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What Style of Wedding Dress Should I Look For? – Ask The Expert Answer

June 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Miriam:

I’ve read the wonderful newspaper The Secret of Dressing Your Body Type and it helped me a lot.  I’ve defined my body type which is pear because my bust is small and my hips are bigger but not very much because I’m bit skinny, but compared to my weight my hips are ok because of my pear shape.  But I’m not sure about the choices of the wedding dressed that you advised for the pear shape because I’m not annoyed with my hips that I would hide them with an empire gown for example because this is the only part that has some good meat in my body.  By the way my weight is 53 and hight is 166 cm.  i’ve always liked the full skirt gowns because they look like princesses gowns, I don’t know if they will suit my body or not??
Please give me advice which would suit me and show me shorter and fatter

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Miriam.  Although you might be slightly  “pear shaped”, from your description you have a more balanced hour-glass shape.  The descriptions are for those with pronounced shapes.  For a moment, forget everything you read about body shapes.  As stated at the end of the document, the goal you are after is for your body to look balanced in the dress or gown you are wearing.  To know whether a dress will work with you or not can only be “analysed” so much—-you need to try on dresses.  If you have a large skirt without the height, your top half might look “lost” in the dress.  A lot depends upon the cut of the dress, so you need to try them on. 

Look for dresses that make your upper and lower torso look balanced.  When you try on the right wedding dress, you will know!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Wedding Expert

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What Wedding Gown I Right For Me? – The Wedding Expert Answer

May 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Liz:

I am 5’5″ and 110 lbs. What kind of dress is right for me? I would like something strapless. I was thinking of a princess or a ball gown type dress.

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Liz, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  It is difficult to advise you without knowing your body shape.  The key element you should be looking for when choosing your wedding dress is that you should look symetrical.  Your upper and lower torso should look balanced.  Without knowing your body shape, or seeing you, I cannot advise you further.  Use your judgement when picking your gown, and if you don’t trust yourself, ask a friend or relative whose fashion sense you admire to come along with you.

If I can answer any other questions, feel free to email again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, The Wedding Expert

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The Secret of Dressing Your Body Type by Angela Fiebelkorn

February 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The Secret of Dressing Your Body Type by Angela Fiebelkorn.  This nine page document explains the basic principles of using clothing style and cut to create a balanced look to your fashion style.  You will define your body shape, and learn which style suits your particular shape. 

Whether you have an hour-glass figure, a cone shape, a ruler shape, or pear shape, you will learn to look for the right style details to create the best look for you.  You will learn the typical waistlines—empire, natural, basque, or drop waist, and which one is right for you.  Is straight skirt better than an A-line skirt for you?  Or is the ball gown skirt best? 

Filled with pictures to show each style as it is presented, this handy document is a great resource to learn the basic principles of what is best for your body type.  Using these principles will give you the knowledge and confidence to make choosing your wedding dress an easy task.

Remember, we are always available on the blog to answer your personal wedding planning questions. 

If you would like to receive this .pdf file, sign up for our SmartBrideTM Newsletter.  When you sign up, we give three bonus wedding planning tools which includes: 

  • Wedding Colour Choices Made Easy (a .pdf document),
  • The Hidden Meaning of Wedding Flowers  (a 3 part video series) and
  • The Secret of Dressing Your Body Type (another .pdf document). 

Remember, the newsletter is free, and you can cancel at any time.

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Informal Wedding Dresses Are Rich In Style

January 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
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When it comes to informal wedding dresses, you don’t have to give up style.  Designer Aflred Angelo has designed this beautiful informal wedding dress created for the true romantic. 

With net-over-satin with Schiffli lace, crystal beading and pearls, this floor-length wedding gown is stunning.  It features a scooped neckline with spaghettie straps, and a sheer back yoke trimmed with lace and covered with buttons.  This wedding gown is in a princess line style with a slim fit, flared skirt, and a scalloped lace hemline.

This beautiful wedding gown comes in white and ivory colours, and ranges from size 2 to size 28W.  This classic princess line style is perfect for all body types, and the two colours of white and ivory will suit any skin colour and tone. 

Your wedding may be informal, but you have a lot of gorgeous choices in informal wedding dresses.  Informal weddings are full of warmth, family and friends enjoying a special moment in your life.

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The Perfect Destination Wedding Dress

January 4, 2009 By 3 Comments
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You are planning a destination wedding, and want the perfect destination wedding dress.  Your wedding plan allows you the beach wedding you always dreamed of AND the beautiful wedding dress that you have always envisioned.  With all the details of your wedding plans, finalizing the wedding dress is first and foremost in your mind–and this dress is the perfect solution.

This dazzling wedding dress is for the true romantic, and is part of the Alfred Angelo bridal colleciton.  This classic princess silhouette of re-embroidered lace over net creates a beautiful strapless gown.  The detail is dazzling with it’s pearl and crystal beading throughout the dress.  The dropped waist and high-low hemline is perfect for your beach wedding and lets you show off your perfect bridal shoes. 

This lace wedding gown comes in size 2 thru to size 28W, in both white and ivory, and comes with a removable satin skirt.  Imagine yourself on the beach in this classic dress, marrying the man of your dreams.

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Buying A Wedding Dress – Money Saving Tips

December 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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Wedding apparel takes approximately 7% of your wedding budget—sometimes more.  Here are some ways to save money on your wedding apparel. 

Money Saving Tip #1 – buy your wedding dress through the mail, on-line, or from a discount house.  These companies have smaller overhead costs, and can offer you the same dress for up to 20% to 30% less. 

