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Finding the perfect wedding dress is one of the most difficult decisions the bride to be must make. You may fall head over heels for a dress in one of the many bridal magazines. But, please take into consideration every woman’s body is different and the possibility of the dress looking exactly as it does on you is very slim.


Get Experienced Advice
My number one piece of advice is to make an appointment with a bridal boutique near you to get help from women who tend to hundreds of other brides to be. They will choose dresses that accent your unique curves.

Styles Abound
Most bridal boutiques carry a large variety of styles and brands to allow for different budgets and types of weddings. Most of the dresses that are advertised tend to be very pricey so you can usually find a similar dress that isn’t a brand name, but half the cost or less.
As for choosing the right type of dress I do have a bit of insight from my experience dress shopping. While every woman is different, these tips are pretty much universal.

Consider Lace-ups
Something that I discovered as I was trying on countless dresses was that lace-up back dresses are AMAZING! They not only hold you in which eliminates the need for a bra, but also take at least two dress sizes off of your figure. Quite the confidence boost!

Upfront and Personal
For large busts or small busts most dresses are a pain. The cups are either too big or too small. If it is too small you can try gel cups but that doesn’t always help. Your best bet is to try a lace up back because they shape to your figure for the most part and can help hold you in with large or small breasts.

Disguise Chicken Arms
If you have sagging arms that you would like to hide without getting a complete long-sleeved dress they have a solution. There are little half sleeve covers to hide your upper back and arms. You can also wear long gloves if you strictly want to cover your arms.

Its All About Illusion
Dresses with an A style flare are wonderful for those with a pear shape. The top of the dress can accent your tiny waist and the bottom can hide a large rear and legs. Some of us aren’t blessed with super model legs and these dresses area great fix.

Veils Add Mystery
When it comes to veils you can spend a fortune for double layer or triple but single layered veils work just the same. The only downfall is you don’t have a layer to wear over your face. However, most women don’t do that because it gets in the way of photographing their face.

Tweak For the Perfect Fit
All in all the wedding dress is quite a project to find and get altered. Your best bet in staying within your budget is choosing a dress that needs the least amount of alterations. I feel strongly about lace up backs because they tend to require less work and fit more figures which save you money.

Keep Trying
Make sure you try at least three on before making a decision and make an appointment with a professional. This will take the stress off of you and make the process go much more smoothly.

Gothic fashion is all about being brazen and bending the regular norms of fashion ideas. Gothic fashion is very much in vogue today although it may not be incorporated in our daily lives. Fashion is an ever-changing phenomenon and many fashion gurus are on the lookout for adding new trends to the existing styles. This may also be the reason perhaps why Gothic fashion still rules for many!


Gothic fashion may be regarded to be bizarre by few but for the pure Goths, this was not only about freedom, it was also about sexual liberation. Gothic fashion was all about making an individual statement where the color black was used in major outfits seen in Gothic fashion. Gothic fashion has always been about flowing skirts, long sweeping dresses, tight jeans, nails painted in black and loads of chains and studs.

Apart from all these fashionable clothing seen in Gothic fashion, Gothic wedding dresses are still in demand today! Strange it would seem since Gothic fashion is considered to be slightly bizarre by many. Here’s a look at Gothic wedding dresses and why these are still preferred by many brides!

Gothic Wedding Dresses:

A Gothic wedding theme is quite popular and very much in vogue now-a-days. Gothic wedding dresses should be planned keeping the entire theme in mind. Many women love to go in for the medieval ages look since most medieval dresses are in white. Gothic wedding dresses are not about being nice and prim and proper, these are about being wicked and flaunting your style quotient. Therefore, you would need to think a couple of times before you go in for that perfect Gothic wedding dress.

Such dresses being exclusive, you may not perhaps find a store dedicated to Gothic fashion. In that case, only the Internet would prove to be useful where you can locate websites that deal with Gothic clothing so that you can have a custom made Gothic wedding dress for your wedding!

You need to remember that Gothic fashion is all about being dark and dramatic and apart from black, you can go in for deep colors such as red, a deep purple or even a dramatic blue. The right fabrics for the Gothic wedding dresses would be rich and heavy such as velvet or satin. You can combine these Gothic wedding dresses with some lace as well. If you are the kind who loves to flaunt her body then a corset can also be incorporated in the design as well.

Gothic wedding dresses should be long and flowing and you can also opt for a variety of necklines such as the Victorian neckline or any other plunging necklines which you would dare to wear! If you wish to avoid corsets or sleeveless wedding dresses then you can opt for flutter sleeves and long flowing sleeves. Use some delicate trims to add more style to your Gothic wedding dress.

