Whatever your body type, there is a wedding dress for you. There are also wedding dresses which are not for you. If you’re short, you should shop for dresses with neat seams or lace appliqués that run lengthwise. Consider empire, princess or A-line dresses with small collars and cuffs and a trim neckline. If you are tall, look for dresses with a trim that wraps all around, wide belts, wide collars and cuffs, raglan or butterfly sleeves, low necklines, both front and back, and flared or tiered skirts. If you are thicker in the middle, you should aim for the slimming effect of a lifted bodice and A-Line skirt. Avoid thick sashes and tight waists. If you are heavy chested, stick to V – U shaped or high necklines. Avoid cinched waists, empires that come up high under the bust, and clingy jerseys.
Choosing and Storing your Wedding Dress
You should begin shopping for your dress at least six months before your wedding date. This provides time to find the style, fabric, and accessories that suit you. Bridal gowns are made from satin, taffeta, chiffon, organza, brocade and lace, and are accented with delicate trims, such as beads, seed pearls, sequins, embroidery, lace and appliqué.
After the Wedding
Cleaning industry experts recommend that you have the dress cleaned before storage. Some decorative trims discolor. An ivory or ecru trim may lose its color and no longer match the gown if a dye component is lost in cleaning. Color failures of this type are due to poor colorfastness of the dye.
Storing Your Gown
No process or storage method can guarantee against yellowing or possible deterioration of fabrics. There are, however, several steps you can take to protect your garment:
• Have your cleaner pack up the gown in a special storage box that will help you prevent contamination.
• Store your gown in a cool, dry place. Avoid basements or attics. Basement dampness can cause mildew; attic heat could promote yellowing of the fabric.
• When storing a long gown on a hanger, sew straps to the waistline of the dress to relieve pressure on the shoulders from the weight of the skirt. Wrap the dress in a protective while sheet or muslin covering.
• Whether the gown is hung or boxed, the bodice should be stuffed with white, acid free unbuffered tissue paper to prevent wrinkles.
• Accessories should be removed and boxed separately to avoid damage to the fabric.
• Inspect your gown for time to time while it is in storage for possible problems.
Imagi-nations “The Matrimony Place” - Brookhaven, MS 800-676-1093
Dreams Come True - Upland, CA 909-981-5802
Alencon Couture Salon - mill valley, CA 415-389-9408
Trousseau Nicole - Austin, TX 512-306-0486
Myndi’s Finer Things - Wailuku, HI 808-242-4417
All About You - San Diego, CA 619-341-3333
Classic Matrimony, LTD - Lititz, PA 717-627-8589
Gown Design Center - Reno, NV 775-828-1986
Gesinee’s Bride - Concord, CA 925-686-6444
A New Beginning Bridal - Aurora, IN 812-926-0210
Gowns Wholesale - Lubbock, TX 806-239-0632
Alexandra Gown Salon - San Francisco, CA 415-951-0400
EbridalSuperstore.com - Burlington, NC 866-223-2200
Bride and Company - Cranberry Township, PA 724-272-0753
Absolutely Fabulous brides - Castle Rock, CO 720-733-9050
Lori Lynn’s Bridal - Phoenix, NY 315-529-8322
Beautiful Brides - Tucson, AZ 520-886-1120
Just Engaged Bridal Salon - San Francisco, CA 415-863-1011
Elegant Lace Bridal - San Jose, CA 408-978-2230
Le Show Bride Designs - New York, NY 212-221-6640
Tour of Elegance - San Diego, CA 619-624-9443
AnnMarie’s Brides Beautiful - Jackson, MI 517-787-8100
Acapulco De Mayorca - The Woodlands, TX 281-298-7380
The Special Event Bridal - Alexandria, MN 320-762-0633
Your Dream Bridal & Formal Shop - Tucker, GA 770-938-0833
Simone’s Unlimited Day Spa & Bridal Boutique - Hanover, PA 717-630-0990
Jacqueline’s Formal Salon - Nashville, TN 615-256-9004
Camilla’s Bridal - Raleigh, NC 919-255-1360
All 4 U Bridal & Limousine - Avondale, AZ 623-882-0372
Wear Again - Overland Park, KS 816-726-6905
Karla Hour Couture - San Francisco, CA 415-921-7622
Paw-Paw’s Shop - Plaquemine, LA 225-687-7849
Platinum Images Professionals - Matthews, NC 704-493-3567
Facchianos - Broken Arrow, OK 918-461-VOWS ext.(8697)
Elite Wedding Dress - Darien, CT 203-656-2927
Faccio Bridal, Inc. - Franklin, TN 615-778-9437
My Friend’s Wedding Dress - Bakersfield, CA 661-328-0887
A Time For Elegance - A full service bridal salon offering brides-to-be everything they need to make their dream wedding a reality. From the wedding dresses and veil to the shoes, as well as undergarments and accessories to compliment the gown. A time for Elegance takes pride in offering top quality and selection. A bridal consultant is always available and the entire staff is dedicated to providing personalized service to ensure every bride finds her “just perfect” gown and to help make her day the happiest and most memorable experience in her life…to be treasured forever. Los Alamitos, CA 562-431-8461
Vera Wang Wedding Dress- In little more than a decade, Vera Wang has become the authority on bridal elegance. Her name is synonymous with a modern, sophisticated approach to classic style. With unprecedented passion and dedication, Vera Wang has brought fashion to bridal, capturing the tradition of a bride and the individuality of a woman in each creation. Inspired by her own frustrating search for a wedding dress that reflected her personal style, Vera Wang opened a premier bridal salon on Madison Avenue and introduced her first collection in 1990. Since then, she has revolutionized bridal with her sumptuous fabrics, fine details and superior workmanship. New designs are introduced twice each year under Vera Wang Collection and Vera Wang Luxe with an opening price of 2,900 USD. The Vera Wang website features select styles representative of Vera’s vision in bridal. Please visit our flagship salon or one of our boutiques to view the entire collection with consultants trained in guiding brides-to-be through the exciting experience of choosing the perfect wedding dress. Vera Wang bridal comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and is available exclusively at select locations worldwide.
In 1990, inspired by a new vision where fashion and bridal meet, Vera Wang opened a bridal salon at the esteemed Carlyle Hotel on Madison Avenue. Retailers, editors and peers quickly noted the impact of her innovative bridal collections and encouraged Vera Wang to extend her design sensibility to ready-to-wear and bridesmaid collections. Fifteen years later, Vera Wang is no longer an emerging brand. Vera Wang’s new product introductions reflect her vision to create a lifestyle that goes beyond the core bridal, maids and ready-to-wear into publishing, fragrance and beauty, accessories and home. Vera Wang collections are positioned in the highest end of the luxury market. Customer appeal is high: driven by an artistic, modern and luxurious design style, couture-like quality and a high level of customer service. Vera Wang collaborates with leading global partners. The company directly employs over 200 people and manufactures the majority of its bridal collection in company-owned workrooms in the United States.