Bridal dresses still have that long, slim look but there’s more variety with sleeves coming up this year. Strapless will still be in fashion but this year’s brides are opting for some cap sleeves for that more subtly feminine effect. The off the shoulder style is back in vogue as well.
• Geometric shapes are in as well this year. Rather than the round tables, square ones are the rage. If you are a romantic who wants everyone to come in pairs or who wants the opportunity to match make, this set up can be appealing.
• Entertainment during cocktails. Rather than the staid, boring cocktails where your guests are just standing around, waiting for you to join them, the new wedding receptions begin with a more festive cocktail party. Guests get the clubbing atmosphere as they sip their martinis to some really great music. The party gets warmed up well even though you have yet to make your grand entrance.
• Earth Friendly Weddings are in season. More and more couples are becoming environmentally concerned. They want to make sure that they are more in touch with nature. This means flowers that are pesticide free and organic food for the reception. It means recycled paper will be chosen for the invitations and thank you cards - if they send any out. In fact more will opt to use the web and other electronic means instead and save a few more trees.