10 Things to know before you choose your Wedding Dress
Every girl wants to look like a princess on her wedding day. She wants the best of everything to make her dream wedding come true. The best of jewelry, the most amazing venue, the loveliest pair of shoes and the most awesome Wedding dress ever worn by a bride. But many a times she realizes, that the dress she earlier thought was perfect, was not perfect for HER after all. And this realization comes on her Wedding Day! Or much later when she is going through her wedding album.. :/
No, No, don't panic..coz there is absolutely nothing you can't do with some careful thinking and planning. You ABSOLUTELY can find 'your dress' and look sensational in it. :D The trick is to research well, be informed and never EVER buy something just because it looked good on someone else (who most often is a runway model).
To make it simpler for you Brides-to-be, I've jotted down some points which you should consider before you finalize your dress.
1. RESEARCH: It is always good to research before you go out for dress-hunting. Know the latest styles in fashion, kind of embroidery you like, the colors that are in etc. so that you don't feel lost when you enter the bridal shop. The best way to familiarize yourself with the latest trends is by going through the latest collections by famous designers, even if you can't afford their stuff, it will give you all that is to know about the season trends.
2. KNOW YOUR BODY SHAPE: Choose a dress that suits your body shape. A dress which looks good on a model will not necessarily look good on you just because your body shape might be different from hers. eg a Fish-tail lehenga or a mermaid lehenga looks awesome on a petite or an hourglass figure but should be avoided by someone with pear shape at all costs since it draws more focus on the already broad hips. Will write a post soon on choosing a lehenga based on body shape. :)
3. SKIN TONE: Always choose a color that complements your skin tone instead of making you look dull or washed out. As a bride, you will be glowing on your wedding day. Let that glow be reflected in your dress too. eg. Most colors look good on fairer skin tones, but very light shades like cream, and baby pink should be avoided as they tend to make your face look bland (although with the right makeup and accessories this problem can be overcome), most colors look fab on medium skin tones too, but choose rich colors(I like to call them 'Royal color') if you have a wheatish to darker tone.
4. COMFORT: As a bride, you are expected to sit through all kinds of rituals and ceremonies, it is therefore advisable to choose something that you'll be comfortable in. You might say, that you'll manage somehow, NOW, but your ease and comfort will definitely show in your wedding photographs. For wedding receptions where you are expected to stand forever and greet your guests, it's always wise to choose a dress with lighter dupatta( and never pinned on top of your head. Heavy dupatta pulls the head backwards and is toooo uncomfortable)
5. GROOM'S DRESS: It is always good to keep your dresses color coordinated. You look good together and your wedding pics look good too. Imagine a situation where you chose a pink lehenga and the groom arrives in an orange sherwani...(shudders.....)....
6. WEDDING THEME: If you have planned a themed wedding, buy a dress that goes with a theme. While a panel lehenga, or full ghera lehenga will look exquisite for a 'Rajasthan' themed wedding, you will look really out of place if the theme is 'Arabian'.
7. THEME COLOR: If the wedding is color themed then choose your color such that it goes with the theme, while not completely blending into the surroundings. As a bride, you should definitely DEFINITELY stand out but harmoniously. eg. If the theme is 'gold' then you can choose something in red with rich gold embroidery.
8. DAY/NIGHT WEDDING: Many parts of India have night wedding and yet others have day ceremonies. Choose your color accordingly. (Some parts photograph well in day light but not too well in the night..remember this...)
9. PRICE: Don't buy something just because it is expensive and designer, buy it because you love it. While you want to buy the best of the best dress, spending too much for something you'll never ever wear again is really not wise. Decide a budget for your dress which will not hamper your other plans.
10. TIME TO GET THE DRESS READY: Depending on the time of the year, type of dress and embroidery etc, it can take between a few days to a few months to get your dress ready. You might also want a fitting session and trial so that there are no glitches on the day of the wedding. So always keep the time factor into consideration.
Well...these were some pointers to take some worries off your shoulder and choose THAT PERFECT DRESS for you... :) :D