Money Saving Tip #2 – In a word–”haggle”.  Ask for a better price.  If you have another quote from a discount house, quote them the price and see if they will match it for you.  Sometimes bridal salons have a “no frills” package at a lower price, but you will often have to forego the free gown bag, free pressing, and any other services they might normally include.  If you are a perfect size 10, and don’t need alternations, haggle for a better price. 

Money Saving Tip #3 – Rent your gown and accessories.  This will give you a big cost savings, and no one will ever know.  Many grooms and groomsmen rent their tuxedos, so why not rent your wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses?  You will be surprised at the cost savings, and you can often rent a more flamboyant, elegant, pricier wedding dress than what you could afford to purchase. 

Money Saving Tip #4 – Buy a “sample gown” that the bridal shops use for brides to try on.  These gowns are in perfect shape, but often come down in price, especially if the dress is no longer being carried by the shop.  Ask at your bridal salon if they have any of these because they are often glad to sell the dress and are willing to do so at a discount.

Money Saving Tip #5 – Purchase a used dress.  You can find beautiful, expensive wedding gowns, worn only once, at consignment shops, in newspaper ads, or even garage sales.  Sometimes bridal salons take gowns on consignment, so ask if they have any in their store.

Money Saving Tip #6 – If you are planning on spending a lot of money on your wedding dress, you might consider custom designing and having a seamstress/tailor make it for you.  If you are a sewer, you might consider making it yourself. 

Money Saving Tip #7 – Some bridesmaid dresses are just as elaborate as a wedding dress, but come at a fraction of the price.  You will have to add the bridal veil, headpiece, gloves, etc., but the cost will still be less than a wedding dress package.  You will be surprised at some of the beautiful options you have if you explore this money saving tip.

Money Saving Tip #8 – Have a seamstress re-work your mother’s wedding dress, or maybe the wedding dress of a friend or relative.  The problem often comes with what to do with the wedding dress after the wedding, so others may be happy to let the wedding gown go to you.

Money Saving Tip #9 – If you love the vintage look, you might be surprised at what you can find at a vintage clothings store—including authentic wedding dresses from another time. 

Money Saving Tips #10 – Hire a student clothing designer.  If you have a clothing design school nearby, inquire to see if any of the students are interested in creating your wedding dress.  You can get a custom designed dress for much less than your local bridal salon.

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What Colour Should My Wedding Gown Be?

November 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment
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Choosing a colour for a wedding gown is a very personal thing, and many colours are available for bride’s to choose from.  For many centuries, brides were married in the nicest clothes they owned.  Often they made their own wedding dress or gown from the nicest fabric they could afford to purchase.  The key element of the wedding ensemble was not the dress, but the fact that the bride was allowed to wear her hair loose on her wedding day.  The tradition and practicality of wearing one’s hair tied back in a ponytail or braid was commonplace in everyday life, and the wedding day was the day to wear the hair loose. 

 

In Roman times, wedding gowns were yellow in colour and they wore a yellow veil that covered them from head to toe.  Other cultures have specific colours or embroidered costumes that they wore as their wedding dress—like the colour red worn in many parts of Asia.  European and British ancestors often wore pale pink, yellow or blue dresses. 

 

Traditionally, marriages were for political or social gain, and it was important to have the best wedding gown possible to show off the family status.  They tended to be the height of fashion, with the richest fabrics, and the boldest colours to make a statement.  Yards and yards of the finest materials—damask silk or velvet—and trimmed with furs, and gems were commonplace.  Those of the lower classes would emulate the higher classes by having a bit of rabbit fur to trim their dress, or by having long sleeves and thereby using more fabric. 

 

During the 17th century, wedding dresses became more brightly coloured and had more pattern to them.  Blue was a popular colour for many brides because in paintings, the Virgin Mary’s robe was always blue, and blue denotes constancy.  Traditionally, black, purple, and green were avoided because they were either mourning colours or considered unlucky. 

 

In the 18th century, for example, one description of a Quaker bride’s dress was a light blue brocade dress with matching high heeled shoes, a short blue bodice, a white satin stomacher embroidered in multicoloured threads, and a black hood lined with white silk.  The groom was dressed in a peach coloured cloth lined with quilted white silk. 

 

Wedding dresses and gowns tend to follow the latest styles, and in the early 1900’s, all wedding dresses were dresses—knee length in front, and a longer in the back.  It wasn’t until the 1940’s, that wedding dresses started to become wedding gowns, and the trend to full length dresses has continued to this day.

 

For a number of centuries, royalty in Britain wore silver.  Over time, the silver royal gowns were trimmed with white.  Queen Victoria changed this tradition by being married in a white wedding gown.  This started a trend of white wedding gowns that is still alive today. 

 

The tradition of wearing a silver wedding gown for so many centuries has continued in the tradition of wearing silver jewellery, and having silver handbags, and shoes with the white gown.  Silver and cream coloured wedding gowns are still traditional along with the more popular white wedding gown.

 

As we move into the 21st century, the traditional “white wedding” is slowly making way for more colour in the gowns the brides are choosing.    The length of wedding dresses has also changed in the last number of years.  With destination weddings becoming more and more popular, shorter wedding gowns are practical for beach wedding ceremonies, and we are seeing a resurgence in popularity for the shorter wedding dress. 

 

Today, brides are free to choose any style or colour of wedding dress they desire.  Some weddings are themed medieval or renaissance, and the dresses match the theme.  Some weddings are very modern, and the wedding dresses reflect that haute couture styling.  Those who grew up with and love the Disney influence in our culture, often opt for the ‘fairytale princess’ theme and their wedding gown and wedding decorations reflect that theme. 

 

No matter what colour you choose for your wedding gown, wear it with pride and style.  Plan your wedding to reflect your personal style, your taste, and your personality.   Whether you love tradition, or love the modern, there is the perfect wedding gown out there for you, and in the perfect colour. 

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