Belladonna Bridal Gowns

There are so many superstitions associated with bridal style.

For instance, some say the tradition of a wedding veil stems from the days when it was used to protect the bride from evil spirits. Others say it comes from the tradition associated with arranged marriages whereby the bride’s face was covered until after the ceremony so as to prevent the groom from backing out if he didn’t like the way she looked! Even the earrings you wear on your wedding day are said to have superstition attached in that they will bring you luck and happiness for the rest of your life. Today, fortunately, the emphasis of our choice is based more on style than superstition! If you’re on the search for a bridal gown, you will be pleased to hear that The Claregalway Hotel has compiled for your perusal some of the trendiest bridal looks from one of the city’s many bridal boutiques, ‘Belladonna’.

If you like tailored styles but don’t necessarily want a dress as fitted as a fishtail gown, then perhaps a subtle column/sheath dress, such as the one featured in the picture, is the kind of gown you should be aiming for. That said, I strongly recommend you try on all styles, even the ones you think you won’t like. All too often, brides-to-be end up falling in love with the kind of dress they initially assumed they would hate. You can’t accurately judge a wedding gown when it’s on the hanger, so keep an open mind and try it on. Remember, comfort must be a priority when it comes to your wedding gown. When you fit on each dress, try moving, sitting, and hugging, and see if you can do these with ease. The dress should not restrict you in any way. It may sound daft, but wave your arms above you to make sure the shoulders and sleeves aren’t irritating your underarms.

This dress featured is from the Novia D’art collection, a brand of which Belladonna are the only stockists of in Galway.

This stunning A-line gown, from the Franc Sarabia collection, is perfect for brides in search of their fairytale dress (but without the meringue factor.) Best of all, if you have a slim waist, this style of dress will highlight it beautifully. Furthermore, the Grecian style feature on the shoulder is ideal for disguising a fuller bust, so if it’s something you’re conscious of, then I would recommend you try on dresses with this type of embellishment.

If you are just beginning your dress search, it can be quite daunting when you suddenly find yourself faced with rails of gowns for the first time. If you’re unsure as to which style will best suit your figure, go with A-line first. The A-Line cut is suited to almost every shape. The diamante/lace dress pictured is from the Fara Sposa Bridal Collection. Belladonna is the only boutique in Galway (and just one of nine in the country) to stock the Fara Sposa Bridal range.

Knee-length wedding dresses, like this particular number from the Charlotte Balbier collection, are becoming increasingly popular each year. Now that the law has been freed up to allow ceremonies take place in public places, sometimes a shorter gown is more suitable for the setting. Given the level of detail on this dress, I would recommend that you pair it with plain satin shoes. Following the reception, you could change into silk pumps.

If you like a touch of Grecian detail, then you will love the sweeping effect on this Novia D’art dress. Given the detail on the dress, I would recommend you opt for a plain veil. When you are trying on gowns, always spare a thought for the kind of jewellery that will best suit the shade and style of the gown in question. Simplicity is the key to wedding beauty so if, for example, you are wearing a diamond tiara, then avoid wearing a diamond necklace and earrings. Have one key piece but make sure your other pieces are toned down considerably. In this particular case, the key piece is the diamante detail on the dress so try not to overshadow it with too many accessories.

**Tip: Don’t forget about the post-wedding care of your dress. I would suggest that you have your dress vacuum packed as it is the best way to preserve the material and colour. Another option is to wrap the dress in acid-free paper and store it in museum-quality boxes.

Its not easy to carry off the fishtail look, but if you’re a fan of this style, then give careful consideration to a couple of factors before you set your heart on it. Firstly, while the nature of a fishtail gown is to be quite fitted, its very important to ensure that you allow for some breathing room otherwise it will become extremely uncomfortable as the day progresses. Remember, the bride and groom are on their feet quite a lot. From posing for photographs, to greeting guests, to dancing, it is essential that you are able to move with ease. Ask yourself honestly, will a fishtail gown restrict you?

Secondly, if you are having a summer wedding and you’re blessed with a hot day, you may end up feeling quite clammy in such a tight fitting dress. Bear this in mind.

The two fishtail gowns featured are at the very fitted end of the dress scale. The first one, which looks so similar to the wedding dress worn by Eva Longoria, is from the Franc Sarabia collection, while the second gown is from the Novia D’art range.

The two gowns pictured here are perfect for the bride in search of a subtle fishtail style without the restriction of a tight fit. If you opt for a strapless gown, your tan will need to be absolutely perfect. This is why it’s a good idea to have it applied three days before your wedding. That way, you are giving yourself ample time to correct any mistakes or to have a top-up if necessary. The first gown you see here is from the Pronovias collection while the second is from the Venus range.

Lace was always popular when it came to wedding gowns, however thanks to the influence of a certain royal bride last year, its impact has increased significantly. If you liked the elegance of Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton’s wedding dresses and would like a similar effect for your own, then these two gowns may be to your liking. The first is from the Franc Sarabia Collection while the second dress is featured as part of the Fara Sposa Bridal range.

