Buying Your Wedding Dress

Buying your wedding gown is an emotional purchase.  You've dreamed of your gown and the moment has arrived.  What to do? We will take the mystery out of buying your gown so you will feel as comfortable buying your gown on Ebay as you would in our bridal salon.

Let me introduce myself.  I am "Bridalgownz".  I 've owned a full service bridal salon since 1977.  I am the daughter of a dress designer so I was raised on fabric, fit and design.  I spent a lot of my childhood watching my mother make patterns, design gowns and teaching me all about fabrics, laces and sewing.  I attend all the major bridal makets, am aquainted with the owners of the major bridal gown companies and have met many of the gown designers personally.   I've spent 28 years selling bridal gowns

Choosing your style! 

How will it look on me? When you look at photos in the magazines, remember that these are professional models photographed and lit and made up by a professional photographer and fashion stylist.  They are pinned, padded, uplifted, fluffed, enhanced and airbrushed for the photo. They are also very tall and willowy. You won't look like the photo in that gown because its all smoke and mirrors.

Your goal is simple:  To find the look that compliments your figure.  You don't have to be tiny, there are stunning plus size gowns that will make you look dazzling!  Keep an open mind!  You may be pleasantly surprized!

Formality of your wedding will help you narrow your choices of style.The old rules of time of ceremony are not as important nowdays, location pretty much will determine your style.

Silhouettes

Silhouette is important. The right silhouette will make you look slimmer, enhance your figure and in some cases, make you look taller.

• The A-line silhouette looks good on any figure type.  It takes pounds off  like magic.  
• Empire waist looks good on small busted women, larger busted women should avoid this as they will look top heavy.
• The side draped waist is perfect if you want your waist to look smaller and hide your tummy.  The split front gown will also hide a tummy. 
• Side draped skirts will make your hips look wider and shorter if the drape ends at the hipline. 
• Mermaid gowns are perfect if you are built in proportion, that is bust and hips.  If you are hippy, avoid the mermaid. 
• Sheath gowns are straight gowns.  Use the same tips as mermaid.
• Ballgowns are full skirts/  If the gown has a basque waistline (the V waistline),you will look like you have a very small waistline.   This gown hides the hips. Ballgowns can also have box pleats in the skirt.
• Princess seaming ,see A-line.

Necklines

Necklines frame your face.  If you are large busted, consider whether the neckline will cover a bra.  If you are very large busted, sewn in bra cups will not support you properly.  Some gowns have built in bras. The majority don't and you will need to keep in mind whether or not you'll need a bra.  If you need a bra, purchase the best fitting bra you can afford. You won't regret it.

• Most strapless gowns come with optional spaghetti straps.  Some hook on, some snap on and some need to be sewn on.  Strapless necklines can be straight across, this is a good look if you are large busted. 
• Halter is a very flattering look if you are large busted or plus size.  The halter straps are at an angle and it slims the shoulder line.  
• Spaghetti straps are generally strapless gowns with straps.  Most people can wear spaghetti strap.
• Tank or scooped neckline.   This is a good solution if you have to hide bra straps. 
• Sweetheart is a dipped neckline, it looks like a heart.  It is flattering to most people. 
• V neckline can be sexy and sweet.  They look good on everyone and can hide bra straps. 

Trains

Trains are either attached or detachable.  If your gown has a train, you will need to have a seamstress bustle your train. Gowns don't come bustled as the bustle depends on your height. If you choose a royal cathedral train, your best bet is to have a detachable train or you will be carrying the weight of the train on your back. 

Color

Forget everything you have been told about color in the past.  Not so long ago, you wore white to denote purity, ivory if you were previously married.  Today there are NO rules.  You wear the color that makes you look radiant and makes you happy!

    FIT 

Wedding dresses do not fit like our regular clothing.  They are designed to fit the body.  Our regular clothing has "easing",  the extra fabric that gives us room to move and wiggle around.  Wedding dresses don't have easing.  They run smaller than our regular clothing.  That is why it is very important to pay attention to measurements rather than size. 

Size is an arbitrary number and it will vary acording to manufacturer.  Each company uses their own size chart. 98% of the brides will not fit the size chart.  All gowns will need some form of alterations. It's easier to take in a gown than to let it out. When you are in doubt if the gown will fit you, by all means ask!  Don't assume your size, get professional help so you don't have to pay for unnecessary alterations.

How to measure:  The most important measurments are the bust, waist and hip measurement.  If you are nervous about taking your measurements, have a professional take them.

Take a tape measure and measure your bust with a good fitting bra. The bust measurement is the fullest part of the bust line.  It is NOT your bra size.  Relax when you get to the waist, don't suck in or your gown won't fit!  The hip is generally 8 inches below your waist at the fullest part.   If you are 5'7" tall with a heel or 5'9" tall with a small heel, the length will probably be perfect.  Gown length will vary with your choice of heel height and crinoline fullness. 

In my Ebay listings, I give you the waist to hem measurement.   If the measurment says 45", take the tape measure and put the 45" at your waistline.  Let the tape drop to the floor, using the 1" measurement as the part dropping to the floor.   This will tell you the length of the gown.  If you have 3" on the floor and you are barefoot, a 2 1/2" heel and a crinoline will make the length perfect.  If you have 4 or more inches on the floor, you'll have to have the gown hemmed.    

Not all gowns are created equal.....

There is a huge difference is quality and cut on bridal gowns.  Most major bridal gown manufacturers have a good cut and good quality.  But the quality DOES matter when you buy a gown.  An inferior quality gown will look and cheap on your wedding day as the day progresses.  Inferior quality gowns will wrinkle.  There is also a big difference is gowns mass produced for big box stores and those made especially for the bridal industry.   The cut is different.  The fit is different.  A bad cut is a bad cut and the best seamstress in the world can't correct it.  The inside construction of the gown is the foundation for the gown.  If the foundation isn't there the fit won't be as good.

OK, you say...but I'm only going to wear it once...but you'll look wrinkled in your pictures that you will have forever!!

There are great gowns on sale on Ebay.  I sell my overstock and  discontinued styles on Ebay.  These are great deals.  You are buying a name brand gown below my wholesale cost.

Be careful when buying directly from an importer. Many replicas, copies and duplicates are similar to the original, but may not be cut to fit American women.  Some duplicates are made by major bridal manufacturers, some are directly imported and not sold in stores.  Check the feedback of the seller and don't be afraid to ask the seller questions. 

And while you are shopping,  please check out my Ebay store, Bridalgownz and Formals,  http://stores.ebay.com/Bridalgownz-And-Formals_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm.