How to find the Perfect Wedding Dress! By Tara King

You have read all the magazines and could probably guess the designer of a gown by just looking at its shape. Thoughts of sweetheart necklines and fishtail silhouettes have been consuming you, and that little notebook where you initially kept cut-outs of your favourite dresses has since been discarded in favour of a larger encyclopaedic-style scrapbook.
While all such research will undoubtedly help, there remains absolutely no substitute for visiting the bridal boutiques and actively trying on the various different gowns to help you determine which style will best suit your shape.
To help you whittle down your search however, I have listed a brief summary of the most common dress styles and the various shapes they flatter best. Beneath that you will find a variety of useful tips to help you with sourcing ‘the dress’, as well as areas such as saving money on your gown, negotiating the best deal, vintage gowns, and dressing to suit your shape!

This style of dress is quite straight and fitted from the shoulders down. It would best suit a woman of a tall slim frame. Avoid this style however if you are looking to add some definition to your shape.

A typical A-line/princess dress has a fitted bodice but flows out from the waist. This style flatters every shape and is quite possibly one of the most popular cuts for a wedding gown.

This type of dress is best described as being very fitted from the chest to knee, at which point it flows out to the ground.
While this is a beautiful style of dress, it can be quite restricting. Bear in mind that a bride is on her feet quite a bit throughout the day so if you are thinking of wearing one, ask yourself the following: Will the dress be uncomfortable to dance in? Will it be a hindrance when you are moving through the room greeting your guests? If the weather is quite hot, will the tight fit of this dress make you feel quite clammy?

This is quite fitted in the upper body with a very full skirt from the waist down. Avoid this style if you are small in stature otherwise the dress will overwhelm your shape rather than flatter it. If you want ‘the big white dress’, then look at A-line/princess styles.

An empire style dress has a raised waist line that sits below the bust.
This style of dress should be avoided if you have a big bust as they will not flatter your figure. In fact, if you are quite short in stature, an empire waist will add to the illusion of height.

When shopping …
When you find your dream dress, take down the relevant information such as the name of the designer and the serial number. Search for the dress online and see if there are stockists who are selling it at a cheaper price. If you don’t shop around, it may cost you dearly.

You will always find the dress of your dreams so don’t panic if your search is not yielding results straight away. If you can’t find ‘the one’ in the bridal shops, then hire a skilled seamstress to make it for you. If you have a specific vision of a dress in mind, rest assured that there is always a way of making it a reality. If however you are stuck for inspiration, google the gowns worn by celebrities at Hollywood awards ceremonies such as The Oscars, The Golden Globes, etc. Now imagine these same dresses in white/champagne/etc, and ask yourself if any of them would work as a template for a wedding gown?

If you want a gown that is traditional for the church but modern for the reception, look for one that has detachable sleeves, etc. Sometimes a high neckline (such as a halter neck) can also be detached to transform it into a strapless gown.

If you are searching for a vintage style wedding dress, then it might be worth your while googling The Vintage Wedding Dress Company. There are also several shops that specialise in vintage wedding gowns. These include The White Room (Mullingar), Dirty Fabulous (Wicklow Street, Dublin), After Sybil (Blackrock, County Louth), Oxfam Vintage (Georges Street, Dublin), The Goddess Room, (Greystones, Wicklow), Enchanted (Benbulben Centre, Rathcormac, Sligo) Harlequin, (13 Castle Market, Dublin)

Know your budget and stick to it. You will only be wearing this dress for one day so don’t obsess over labels. No one will know if it’s not designer.
When you meet with the sales assistant, let them know your price range. If they continue showing you items that are out of your range, go elsewhere.

When you find a dress that you absolutely love, don’t get over-excited in front of the salesperson. This will hamper your chances of negotiating a good deal.

Should you decide to buy your dress online, then make sure you know your exact measurements and don’t forget to check the website of the designer you are buying from. This will give you peace of mind that they are a genuine seller.

If you are quite short in stature and would like to appear taller, then look for a dress with a ‘drop waist’ – this is waistline that falls 4-5 inches below your natural waistline and will create the illusion of height. E.g mermaid style dress.

If you are small-busted but would like to wear a gown with a strapless neckline then you need to look for a dress with discreet padding along the bust area.

Don’t feel limited to wearing white on your wedding day. Try on shades such as champagne, ivory and gold as these may be far more flattering against your skin tone.

When you do find your dress, do not collect it until the week before the wedding. If you bring your dress home with you months before the wedding, you will keep looking at it and trying it on and before you know it, you’re bored with it. I have heard stories about brides who became fed up with their dresses because they collected them too soon and kept trying them on. As a result they ended up buying new gowns! One wedding dress is costly enough with the added expense of a second one!

Don’t forget to think about the jewellery that will best suit your shade of gown. Diamante is beautiful with a white dress, while pearls are stunning with an ivory dress. Simplicity is the key to wedding beauty. If you are wearing a diamante tiara, then avoid wearing a blingy necklace and earrings. Have one key piece but make sure your other pieces are toned down considerably.

Lastly, never ever buy a dress in a smaller size in the assumption that you will “fit into it on the day”. Buy it in your normal size and if you lose weight over the following few months, then simply have it altered.