CHOOSING YOUR PERFECT BRIDAL GOWN

Choosing a bridal gown is quite possibly one of the most important items ever purchased in a girl’s life.  The wedding dress she chosses is a reflection of her heart. A woman usually becomes a bride only once in her life (or so she hopes).  She wants to appear at her absolute best on her wedding day and choosing a bridal gown that is just perfect for her is the key

A bridal gown yanks the emotional strings of a woman's heart and often times makes the task of finding the perfect bridal gown a very daunting task. There are so many decisions that need to be made concerning her wedding, that many brides get frazzled when choosing which bridal gown to wear.  Careful planning can make what seems like the difficult task of finding the perfect bridal gown into a very joyful one.

Give yourself plenty of time if you are in the market for a bridal gown.  Start looking for the right wedding dress at least six months before your wedding day. It takes time to choose that perfect bridal gown from among hundreds and hundreds of styles and designs available.  If you choose to have a bridal gown specially made for you, it can take as long as four to six months, so you need to allow more time for this plus any possible alterations you might need on a store-bought dress.

Start your search by compiling pictures of bridal gowns that you like. Download pictures from the internet or cut them out of bridal magazines. If you wish to recreate or find a similar bridal gown like your grandmother, mother, sister, or a friend wore to her wedding, try to get some pictures. Create a file with all the pictures you have collected, if will be helpful to have something to consult when choosing the style of your own bridal gown.

The theme and formality of your wedding ceremony, as well as where the ceremony will be held can be an important factor in choosing your perfect bridal gown. If your wedding is a formal evening affair, your bridal gown should be a floor-length gown with a train. You may also choose to wear gloves. If it is a semi-formal event, whether held in the evening or daytime, your bridal gown should be something that reaches your ankles. You can have a veil with that gown, but no train. If your wedding is going to be strictly a day affair, or if it is your second wedding, you can wear a long dress or a short dress without a veil. You can also wear a suit with a skirt and dress it up with a smart-looking hat.

The second thing that you must consider when choosing the style of your bridal gown is that your gown should flatter the shape of your body, embellishing its finer points and hiding or camouflaging its not-so-fine points. It should also be something that you are comfortable wearing. Here are a few suggestions on what style could flatter your body:

1. If you are tall and if you have a slim figure, there is no need to worry.  You can wear a bridal gown of just about any style.

2. If you have an hourglass figure, meaning your bust and your hips are in proportion and you have a defined waist, you could go for a V-neck bridal gown with an A-line skirt. The V-neck of your bodice can accentuate the fullness of your bust while an A-line skirt can look poofy enough without making your hips look too wide.

3. If you have a pear-shaped figure, meaning your body is bottom-heavy and your hips are wide, you should wear a bridal gown with a few extra details on the bodice and an A-line skirt. The detailing on your bodice, be it beadings or embroidery, will draw the eyes to your bust while de-emphasizing your hips. An empire-style gown with a draping skirt would look nice too.

4. If you are short and with a very slight figure, you need a bridal gown that will create the illusion of a fuller figure. You could go with an off-shoulder dress with a shawl-like collar and a skirt that flares out from below the middle of your thighs.
Take your time when choosing the perfect bridal gown, but if you "fall in love" with a specific dress and know that it is the one for you (much like you "know" your groom is the perfect guy for you), buy the dress without hesitation! Leaving the store without buying that particular bridal gown may make any other gown you choose later seem like second best if that gown is no longer available.  Don't spoil your wedding by wearing the wrong dress!

BRIDAL JEWELRY FOR THE PERFECT BRIDAL GOWN

Almost every bride spends about 20 years planning her wedding before she even knows who the groom is. Every little girl dreams of how she will look on her wedding day. Every little detail of her dream wedding is carefully pondered from an early age.

The first part of the dream is “The Dress”, the bridal gown. The selection of the wedding dress is one of the most important items a bride-to-be has to decide upon. The dress should be a selection that makes her feel elegant, beautiful and unique. Whether it is a simple white dress, a lacy gown or a bright pink or even red gown, the bride’s attitude about the dress is what makes the bride and confident beautiful bride on her wedding day. The selection of the wedding gown should be fun and as stress-free as possible, every bride should buy what makes her feel beautiful.

Once the bridal gown is chosen, it is time to choose the accessories to complete your bridal look for your wedding day. The shoes, the garter, the something old - something new and last but certainly not least, the bridal jewelry! All of the little details that you ponder about for hours will make a magnificent and magical combination for the perfect bridal look!

