Custom wedding dresses are something that the women who like to stand out and be different want for their wedding. They can be found in specialty shops around the country, but aren’t always the easiest to find. The Internet is probably the best place to look for a unique wedding dress, as you have the whole world at your fingertips with just a couple of clicks. When you go online you will find a wide variety of custom made wedding dresses from designers all over the world. If you want to look special and unique, and not look like just about every other bride getting married the last 10 years, then you will have to start looking and probably pay a bit more than for your average wedding dress.

Start looking for your wedding dress early

As hinted upon, a wedding dress that is unique will probably cost you a good deal more than a wedding dress bought off one of the mass produced collections. That can be pretty tough on the wallet in today’s economy, but wedding dresses have never been cheap. However, if you give yourself enough time, and many wedding planning experts advise starting 12 months before the wedding, you might find a great deal for the perfect wedding gown.

Find an up and coming wedding dress designer

© dunikowski

A great way to get a great deal on a custom wedding gown is to contact an up and coming designer that has experience making wedding dresses. Many of these wedding dress designers are desperate for business, not only to pay their bills but also to build a portfolio of customers and dresses that they can use to market themselves. You can find them by searching the Internet and visiting their web sites, or by putting up an online ad on for example CraigsList. Be careful not to pay anything more than a small deposit, and only the full sum when you receive the dress and are satisfied. There are also some people selling fake designer wedding gowns made in China, so only buy from a seller that can prove their reliability and reputability from past sales.

Have a wedding dress tailored for uniqueness

© Alex

You can also buy a “normal” wedding dress and then have a tailor make changes to the dress to make it unique. If you have a certain design in mind, try to find something that looks similar and then let the tailor do the rest. This might save you several hundreds of dollars compared to having the whole dress designed from scratch.

Look offline as well

Of course, even though the online world is huge and gives you a lot of choices, that doesn’t mean you have to write off the offline options. Many women have had great success by visiting fashion colleges or art schools, posting notices on their billboards and contacting students directly. There is a lot of talent at those schools, and you will probably get a dress that is highly unique if you go this route. You can also look up wedding dress shops near you and ask for advice. Perhaps they can give you advice on a good tailor or wedding dress designer that can make the perfect, custom wedding dress for you.

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Perfect for outdoor weddings

These types of gowns are perfect for a number of different wedding settings. Many brides who want the traditional church wedding love the idea of walking down in the aisle in a soft gown like these. Other types of weddings that are perfect for wedding dresses like these include weddings that are held outdoors. Simple wedding dresses are also almost always used for couples who are planning a beach wedding. The bride does not want to worry about getting her dress ruined as she walks towards her groom or have to worry about a long train that she may trip over in the sand. By wearing a simple wedding dress she can walk gracefully and confidently to where she is going to be saying her vows.
 

Designer wedding dresses that are simple

Brides who are looking for expensive wedding dresses because they want their dress to be a memento that will be passed on generation after generation can also look into designer wedding dresses that are simple. Designers know how popular simple wedding dresses are. Many celebrities have opted for a simpler look when it comes to their own wedding.
 

Vera wang wedding dresses

One designer who is very popular amongst the stars and celebrities is Vera Wang. She has an exquisite collection of wedding dresses that are very simple but also very beautiful and elegant. One of her more popular styles include a sleeveless dress that has a slightly full skirt all the way to the floor with small, intricate detailing such as beading. Her dresses are also made out of very strong materials such as silk that not only look beautiful but wear beautiful.
 
 

J. Crew wedding dresses 

J. Crew is another designer that makes trendy wedding dresses that are kept simple and sophisticated. The J. Crew Tiered Tara gown is the perfect example of how a simple wedding dress can really make the bride look her best on her wedding day. Whether the bride to be is petite or has a fuller figure the tiered style of this dress will look stunning.
 

Qualities to look for in a simple wedding dress

For those who want to consider this type of dress for their own wedding there are a few qualities to look for when shopping for beautiful wedding dresses that are kept simple. To begin with the bride to be should avoid any dress that has a large amount of beading or rhinestones. While some beading is okay as long as it enhances the dress it can be overdone so the bride should avoid dresses like this. Another thing to avoid is extra ruffles. Some wedding dresses seem to be filled with nothing but ruffle after ruffle leaving the guests not even being able to look at the bride. A soft ruffle at the bottom is suitable but anything more than that will look busy.
 

