Three Choices
You may have a vision of the dress you want, but remember that the time, place, and formality of a particular wedding determines what kind of gown is appropriate. The suitability of the gown for the setting of your ceremony is as important to its overall effect as how it actually looks on you.
A Dress for a Country Club Wedding
“I didn't want something as fussy and formal as if I'd been getting married in a church,” Lynn said. “And, of course, it had to be elegant and easy to dance in.” She chose a short, ivory candlelight dress and added a chiffon stole that will flutter in the breeze off the water as she and John walk along the wooden deck of the marina country club.
Fact
Helping the bride find a dress is usually the maid of honor's task, but you will probably find no shortage of friends and family members to go dress shopping with you. Take only one or two people with you at a time. It's easy to get overwhelmed by all the opinions if you go in a large group.
A Dress for a Traditional Church Wedding
Opting for the traditional, Kylie selected a dress with a cathedral-length train but found it in an unorthodox source — a wedding-finery rental store. “I never thought I'd do this,” she confided.
“But when I realized I could get something so special for a fraction of the cost, I did it.”The rental cost Kylie just $275, instead of the $1,200 she had budgeted.
Super Savings on a Small Wedding
Susan has had a hectic last semester at college and couldn't spare a lot of time to look around for her dress. “I studied the pictures of summer weddings held outdoors and realized that those dresses wouldn't work in my setting — or my budget! So I started looking for a simpler kind of dress, with a tea-length hem that wouldn't brush the grass — something that would carry out my fresh, outdoor theme. There was a dress online that looked perfect for a summer wedding. I bid on it and got it for $75!”
Alert
This point can't be stressed enough: Wherever you shop, remember to be a wise consumer and use that credit card. It will give you more leverage if the order isn't what you expected.
But something was missing. “I'd been looking at the bride magazines and saw that hats were becoming popular again,” Susan said. “So I splurged on a beautiful wide-brimmed hat and trimmed it with some silk daisies to match the real ones I'd be carrying in my bouquet. I sewed a few on the hem of the dress, and I had a beautiful outfit.”
Remember that alterations can add quite a bit to the price of your purchased gown, especially if you lose weight and require multiple fittings and alterations. Be sure to get a written estimate of the cost and try not to go through drastic size changes. After all, that's not good for your health, and you have enough stress in your life now, anyway!