Any jewelry that the bride chooses should coordinate with the wedding gown she has selected to wear for her big day. The style of your bridal dress will determine the choice of your bridal jewelry, as it will finish off your perfect look and bring the entire ensemble together. Here are some suggestions to help you match the style of your bridal jewelry to the style of the bridal gown you have chosen:

Strapless Dress: – Strapless bridal gowns are a very popular choice for today's bride and if she chooses a strapless dress she has many more options for the bridal jewelry necklace. A bridal jewelry choker will certainly compliment the top line of the dress, a sparkly pearl or swarovski crystal bridal jewelry choker or collar with a strapless gown is so elegant and sophisticated. A simple pendant necklaces or a single-strand or multi-strand necklaces also makes a great choices for a strapless wedding gown. Wearing a strapless gown draws a lot of attention to the shoulders and neck, so wearing the perfect bridal jewelry with that type of dress is a very important part of your bridal look.

Open Backed Dress: Adding a bridal jewelry lariat is a great way to add the final detail to show off your beautiful wedding gown. A bridal lariat is a piece of bridal jewelry that the bride wears around her neck like a normal necklace; however; the back of the neck will have a longer dangling piece of jewelry to finish off the look. Depending upon the piece of bridal jewelry, lariats can be purchased that are adjustable, which will be a better fit for any bride with a backless dress. Another great way to show off a backless dress is a bridal jewelry choker or bridal jewelry collar with a hanging jewel embellishment in the back. Bridal chokers have become a very modern and popular choice for brides that want an edgier bridal look and feel that still embraces the classic and elegant bride.

V-Neckline Dress: A Y-drop necklace takes the same angles as the V-neckline wedding gown. Bridal chokers are also a great selection for the bride that is wearing a V-neckline dress. The choker creates a clean line and does not distract from the V-neckline style of dress. Regular simple and double strand necklaces also work nicely for this style of wedding gown, providing a simple yet elegant style that compliments a V-neckline

Square Neckline Dress: – A very traditional square-neckline wedding dress looks best with a simple single-strand or double-strand necklace. They bring contrast and attract the eye towards the cut of the dress. A jewelry choker can be the most perfect style of bridal jewelry for the square-neckline dress. The bridal choker has recently become more popular and is a favorite with many brides.

Scooped Neckline Dress: – If your bridal gown has a scooped neckline, wearing a simple one or multi-strand necklace is perfect and will frame out the top of your wedding gown perfectly. A jewelry choker is also a really nice selection for this style of dress.

Sweetheart-Neckline Dress: The sweetheart-neckline style wedding gown is accessorized nicely with a Y-drop necklace because it follows the line of the top of the wedding gown. Bridal chokers also go nicely with this style of gown, as well as pendant and simple round necklaces. The sweetheart-neckline dress is such a lovely choice, just be sure the jewelry you choose compliments that more intricate neckline.

Off-the-Shoulder Dress: Almost any style of bridal necklace works when wearing an off-the-shoulder dress. A single or double-strand necklace can frame out your entire bridal look with simplicity. A bridal choker brings the eyes up to the face to highlight your bridal look. Y-drop and lariats also work great with an off-the-shoulder dress. Depending upon how low the back of your dress is cut, a lariat can look elegant from behind when standing at the alter, and a Y-drop necklace brings focus to the bride in this style gown. It is hard to go wrong with almost any bridal necklace with this style dress.

Halter-Top Dress: The halter-top dress is a little harder to accessorize. A necklace with a dangle in the back or a lariat are perfect, drawing attention to the front and the back is important. A halter dress also looks beautifully pulled together with a Y-drop necklace or pendant style. The Y-drop necklace seems almost made for this style of wedding gown.

One-Shoulder or Asymmetric Dress: When wearing an asymmetric bridal gown, it is best to choose a great bracelet and pair of dangling earrings, as a necklace might look unbalanced. The one-shoulder bridal dress is a bold move; just wear a bold bracelet and glamorous earrings and you will look stunning.

Whatever your dress selection, choosing bridal jewelry that makes you feel gorgeous when you put it on, is your icing on the cake and can be just as important as the selection of the gown. Your bridal jewelry will be part of the bridal accessories that you cherish for a life time and may even pass on to your ancestors one day. You will probably never wear your wedding gown after the big day, but you can choose to wear your bridal jewelry whenever you want to and can be a link to your memory of that most special day in your life!