Gothic fashion ideas need to be handled well so that you look beautiful with a touch of naughtiness as well! Therefore, select your elements carefully in order to avoid looking completely out of place! After all, it’s your wedding day; you need to look fashionable and stylish as well. Use the right accessories to add more dimensions to the Gothic wedding dress. Over the top bustiers and fishnet stockings are all a part of Gothic fashion. Team these up with satin gloves and stiletto heels. You can also add a touch of elegance with chandelier earrings.

Use these basics of Gothic fashion to find the ultimate Gothic wedding dress! This unique theme is bound to make your day feel even more special!

Chances are your wedding dress will be the most important clothing purchase of your life. Yes, you will only wear it once; but, will you ever wear another dress more anticipated and more talked about?

And while this is indeed an important clothing decision, you have probably never gone through the process of purchasing a wedding gown until now. Thankfully, I have rounded up useful advice to get you started on your way to walking down the aisle in the dress of your dreams.


Start Shopping Early -

Time is of the essence. Most likely, you did not get engaged after a week of dating, so why would you want to rush such an important shopping decision? Planning a wedding is stressful, and the last thing you want to add to your worries is dress shopping. You need time. Not only do you need time to shop, but keep in mind that you will also need time to wait for your dress to arrive and time for fittings. Try to start looking for your perfect wedding dress right after you are engaged. You should aim to purchase your wedding gown at least 6 months before your wedding date, as this will ensure enough time to wait for your gown to arrive and have it tailored.

Wedding only 5 months away, and you haven't even tried on your first dress? Don't panic. While shopping early is preferred, you can always buy a dress off the rack, and many bridal salons can turn a dress around more quickly if necessary. You just may have to be a little more flexible in your dress choice.

Educate Yourself -
Wedding dresses come with their own unique glossary of terms (or jargon, as you may want to call it). Before stepping foot into a bridal salon, try to brush up on your vocabulary. There are terms for gown silhouette (the basic shape of the gown), neckline, bodice, sleeves, trains etc. Learn the basics and try to narrow down which options you prefer and which ones best suit your figure. Overwhelmed? This wedding dress styles guide provides detailed descriptions on every type of wedding gown.

Envision Your Perfect Wedding Dress -

Many bridal salons do not allow you to simply browse through all their wedding dresses. They first ask you a few questions about your wedding and your overall style and bring dresses that reflect your vision to you. Therefore, it's best to have an idea of what you want before you shop. After you have educated yourself on the various parts of a dress, think about what wedding dress style suits you. Always dreamed of being a princess?

A ball gown silhouette is probably your best bet. Dream of showing off a figure sculpted by hard work at the gym? A sheath dress may be perfect for you. Keep in mind that your dress, while suiting your personal style, should also suit your wedding venue. A formal ball gown is probably not appropriate for a beach wedding in the sand, while a sundress may not work in a cathedral.

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 our local wedding services section 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.

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. 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.

Every bride wants to look her best when it comes to the day of the wedding. This is the time when she would embark upon a new life. Naturally every bride wants to look unique and wants the entire affair to be planned well and function smoothly. It requires months of extensive planning and preparation right from choosing the wedding dress to the wedding arrangements.


When it comes to the wedding dress, most brides are spoiled for choice with the wide number of boutiques and brands that are churning out the best designs available. Your wedding dress need not be big with long trains of cloth behind them. You need to think carefully before you make this important purchase, as wedding gowns are the heaviest and luxurious of all the outfits you would probably own and this is one gown that you will cherish forever.

There are times when you may not be satisfied with the designs available. Most brides end up searching malls and websites online in pursuit of the most elaborate and beautiful wedding gowns. However, you can even design your own wedding dress that would enable you to wear the pattern you have in mind. Custom wedding dresses allow you to have that freedom and get innovative. Wedding dresses bought from the stores do not always give the best fit. Sometimes, they can be too short to some or very long to others.

It could also be having the best design but definitely not the best fabric. Selecting a wedding dress would therefore mean the dress has to match all the ideas in your mind. In such cases, it is always better to opt for custom wedding dresses. You can design your own wedding dress at home and that does not mean you are required to sew the entire pattern! This would simply mean you have to design the pattern and speak to any fashion designer or a local seamstress who could probably help you design your own wedding dress.

Factors to consider when you Design Your Own Wedding Dress:

Understand your body type:
You must know that the wedding dresses that look good in the fashion magazines may not always be the right pattern for your body type. Wedding dresses can be romantic or sexy, in brilliant shades or in subdued patterns. Finding the right pattern for the wedding dress can completely flatter your looks and enhance your body. There are various patterns you need to consider before you design your own wedding dress. Here are a few listed below:

The basic A-line wedding dress-This is narrow on the top and flares widely towards the bottom. This pattern can form the base of the wedding dress and can be enhanced and ornamented with further planning. The A line pattern suits most figures.

Figure hugging silhouettes- this pattern suits women who have well-toned bodies. The skirt can flare out at the mid or lower calf with a fitting bodice. Please note that this skirt would restrict the freedom of movement at times.

Ball gown-This is fitted with a bodice and comes with a very full skirt. This pattern can hide many flaws of the body.

Keep a collection of the styles you have seen and liked:
Go through the latest fashion magazines that can give you some ideas about the latest in designs for wedding dresses. Keep the cutouts of such outfits. Browse online for websites that showcase some of their patterns. You can keep printouts of these as well. Go to any local reputed store that have the options of an in-house seamstress, with whom you can converse about the kind of design you want and get a feedback about the pictures you have and your own ideas as well. The seamstress would help you get an honest opinion about the kind of design which would suit you and flatter your body and complexion.

Get the latest sewing machine:
If you do not wish to have the services of a seamstress and prefer to do it yourself, then ensure you have the right kind of sewing machine. There are various computerized sewing machines available that are designed to make stitching an easy affair for you.

Choose the right fabric:
Ensure you pick the right fabrics for your wedding dress. When you design your own wedding dress, the fabric plays an important part, as the cut of the dress has to match the fall of the fabric. If you wish to have a long flowing dress, you cannot choose fabrics that are stiff in their appearance. Try to go in for wrinkle free fabrics. This would save you a lot of hassles on your wedding day.

Embellish it your own way:
Think about the embellishments you could have on your wedding dress. The best part about custom wedding dresses is that you can plan out all the minute details as per your whims and fancies. You can use beads, crystals, embroidery, sequins and lace to decorate your wedding dress. The options are many and this would help you get a personal touch to your outfit.

The best thing about custom wedding dresses is that they can help you save a lot of money as well! Ensure you prepare well in advance to have a gorgeous outfit ready in time, for the wedding day!

I think it would be safe to say that today most brides prefer sleeveless wedding dresses. However, you might be surprised to know that many brides prefer modest wedding dresses and you might be even more surprised that they look lovely in them.


Whether young and mature brides alike are choosing a modest wedding dress because they are getting married in a religious venue that requires modest dress, or because they simply prefer a modest wedding dress, they have access to a wide array of lovely fashions that fit the style of almost every type of bride. From haughty couture to ballroom and from the beach to the baseball diamond, they (and you) can find the right modest wedding dress for the day of all days.

Beach Girl Modest Wedding Dress

If you are the type of girl that dreams of a destination wedding with your intimate family and friends, then consider two of the modest wedding gowns that I think would belong on the sand!

The first dress I have in mind is one that is simple, yet gathered in "bustle bursts" in the skirt. The effect is stunning. It looks like billowed clouds but isn’t pretentious. It also portrays the white motion of the sea, which for the beach—what could be better. Want to see the image of the dress that inspires my words? I saw the image of this cloud dress on a bridal gown website.

Another modest wedding dress beach option is a simple two-piece dress with simple trim and a graceful loop of the skirt. It gives the impression of effortless soft char or beauty—for the calm, sweet, beach bride. I saw the image² that inspired these ideas on the same bridal gown website.

Couture Girl

For the girl who hates to admit it but will truly only settle for the best and most couture of fashions, there are dresses that will warm the heart of even the most determined and haughty fashionistas.

For the fasionista, elegant beadwork can be exceptional and a flawless cut is required. A fashionista should consider the daring new-age gown that will stand out with a modest--yet form fitting--richly beaded gown, that flares hill-like past the hips into an ending that is fit for a movie star. Check out the photo that inspires my admiration.³

Let’s face it. The true fashionista wants to show off her beauty and grace and true blue loveliness. She may also want to show off her tiny little waist and will be able to do exactly that with the dress I have in mind. With a splash of color that draws the eye and a skirt of tiered loveliness there will be plenty of eyes wandering after this lovely item^.

Accessory Girl

For the girl who wants a modest wedding dress but knows that it is the accessories that really make a statement, I would recommend two items:

The sash brooch is the perfect way to attract attention to the waist and add a touch of richness to a modest dress.

A tiara with the right hair locks can brighten an entire wedding! This tiara, though small hints towards royalty and grace.

Country Girl

A "country girl" may choose almost any style of dress, but I like to think of her focusing on a dress that is well made yet unadorned. A pure, sweet look with a traditional veil and a fitted waist would make a lovely dress for the girl who loves the pure feelings of the outdoors.

How about a dress that will remind you of Julia Robert’s "bell" dress in the movie, "Runaway Bride." This type of dress in conjunction with a classic veil says gorgeous country in my book of love.

You may be a hippie bride, a European chic bride, a cowgirl bride or an Asian style bride. No matter what type of bride you are, you can take advantage of the gorgeous array of modest wedding dresses that are readily available today.