Soft sleeves for your simple wedding dress 

Simple wedding dresses also have soft sleeves so the bride to be should avoid dresses with huge puffy sleeves. Instead she should look for a sleeveless gown or small cap sleeves. Lastly the bride should avoid extravagant dresses where it takes two bridesmaids just to hold her train. A small, slight train looks pretty but again this is another dress quality that takes attention away from the bride and put it on her dress instead.
 

The big day

On her big day the bride will want to be comfortable in knowing she has picked the right dress for her that makes her the star of her big day rather than just a girl in a big wedding gown. She can walk down the aisle confidently to say her vows knowing she looks beautiful in her simple gown. Later on as she looks back at her wedding photos she will be happy knowing she looked lovely and radiant in a dress that helped make her big day rather than take attention away from it.

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1. Wedding dresses for the beach
2. Summer Wedding Dresses
3. Beautiful Wedding Dresses Part 2

As soon as a woman is proposed to, her mind starts grinding away at the prospect of picking out the perfect wedding dress. For most women this is a highly delightful process, because they already have a specific notion of what they want. Perhaps they have kept alive a dream of the perfect dress from way back when they were children and want to realize that dream now. Others might have been to a good deal weddings through their life, read wedding magazines, or just kept an eye on photos and TV sightings of wedding, and have a pretty good clue as to what they like. That’s great, but picking out your own wedding dress, especially if you are buying an expensive wedding dress, should be given some time and consideration before going on a buying spree.
 

Wedding location and theme

As I wrote in the first article, the wedding location and theme are very important factors when choosing a wedding dress. You might find the most beautiful wedding dress made in traditional fabrics, layer upon layer, but you won’t have a wedding to remember for anything positive if you were that for as a beach wedding dress in 90F. You will simply sweat to death. That goes for the opposite too. Very short, strapless, sleeveless, summer wedding dresses, might not be the best choice for a traditional chapel wedding.

As for the theme, this is important for several reasons. Let’s say you go for a romantically themed wedding. Showing up in a simple wedding dress might not be the perfect match. Just try to have the theme in the back of your head when you go looking for a wedding dress. Or better yet, build your wedding around your dress by buying it before anything else. That way you can match the location, theme, invitations, and bride maid’s outfits, to your dress. Perfect!
 

Wedding dress styles

As a soon to be bride it can be quite an advantage to know a little about the different wedding dress styles. There are beautiful wedding dresses in every style, but you need to figure out what style fits your body the best. I didn’t touch upon this in my last article, so here is a short “rule of thumb” list matching styles to body types.
 

       A-line or Princess wedding dress: This style of dress is fitted in to the body and the dress flows out and toward the ground. The princess wedding dresses are a safe bet for just about any body type, and probably why this is the most popular wedding dress of all.
 

       Ballerina wedding dress: This style is fitted in to the body with a full, ballerina style skirt. Think Cinderella! This is the perfect wedding dress for a romantically themed wedding. The dress should fit all body types.
 

       Empire wedding dress: Has a raised waist line up just below the bust. The rest of the dress flows down to the hem. The empire wedding dress is also perfect for a romantic wedding, and fits most body types because of the non-body fitting skirt.
 

       Mermaid wedding dresses: Designed to fit the body from the chest to the knee, than flaring out around the knees. Fits particularly women with balanced hips and bust measurements, but should be avoided by women that are apple or pair shaped.
 

       Column wedding dress: Designed to follow the body curves tightly, with a narrow shape that flows straight down from the neck line to the hem. The column wedding dress really emphasizes a woman’s body forms, so this style should be avoided if you are over conscious about having fuller hips or an “uneven” outline.

 
Those are the basic wedding dress styles and a couple of pointers as to what kind of body types they fit best. Don’t misunderstand me, buy exactly the dress you want if you are comfortable in it. Just don’t buy a dress and think that you will look good in it if you only lose 10 lbs before the wedding. Buy a dress you look good in now!

This is turning out to be a very long post, so bare with me.
 

Wedding dress shopping

I guess its time to discuss buying the actual wedding dress. Beautiful wedding dresses are notoriously expensive, especially if you are going after a designer wedding dress. Not everyone can afford expensive wedding dresses, so this part is for you. If you have a “flexible” wallet and price or saving a lot of money doesn’t matter, you can skip this part.

Many women buy the most expensive dress at retail price, which is perfectly fine. However, if you are after that perfect wedding dress made by a designer, and the retail price is hovering over $5000, what are you to do? Well, one option is to look for the dress online. There are tons of wedding dress shops online that mark down new dresses to unbelievable prices. Don’t be surprised if you see a Monique Lhuillier wedding dress at 50% of retail, especially if you look for last season’s collection. The $5000 wedding dress now only costs $2500…not bad.