This fabulous dress, from the Pronovias Collection, is the epitomy of a fairytale wedding gown. A dress like this will be quite heavy so ensure that your shoes are comfortable. In other words, forget high heels. (Don’t forget to wear your shoes around the house a week before the wedding so as to help you get used to them and break them in.)

As you can see, the lower half of the dress is quite full and would not be suited to a petite frame.

*** TIP: When I interviewed Ireland’s leading wedding planner, Tara Fay, for Lisa Fitzpatrick’s book ‘Enjoying Style & Fashion’ back in 2010, one of her top tips for brides was ‘budgeting’. Decide on what you can afford and stick to it. There is no hard and fast rule as to how much you should spend on your dress and accessories, however some experts say a good guideline to follow is approximately 5.5% of the total wedding budget.

Here’s another elegant hit from the Pronovias range. This beautiful number is actually quite similar to the Monique L’Heullier wedding gown worn by Andrea Roche. There’s quite a lot of delicate lace detail to this dress so be extremely careful not to snag the material on your bracelet. (Charm bracelet’s in particular are big culprits for this.)

Fara Sposa Bridal’s knee-length prom-style gown is perfect for a summer wedding. In fact, this would be quite a good choice of gown if you’re eloping to a hot climate to get wed. In terms of footwear, I would suggest recommend that you remain inkeeping with the feminine style of the dress and opt for satin sandals. The bridal shoes featured here for instance (also available from Belladonna) really complete the look.

This Franc Sarabia gown is the perfect example of balanced detail.

A plain dress with a lace-embellished veil is a timeless look and is perfect for a bride of any age. The detail on the midriff, you will notice, also adds to the elegance of this look.

Brides getting married for the second time tend to stress over the most appropriate gown to wear. There are no rules as to the kind of gown you have to wear in such situations. In fact I would personally recommend that you wear whatever dress you love most, regardless of how embellished or full it is. If, however, you’re after subtle understated elegance, then this champagne Franc Sarabia gown may be just what you’re looking for.

***Tip: Do not collect your dress until the week before the wedding. If you bring the dress home with you months before the wedding, you will keep looking at it and trying it on. Before you know it, you’ll be bored by it.

This particular gown, from the Novia D’art collection, is structured enough to highlight your figure, but not enough to cause discomfort. A popular trend amongst brides lately is to look for a dress that they can reuse following their big day. This is certainly the kind of dress that you can upcycle from a wedding gown to a formal one. A good seamstress will be able to remove the train, and it would not be difficult to either dye it yourself or have it professionally dyed for you. I would recommend going for black, crimson or navy.

If you don’t like bare shoulders, or if like a lot of us, you are conscious of your upper arms, then this dress from the Amanda Wyatt collection is the kind of style that will be best suited to you. The sheer lace cape-detail on the shoulders will detract attention away the areas you are most conscious of, while at the same time, maintaining the femininity of the gown.

If you like halter neck wedding gowns, such as this Franc Sarabia number, then make sure you bring a strapless bra with you when you go to try on. That way, you can accurately determine whether or not the halter neck style is suitable to your shape and if it will offer the necessary level of comfort and support on the day. Keep in mind that halter neck dresses focus on the upper half of the body, including the shoulder, bust and face, so if you have large hips or thighs, then this style will disguise such problem areas. Given the emphasis the halter neck places on the upper half, it is not the most suitable style for fuller busted brides.

**Tip: When you try on a full dress, pay attention to its weight and/or beading and ask yourself if wearing such weight will leave you feeling exhausted before you have even cut the cake.

This gown, from the Franc Sarabia collection, is one of my favourites. Just remember, whenever you are trying on a dress that requires height to show off its shape, ask yourself if you will need to wear a heel higher than what you are comfortable with. It may be an age old cliché, but there’s a lot of truth in the saying ‘Failing to prepare is preparing to fail’.

This dress is perfect for the bride that wants something simple but elegant. If you’re worried you may trip on the skirt, you may have to have it shortened slightly. However before you take any drastic measures, discuss with your seamstress if it will change the shape of the dress in any way. This dress, from the Venus collection, also has a matching bolero.

I love the detail on the back of this gown. All too often brides pay little attention to the back of their dress, however what they forget is that the back of the gown is precisely what their church full of guests will be looking at throughout the ceremony.

This dress from the Venus collection, is the perfect example of a gown that will generate admiration from a crowd even when the bride has her back turned to them.

This Charlotte Balbier gown is quite traditional in style. The raised neckline and fitted corset is a nice contrast to the free-flowing lower half of the dress. Don’t feel limited to wearing white or cream on your wedding day. Try on champagne, ivory and gold wedding gowns as they may be far more flattering against your skin tone.