Wedding is the most special occasion in the life of a woman, and so this day is bound to have everything special. Every bride wants to look like a princess on her wedding day. But, it is not necessary to wear the traditional wedding gown to actually look like one.

Nowadays, many couples opt for an informal wedding, and wearing a traditional wedding gown for an informal wedding seems to be a laborious task. One can surely wear an informal wedding dress and look cool, sophisticated and most importantly, beautiful.


Traditionally, a Christian wedding is held in a church, with the bride wearing a white satin gown having lots of frills and laces. However, informal weddings can be held at a beach resort or in your backyard. For this purpose, many designers have come up with informal wedding dresses that go along with the venue. Informal wedding dresses are comfortable, elegant and trendy.

One of the major advantages of opting for an informal wedding dress is that it is not very expensive, and to buy one, you need not visit a bridal boutique. You can try out a shop for formal dresses or beach wedding dresses and select the one that best suits your personality.

You can experiment freely while designing the dress for your dream day. You need not stick to the conventional white color, while choosing your wedding dress. These dresses come in a variety of colors ranging from shades of off-white, pink, blue to bright colors. Some people also opt for colorful embroidery on a light-colored dress which enhances its look.

The length of the dress can be tea length, knee length or above the knee. Tea length dresses are those that flow below your knees, while knee length dresses are those that extend up to the knee level. Some brides also prefer micro-mini dresses as their wedding dress.

You can choose from a wide range of fabrics like silk, tulle and chiffon. One can also experiment with the fabric by using cotton, denims or linen. A wedding gown can be off-shoulder, one-strap, spaghetti strap, halter-neck or have a deep-cut neck line.

You should plan well while selecting the accessories that would match your wedding dress. Minimal jewelery (simple pearls or diamonds) would look elegant, while for your footwear, you can go for a strappy, high-heeled sandals. If you are having a beach wedding or a backyard wedding, you can choose flip-flops or can even prefer to go barefoot.

Elaborate hairstyles that look good with the traditional gown, may not suit the informal wedding dress. On the other hand, you can either choose a simple hairstyle or let your hair flow down freely. If you want to go for a totally different look, you can have a stylish haircut done for this special occasion. Also, instead of wearing a veil and the long train that follows it, you can go for a tiara or a hat. Wearing flowers on your hair can add to your look.

The best thing about a casual wedding dress is that, you can wear it for some other important function, which is not possible with an expensive, magnificent and traditional bridal gown.

Every bride wishes that her wedding day should be the most memorable day of her life. One can make it worth remembering by dressing differently. An informal wedding dress will make you look classy, confident and definitely stunning.

Wedding planning and preparation tips:
When planning the guest list, remember that you do not need to invite your co-workers. If there is some one that you work with that you are very close to, that is one thing but inviting 100 people from the office is just a waste of your money on the invitations because only the ones that you are close to will come anyway.



* The first step in wedding planning is deciding how much money you are going to spend and make a budget. When planning your wedding budget allow 25% more for extras that you haven't planned for.

* Order the invitations four months in advance. Invitations should be mailed four to six weeks in advance. Take the invitations to the post office to be weighted for sufficient postage.

* On your wedding day bring along an emergency kit with a needle and thread, safety pins, hairpins, hairspray, nail polish and extra pantyhose.

* Start shopping for a wedding dress six months in advance. You will need several fittings before it is perfect.

* Do your hair and makeup before putting on your wedding dress.

* Plan your honeymoon six months in advance. Make all arrangements and reservations well in advance.

* If your budget is small, share your joy and happiness with only family and your closest friends.

* When selecting a caterer try to sample their food before hiring them. If it is a restaurant, go there to have dinner before you hire them.

* Invitations should always be addressed by pen, preferably a black fountain pen.

* Remember that it is his wedding, too. Some men do not want much to do with the planning but it is not always too. Take his advice too.

* Plan your budget first. The rest you can fit into that budget.

* If you and your fiancée have a disagreement, work it out without involving either set of parents.

* When shopping for your wedding dress, state your price range at the beginning.

* Remember to always send a "Thank you" note for all wedding gifts you receive.
When choosing a wedding date, take your guests into consideration. Avoid family birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Also think about those that will be traveling.

* View his or her photographs to see if you like their style of photography. If you do, book as early as possible.

* Planning a wedding takes a lot of time. If you don't have the time, hire a wedding consultant.

* When you are meeting with a florist for wedding flowers, know what your budget will be and the colors you have chosen.

* Eat something before your wedding. Even though you might not feel hungry, try to swallow just a few bites. You don't want to faint on your big day!

* Make detailed photocopies of your wedding day schedule beginning that morning and continuing until your departure for your honeymoon. Give copies of the schedule to all parents as well as everyone in the wedding party.

* Don't hesitate to ask family and friends to help with preparations. Choose the appropriate task for the person you are asking.