Mall outlets are also gold mines when it comes to finding beautiful wedding dresses that are marked down, so you might want to do some research in your local area. These outlets aren’t usually marketed like their retail “brothers” just so they don’t compete, so you might have to do some digging.
 

Wedding dress tips

That’s about it for this time, even though I know there are several topics I haven’t covered. I will have to write yet another article about this, as there are some tips you should know about, like getting your measurements taken before shopping for a wedding dress, and I also want to discuss return policies which are an important safety precaution when handing over your money.

Remember to follow your heart, as I always say, because it is your dream that should be fulfilled on your wedding day, not your mom, sister, friend’s or anyone else. You know, a beautiful wedding dress is in the eye of the beholder.

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Wedding dresses for the beach should be chosen wisely, as the nature of wedding gowns is that they are made with heavy fabric and many layers. If you want to be comfortable and avoid excessive sweating, you need to pick a dress that is specifically designed and sown for a hot wedding climate.

The materials and cut

I recommend looking for a wedding dress for the beach made from soft and light materials. Layers are ok, but they have to breathe. You don’t want a dress that goes up to you neck or down to your wrists, as with the light layers you want as much ventilation as possible. It is true that it is difficult to wear any kind of dress in 100ºF, however I can assure you that there is a big difference between almost passed out and comfortably worn.

Short wedding dresses are also a good idea for a beach wedding, as they will give your body more breathing air. You can get away with a longer dress, but then the above factors will play an even larger role. Remember to keep the layers and materials light.

Choosing a summer dress

Wedding dresses for the beach can be less formal than their chapel counterparts. These dresses are often a lot more affordable than the usual expensive wedding dresses, and do not have to come with the adornments, design details, and features as a formal gown. A halter, strapless, sleeveless, short, even a skirt, can all be perfect designs for you summer wedding dress.

Wedding dress shoes

Some brides choose to go bare foot, other prefer an elegant set of sandals or flip-flops. Remember to bring an extra pair of proper shoes if you are expecting to have a dance at the wedding party.

Beach wedding dress accessories

Though a wedding veil is optional for a wedding on the beach, there are other accessories you might consider. Flowers can give a beautiful spark to your dress, so does a hair band,  jewelry, or other simple adornments.

Bring a cardigan or shawl

If part of the beach wedding is going to be held after sunset, bring a shawl or cardigan. Summer nights can get cool, and you don’t want to catch a cold heading in to your honeymoon.

Sunglasses and sunscreen

Often overlooked, but having a wedding on the beach in the summer exposes you to the sun. This can be both irritating for the eyes and skin. Remember to bring a matching set of sunglasses, and to apply sunscreen to exposed body parts. You don’t want to wake up with a sun burn after the otherwise perfect wedding.

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Summer weddings are growing in popularity as the new generation of couples look for more romantic and unique locations to tie their knot. As a statement of proof, June is the most popular of all the months for a wedding, so you would also think that summer wedding dresses were filling up all the wedding dress stores around the country.

Traditional wedding dresses the majority

This is oddly not the case, as the traditional, formal, wedding dresses are still the majority. A rule of thumb for wedding dresses is that if it looks warm, it is warm, and when you look around a common wedding shop you would guess that most wedding were held in the winter. If you choose to hold a summer wedding it is therefore important to find a dress that is appropriate for the temperature and climate of your wedding, and stay clear of the “sauna” dresses that most boutiques sell. Looking good and feeling cool should be your ultimate goals for your summer wedding dress.

Light materials and layers

Most traditional and expensive wedding dresses are made of heavy materials, and they are simply not a good idea for a summer wedding. The heavy materials don’t breathe enough to give your body good air flow, and the chances are that you will end up in a pool of sweat. Of course, as a winter wedding dress these materials work perfectly, but when it is time to say “I do” and the temperature has just reached 80F, you don’t want your wedding gown to be liability. Avoid heavy materials or gowns that have heavy extras sown on to the dress. You should also watch out for the dresses that have several layers, which add up to making the dress more warm and sealed.

Light and cool wedding gown

What you do want to get is a dress that looks light and cool. As mentioned, the rule of thumb is that dresses that look warm ARE probably warm. The same goes for gowns that look light, as they will probably give you the “air condition” your body needs. If the dress has layers, make sure they are light and airy.

