Wedding dresses are such a genuine expression of style on your big day. We know that you know how important it is to make the right choice for you, so we’ve gathered everything you need to know in one handy place. Read on and discover how to glide down the aisle exactly as you’ve been dreaming.
This is the main course of wedding dress shopping. Your wedding dress style says so much about you, given the zillions of options you have. Let’s break down the different aspects of wedding dress styles and outfits.
Of them all, the A-line wedding dress is definitely the most popular. It is form-fitted at the top and flares at the waist - giving rise to the widespread “fit and flare” trend - which flatters almost every body type.
The secondary focal point for many brides is the wedding dress neckline. While some love to emphasise their necklines, others prefer a more subtle look. For that, designers have embraced several different styles, including:
A wedding dress neckline is essential in highlighting your face and overall shape. The general rule designers and other experts lean toward is choosing a deeper neckline for petite brides, whereas taller brides pick something higher. Of course, that’s not set in stone. If you’ve got your heart set on a neckline, try it out! What makes you feel best is what matters most.
Depending on how flowy you want to look or traditional you want to be, your choice of wedding fabric can change the tone of your whole wedding dress. Almost any fabric can work, but the most popular of which are:
Lace: delicate, malleable and gorgeous, lace is undoubtedly the most popular of the wedding dress fabrics across every culture, woven from silk or cotton and adapting to every weather type
Satin: which offers a soft sheen and impeccable drape, making it a favourite amongst brides for its flattering fit; it’s often made from polyester or silk, making it durable for most seasons
Chiffon: as light as can be and often an overlay for wedding dresses, this is a transparent and soft layer made from woven silk or rayon to add a dreamy, ethereal vibe
Tulle: a sheer, net look that adds pizzazz to every wedding dress, this material can be airy or ruched for more structure, most commonly used for the wedding veil’s material
Georgette: spun from polyester or silk, this lightweight material is floaty and soft with a crepe finish that is perfect for the top layers on a wedding dress
Faille: presenting itself in many forms, it’s woven from silk, cotton, or rayon, featuring a structured, ribbed finish with a crosswise rib effect that lends itself best to modern designs
Pique, identified by its waffle-weave look, this is a knit fabric that is a more unusual choice due to its informal appeal and slightly heavier feel that fits crisp drapes best
Voile: spun from cotton or wool, the lightweight and playful nature of voile makes it a semi-casual dream, with its semi-transparent look adding a certain levity to any wedding dress
Charmeuse: a luxurious option, this fabric is light but glossy on the outside and matte on the inside, made of silk and with a soft drape that is to die for (although more challenging to work with)
Most of the time, wedding dresses are not made from just one material - but the foundation of your wedding dress does matter, and the fabric used to accentuate this or highlight that. The most expensive wedding material is undoubtedly silk, whereas the most inexpensive kinds are synthetic (polyester, rayon, etc.).
We asked you to tell us what inspires your choice the most, the dress or the designer, and over 90% of you told us it was the dress. And you know what? Our experts agree with you.
“I always ask, what is your dream dress?” she shared. “What I want, it doesn't matter. This is what you want. Other people and the bride always have their own visions. So they [say], ‘Okay, I love this one. And this one. And this one.’ So I always ask them, what is your dream dress today? [Then] let's see if that silhouette and style [suits] you or not.”
Whether or not you want a wedding dress train is a personal choice. Some people imagine gliding down the aisle with a fluffy, taffeta cloud in their wake; others can’t bear the bother. If you’re someone that’s set on it or simply can’t decide, these are the options you have:
Purchase Wedding Dress In CambridgeThe date of your wedding tells us a lot, including the weather you’ll be having. You don’t want to be shivering in a silk slip with nary but a Watteau wedding train to keep you warm! You can choose fabric and accessories based on the predicted weather (or make plans for the unexpected). The location allows you to do the same, helping you to choose something that better fits the climate and your surroundings.
Keep the season and location in mind when choosing and altering your wedding dress. Your sewist will know what’s best for you as they help you to achieve your dream wedding look, so be sure to communicate all those details with them.
We asked what style best suits you when it comes to wedding dresses, and it was a whole medley of choices. 9% of you lean towards more vintage styles, such as family pieces or heirlooms. 51% of you go off-the-rack for a custom fit. 29% of brides design something from scratch. 12% choose designer dresses and get them tailored to fit
This variety of replies aligns perfectly with what our dress experts told us - and one of Nazneen’s greatest pieces of advice: “It’s good to have an idea of what you want,” she told us, “but I think you should go into the store being open-minded. Whatever you think will suit you may suit you, sure, but there’s something that may actually look better. When you have that professional help [from designers], I think to try everything on - all the different styles. So then you don't ever go like, ‘Oh, wait, what if that actually looked better on me?’”
Your wedding dress style and your wedding dress budget are the best of buds. What you want to wear and how much you’ve got to spend on it pretty much can’t be separated, like a couple of gummy bears fused together in the sun.
That said, unless you’re determined to spend a lot on your wedding dress, you don’t have to spend a lot. You should look at bridal salons’ average price point and compare it with your own budget.
The average price of an off-the-rack wedding dress in NZ is around the $3000 mark, trending upwards depending on the number of customisations and alterations you may need. Custom wedding wear begins slightly higher, at $3500 to $4000.
Jenny: “The price range will be around, like, medium - $2500-ish. Then, and then you will have my custom-made [pieces], and it will [start] from $3500 to $5000.”
Nazneen: “So our prices, they start from $2500 and range into the $6000 sort of mark. The prices at the moment are about the $3000 to $4000 mark.”
If you’ve found your dream wedding dress in a non-traditional sense, that’s perfectly fine. You can customise hand-me-downs from your mother, grandmother or loved one to suit your body and style better. You can hire a dress for a day or more from certain stores. You can check out consignment stores and discover the wide world of secondhand and vintage wedding wear. Your options are kinda endless, aren’t they?
Don’t know the first thing about wedding dress hire? Here is a helpful guide to inform you, covering all the pros, cons and any concerns you may have.
The bottom line is that you have more choices than just buying your wedding dress. Wedding dress sewists are also a dab hand at altering and adjusting wedding wear to fit you just right. Goldilocks would be proud.
The more you try on, the more you discover your style, shape and tastes. If you’re shopping online, many stores will offer trial periods so you can try on the pieces in the comfort of your own home. If you want something more traditional, head to a bridal boutique or salon for the chance to twirl around in front of a giant gilded mirror, just like every romcom known to humankind.
“The most important thing for me? Gosh, well, these days, the most important thing for me is the price. I meet many brides - they always [say that] the price is their main issue.”
And we’ve got the data to back that up. Our polls told us that only 3% of people spend $10000 or more on their dresses; the most common price tag is less than half of that, keeping with the average price in NZ.
Just kidding, there aren’t that many. According to our experts, wedding dress alterations can happen anywhere from one time to multiple, depending on the type of dress you’ve ordered and your own feedback. Ultimately, they are a wholly necessary part of guaranteeing that you look as good as you feel on your special day.