Planning your Wedding Day - Wedding Dress Tips!

Every girl dreams of the day she gets to go wedding dress shopping and try on all of the glamorous and beautiful gowns, but this can be overwhelming and stressful when you are faced with so many options.  They say you will know when you put your dress on, but remember it may be completely different from the original idea of that princess ball gown, or slinky sexy number your dreamed about while growing up.

To help reduce some of my brides stress with the wedding dress shopping, I chatted to the lovely Ligita from By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns and Accessories, and she has given a few top tips on Wedding Dress Shopping.

By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns

Budget
Before you start your wedding dress shopping- make up your mind about the budget, Will you be buying, renting, or ordering online the dress or specially made for you – there are all of these options available.  

As brides, it is an exciting time in your life but when reading books, magazines and chatting to people in the industry you get loads of advise but sometimes all this does is help to make things more difficult and confusing.  Most magazines and guides say that 10% off your total wedding budget must be spent on the dress, however we have heard stories that brides have spent up to 30% on their dress.

Knowing your budget will save you time, not just with the shopping but at the fittings, and will help avoid any disspointment or buyers remorse.  Take your mom, sister, friend or bridesmaid with you  and make sure they know what the budget is too.  Price is not everything, I have seen some very reasonably priced gowns get transformed with a few small details like crystals, beads, pearls, lace, flowers and sash's.  Dress designers are there to assist you with choosing the correct dress and then make it perfect and stunning just for you.

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Gather ideas
Make a “scrap book” with ideas, details, cut outs from wedding magazines.

Ideas like- dress silhouettes, necklines, fabrics, colors. From full images of the dresses, shrugs, veils to  the smallest -lace detail, sash detail, back design, etc.  You can even collect different types of material so you know what they feel like and how it will fall.

With technology now days, this is easier and easier, with Pinterest and your tablet, it is easy to bring your ideas to show your dress designer. 

By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns

By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns

Be Flexible!
Be open- minded to try different styles of wedding dresses.
As suppliers we do understand that it is YOUR BIG DAY, and this is the most important dress of your life, but the designers or consultants are there to help you.

Your designer wants you to look amazing on your wedding day, and sometimes it means that they need to help suggest the right style for your body shape.   Please bare in mind that the beautiful images in the wedding magazines are of professional models.   Wearing strapless dresses is beautiful, but not always comfortable.   Sometimes a tiny change like a spagetti strap makes all the difference.

Please chat to your designer, see what they suggest, obviously you have the last say, but they can advise you on the best options on customising the dress for you.

The Colour
Many brides require dress color to be snow white.  This is not always the most flattering colour and can look odd on different skin tones.

When you are trying wedding dresses, you are surrounded by hundreds of different shades of white, but on your wedding day there will only your dress.  A slight off white colour may flatter your skin tone much more than snow white. 

Different colors are in fashion – maroon, black, purple, green, etc.   Perhaps add an accent colour in the form of a detail like a belt/ sash, appliqué beads or crystals.

The trick is not to over do it!

By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns

By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns

Choosing Styles
Be careful choosing the style of your dress. If your wedding will be intimate or on the beach – don’t go with Ball Gown with Sweep Train. Your dress must also compliment your wedding theme. 

Choose accessories according to your dress style/design. Too much can be overwhelming

Finer details and Fittings
Lingerie: ask consultant/ designer what kind of lingerie will work the best with your wedding dress. They should also be able to suggest to you good, reliable lingerie suppliers. If your dress is little bit tighter  and you just don’t manage to loose these last couple of kilos, a proper corset could be the solution.  Wedding day lingerie is there to do the “work” and support. Your wedding night lingerie is different story……..

When you go the for the dress fittings- try not to wear heavy make-up, you don’t want to mess up/ stain the dress before you get to wear it!

When getting closer to the big day, bring your maid of honour, bridesmaid or mom with.  This way they can see how to help you get into the dress properly. 

Also remember to bring your wedding shoes with so the length of your dress can be changed accordingly.

By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns

By Ligita Exclusive Wedding Gowns

On the big day!
Ask your  bridesmaid or maid-of-honor to keep a needle, thread, small scissors and safety pins, for just in case!

. If your dress fabric creases easily and you feel like sitting down, lean against the wall with your back. When driving in the car to the ceremony sit on the side of your hip to avoid creasing at the back of the dress.

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Most importantly, feel and look beautiful and comfortable on your big day and enjoy every second!  It goes by so quickly!

Thank you to the lovely Ligita for all of these tips, should you wish to see her collection of gowns please contact her:
[email protected]
www.byligita.co.za