Simple wedding dresses are perfect in the hot summer. Sleeveless dresses are great, and so are dresses that do not go all the way up to the neck. A strapless dress will also do wonders when the sun is at its hottest. Although some sweating will be inevitable if you see 100F, you will thank yourself for the right wedding dress choice if you go for a gown that gives you the highest body to air ration possible without looking indecent. Not only will you avoid passing out, but you will also be able to enjoy your wedding to the fullest.

Shorter dresses

We haven’t touched upon the length of the dress yet, even though this might be one of the most important factors. Short summer wedding dresses are preferable to long traditional dresses, especially if you are getting married on the beach. On the one hand you don’t want the extra heat such a long dress will give you. On the other hand, short dresses are perfect wedding dresses for the beach because you don’t want to drag your gown through the sand and ruin it.

How short the dress should or can be is a judgment call you will have to make. If it is a more formal, summer wedding, then keep the dress below the knee. If you are getting married on the beach you will probably get more leeway and still look decent if you go for an even shorter dress. There are also summer wedding dresses with detachable skirts, that you can take on and off for the more formal parts of the wedding.  

Remember to have it cleaned after

As for all wedding gowns, getting your summer wedding dresses cleaned after the wedding might be a fantastic investment. Just think about the thought of having your own daughter wear the dress for her wedding. You might also just want to save the dress as a memory of your special day. Either way, a white dress that hasn’t been cleaned and preserved might turn yellow in time, and just forget about being able to remove stains 5 years after your wedding day.

Summer wedding tips

As some final tips, don’t forget that summer wedding dresses are not the only items that need to be tailored for a warm, summer day. You also want to remember that the sun might be shining, and if you hold the wedding outdoors you will probably want to put on a heavy sun block so that you don’t get sun burned. Bring along extra sun block for your guests is also a good idea. Sun glasses should also be brought along, so that the sun doesn’t irritate your eyes. You even might want to buy a pair that matches you summer wedding gown.

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So how do you find that perfect, beautiful wedding dress? 

Wedding theme

First you need to consider the theme and season for your wedding. Are you getting married on the beach? Is this a romantic wedding or more a formal church wedding? The theme of the wedding should definately influence your decision in what type of wedding dress you wear. A beautiful wedding dress for a winter wedding might just not be perfect for a summer wedding. 

Wedding on the beach?

Think through what kind of implications, if any, your theme, the season you are getting married in, and even where you are getting married, will have on your wedding gown. How will this influence your decision in choice of colors, style, fabric, and cut? 

Your comfort

Consider what you normally are comfortable wearing, because you might not want to step to far out of your “comfort zone” for this important day. If you like wearing short dresses, go for a short wedding dress. If long dresses are your thing, don’t pick the wedding to change this preference. Same goes for on-shoulder/off-shoulder, glamour/sober, tight/slack. The wedding is not the place to experiment to much, as you might end up having to wear something you feel real uncomfertable in. 

Whats your dream?

Many women have a particular dress that they have dreamed about, perhaps since they were a child. You might find out that the dream is only suited for a 10 year old, and that your tastes have changed. However, some of the most successful choices, and beautiful wedding dresses, have been based on such a childhood memory. 

Where to find ideas for your wedding gown

Where do you find this beautiful wedding dress you have been dreaming about? Here are some tips that will get you started: 

• Wedding and Bridal magazines
• Wedding dress galleries and web sites

Go shopping, but don't shop (yet)

Go shopping, but don’t shop (just yet)

When you have some idea of what you are looking for its time to hit the shops, not necessarilly to make the big purchase yet, but to try some wedding dresses on and get aquianted with sizes, cuts, fabric, etc. It is a good idea to try several dresses on, from the most expensive wedding dresses, to more affordable and discounted dresses. Try to take note of the differences in quality, fitting, and feel. 

Wedding dress styles and cuts

• Empire: Raised waist line up just below the bust. The rest of the dress flows down to the hem.
• A-line/Princess: Fitted in to the body, dress flows out and toward the ground.
• Mermaid/Fishtail: Designed to fit the body from the chest to the knee, then flaring out to the hem.
• Ball Gown: Fitted in the body with full skirt. Think Cinderella
• Column/Sheath: Designed to follow the body curves, with a narrow shape that flows straight down from the neck line to the hem.

Expensive wedding dress?

To buy an expensive wedding dress or a more affordable one really depends on your wedding budget, and your personal preferences. As I wrote in the article Expensive Wedding Dresses, you should really try to purchase the right dress, not the dress at the right price. That goes for both the top end and the low end. Buying a cheap dress to save a “penny” when you don’t need to, or an expensive dress just to be able to brag about the price, are really not good reasons. You want to find the perfect dress, the dress of your dreams, and money shouldn’t be the deciding factor. 

