Maryke's Blog

This radiant bride chose a wedding dress that fits the profile of the Romantic Bride. 

She chose a beautiful ivory colour for her dress. The style of her wedding dress consisted of a half circle ball gown skirt made from a layer of sheer, matt organza over crushed taffeta with a corseted bodice. Delicate hand beaded detail in glass bugle beads added the perfect amount of sparkle to her elegant design. Rows of piping sewn into the vertical seams of the bodice added a super flattering feature to this corset. This feature draws the eyes down, forming a slim & flattering line.

The romantic wave at the hemline that finished this bridal gown off was created by sewing fish gut into the hem.

 

   

Following are the most popular wedding dress styles:

A-line dress:

This style can also be referred to as the Princess style. This style has a fitted bodice with a defined waist, widening gradually towards the hemline. It has multiple, vertical panels extending in an A-line shape from the waist to the hem.

The A-line is a style that suits most figure shapes, sizes & ages. In a shorter length it can be a lovely choice for your bridesmaids. This is also a very flattering style on Moms, to which a broader strap / sleeves can easily be added.

This is a timeless, classic style (for more info & photo’s see my blog post on the Classic Bride)

Trumpet style:

The trumpet style has a form fitting bodice with a semi full skirt that flares from below the hips.

Ball gown:

This style is inspired by the classic old fairy tale. It has a fitted bodice (corseted) with a full skirt that starts on or just below the hips.

This could be either a very romantic or dramatic option (for more info & photo’s see my blog posts on the Romantic Bride / the Dramatic Bride)

Empire dress:

The waistline of this style is raised to just below the bust line with either a straight or flared, breezy skirt. This style is ideal for sheer, soft fabrics such as chiffon.

This is a ‘figure friendly’ style, which can also be a great option for bridesmaid’s dresses.

For more info & photo’s see my blog post on the Natural Bride.

Mermaid style:

It is a figure hugging style which flares out from or just below the knee.

This style could either be in a classic version or a dramatic one. For more info & photo’s see my blog post on the Dramatic Bride)

Sheath:

The sheath has a narrow, form fitting line. It is usually cut on the bias (the cross-grain of the fabric) which produces a fitted shape with a gentle drape at the hem.

This style is most suitable for athletic, well-toned figures.

Your ideal style of wedding dress is feminine, maybe even with some frills, ruffles or 'pick-ups' ('bubbles'). Your dress has lots of dreamy details & accessories. You (generally) love shades of pink.

Your dream wedding may be as formal / in-formal as you like, as long it is dripping with romance. Tip: make a list of your favourite things and try to incorporate some of these into your wedding day. For example: Butterflies, lace, favourite flowers, sunsets etc.

A dress with lace, tulle and / or ruffles is likely to appeal to you. Generally, you’ll be drawn to a ball gown or a dress with a fuller skirt and soft lines with whimsical detail. You might explore options like hand painted flowers on your wedding dress or adding a touch of pink to your wedding dress.

For the Romantic bride, anything dreamy and ‘floaty’ goes. Your wedding day is your fairytale come true and you would like to look like a princess on your wedding day.

STYLES & DETAILS TO CONSIDER:

Ball gown:

A tulle skirt with corseted bodice. Alternately, the skirt could be full in a plain fabric with a corseted or fitted bodice along with beaded accents.Another option is to have a combination of both fabric and tulle on your skirt.

The skirt doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘poufy’. It depends on the width it is cut in as well as the size petticoat you choose to wear underneath. Tip: Most hoop petticoats are adjustable.

A-Line dress:

An A-line dress suits most figures. One with an organza overlay with beaded detail gives it a whimsical, floaty feel.

Beading & fabric:

Beading ads sparkle to any wedding dress. As a Romantic bride you are likely to have some sparkle and / lace detail on your dress. However, the romance is generally in the silhouette of your dress.

Fabrics such as lace, organza and tulle ads to the romance of your dress and day. For an extra 'floaty effect, ask your Designer to add fish-gut to the hem to give it a curled edge.

Choosing a wedding dress is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make for your special day. There is such a variety of styles & dresses available, that it might feel overwhelming to find a starting point.

My hopes are that the following pointers will help you discover your wedding style / wedding ‘personality’, which, in turn will help you choose your wedding dress.

1. What kind of wedding do you envision having?
2. What is your wedding date, time & venue / setting?
3. What is your budget for your wedding dress & accessories?
4. What is your wedding ‘personality’?

1. WHAT KIND OF WEDDING DO YOU ENVISION?:

The style of your wedding dress will be influenced by the formality & style of your wedding. There are no hard & fast rules, however, generally the more formal your wedding, the more formal your dress & visa versa.

2. YOUR WEDDING DATE, TIME & VENUE / SETTING:

The date will indicate the season of your wedding, which in turn will be an indicator of the expected weather for your wedding day. The most popular times of the year to get married are Spring & Summer. Winter weddings however, might qualify you for some discounted prices, as it is out of wedding season.

The time of your wedding will also be an indicator of the formality of your wedding. Morning weddings tend to be more in-formal, whereas afternoon / evening weddings tend to be more formal.

The venue / setting will also influence your choice, as an outdoor wedding such as on the beach / in the garden tend to be less formal that of an indoor wedding in a hall.

3. WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET FOR YOUR WEDDING DRESS & ACCESSORIES?

Most people don’t like to crunch the numbers but when it comes to your wedding, it is advisable to know your budget in order for you to know what you are able to spend on your wedding dress & accessories. This is also important information to relay to your dress designer.

4, YOUR WEDDING PERSONALITY:

Now that you have a general idea of what you envision for your wedding day, you should be able to determine your wedding ‘personality’.

None of us should fit into a ‘box’ and the following are mere pointers as to determine a general feel for what wedding dress style might suit you. Certain aspects about your choices for your wedding day will lean strongly into one of the following directions. You might even be a combination of 2 wedding ‘personalities’, in which case I, as a designer, can design a wedding dress capturing both aspects of your personality into your wedding dress. Alternately, you might like to have your wedding ceremony & reception reflecting one ‘personality’ & your dress the other.

If you have been dreaming about your wedding day since you’ve been a little girl, full of fairy tale expectations, you are likely to be a Romantic bride.

If you envision your wedding in an outdoor setting such as the beach or garden, you are likely to be a Natural bride.

Should you envision your special day as being semi-formal / formal, filled with lots of traditions (especially those passed on through your family’s traditions), you are likely to be a Classic bride.

If your vision for your wedding is one in an elegant setting with little traditions, 5 star food & all things modern and different, you are likely to be a Dramatic bride.