Thats about it for part 1. Here is part two of Beautiful Wedding Dresses! 

Remember to leave a comment if you have a great gold nugget of advice that should be included in part 2.

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-> Win your gown or up to 5 bridesmaid dresses at DavidsBridal.com <-
 
 

1. The Diamond Wedding Gown: $12 mill.

The world’s most expensive wedding dress goes to Renee Strauss and Martin Katz. The collaboration between these two, a wedding salon owner and jewels dealer respectively, resulted in a dress sporting 150 carats of diamonds. The dress was unveiled in 2008 and claimed the top spot from this list’s number 2.  

The Diamond Wedding Gown

2. Yumi Katsura wedding dress: $8,5 mill.

A creation of the designer Yumi Katsura of Japan, the second most expensive wedding gown is valued at $8,5 mill. It has over 1000 pearls and one of only two 5 carat white gold diamonds in the world.  

3. Peacock Feather: $1.5 mill.

With 2009 peacock feathers, representing the unveiling year of 2009, this dress is both expensive and quite pe(a)culiar.  

Peacock Feather Wedding Dress

4-10. In no particular order

- J-Lo/Affleck wedding dress: unknown value, but the designer claimed it to be the most expensive she had ever made.  

- Imperial Pearl Syndicate gown: sports 100.000 pearls and was valued at $100.000 back in the 50’s when it was made.  

- Princess Diana’s wedding dress: unknown value, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, featuring a 25 foot long train.  

- Melania Trump’s Gown: Cost unknown, Weight = 50 pounds! Get married AND work out at the same time…  

- Catherine Zeta Jones/Douglas: Wedding dress cost unknown, wedding total cost = $1.5. Probably a big chunk of that money was paid to the designer of the dress, Christian Lacroix.  

- Mauro Adami wedding dress: valued at £240.000, or around $380.000.  

- Vanisha Mittal wedding dress: Price unknown, but for the most expensive wedding in history she probably had one of the most expensive wedding dresses in world.

Is my top 10 wedding dress list missing an entry? Feel free to leave a comment below!

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3. Quality costs more

If you are looking for quality, be ready to pay a higher price. There are several reasons why the bride should go for high vs. low quality, one being that she wishes to pass the dress on to next generations.

2. Tailor made dresses are expensive

On one of the most important days of your life you really want to feel comfortable. Comfort, in the form of having your dress tailor-made for you, can be expensive.

1. Because the dress of your dreams happens to be expensive

 This is by far the most important reason to buy an expensive wedding dress. That is, if you find the gown of your needs, and it happens to be expensive, perhaps you should treat your self to this (hopefully) once in a life time expenditure.

Did I miss out on an important reason? Please leave your comment below!

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The perfect dress

The wedding dress is usually the first thing that comes to mind when a bride finds out she is getting married. Even beginning in early childhood, a certain idea of what you want is the theme of many a dreams. However, when it comes time to tie the knots, it is a good idea to think trough in detail what it is you want, what you can afford, before running off and purchasing the dress to wear on your wedding day. Those that can afford expensive wedding dresses can of course pick from the crème de la crème. But giving your self enough time to find the perfect gown is still very important.

Why expensive?

A different perspective some women have is to not buy expensive wedding dresses because of the fact that they will only use them once (even with the divorce rate today). Some don’t mind the expense, even when wearing the dress only once, as saving it gives them the memory value for the rest of their lives. Buying expensive, more affordable, or renting, these reasons are personal and every bride should set out to do what is best for her, with the means and budget that she possesses.

Don’t get caught up

A common negative trend the bride can get caught up on is the temptation to compete with her friends to buy expensive wedding dresses. It is not unusual that close friends, often getting married at the “same” time, end up trying to outdo each other. They even might find it silly, but that won’t stop them in the heat of the battle. Try not to get caught up. You should buy a expensive wedding dress for your wedding only if that is your dream. Competition can be had on other, less important, arenas. In any event, price should not be a motivation when you buy a dress. If you walk in to a store and see the perfect dress, would you walk away when you realize it is a mid-priced dress?

Quality dress for the next generation

On a side note, expensive wedding dresses are usually made of very high quality, and therefore more likely to hold the pass of time. For the bride that finds the idea of passing on their wedding dress to the next generations appealing, should consider this a good reason for buying expensive wedding dresses. If this is the case, remember to have your dress cleaned as soon as the wedding (honeymoon) is over, even go so far as have it preserved. That way the gown will be good as new, and hopefully perfect, when the time comes to pass it on.

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