SPECIAL REPORT PROVIDED BY: REFLECTIONS BRIDAL 4 Tips on Choosing the Fabric and Color of Your Wedding Dress by Joy Salyards T he same dress style can look and feel quite different in a different color or fabric. In the search for your wedding gown, you’ll want to try on several different dresses so you can find the perfect fabric and the most flattering color to match your complexion. Here are four tips to consider when shopping for the gown of your dreams with particular emphasis on fabrics and color. 1. Consider the overall feel that The fabric of a wedding gown is the Organza is primarily used for layering you want your gown to create at basis for its overall look and feel and and overlays on skirts. your wedding. will influence cost more than any other • Satin is a smooth weave fabric that has Your dress will set the tone and theme of single thing. Here are some of the more the entire wedding more than any other common fabrics that you will have a sheen or lustrous gloss on one side. It single thing. What do you see when you to choose from as you search for the is typically made from acetate, poly, silk, close your eyes and imagine your wedding “perfect gown:” or other manmade fibers. The majority day? Are you going to be walking down of wedding gowns today are made from an aisle, getting married outside or uttering •C hiffon is a thin, transparent fabric that your vows by the soft glow of candlelight? can be made out of nylon, poly, silk, or gowns will be constructed from Italian How do you want the fabric to drape rayon. It drapes very nicely and has a matte satin, duchesse satin, or silk satin. across your figure? Do you want the fabric soft, romantic feel to it. It is much lighter to shine or shimmer? If you’re not sure, try than the other fabrics and is a great on several types of fabrics so you can find overlay on satin dresses or skirts. out what you like best. some kind of satin. More expensive • Tulle is a machine made crisp, nettinglike material that is used for veils, ball gown skirts, and underskirts. It is what • Organza is a sheer fabric that is crisper makes dresses ‘pouf’ out. Most brides and heavier than chiffon. It shines and either love tulle or they hate it. You’ll and find out what complements shimmers in the light and can make the have to try it on for yourself to find out your figure and taste. dress “light up” in your bridal portraits. how you feel about it. 2. Try on several different fabrics Chiffon Organza 2 | reflectionsva.com Satin Tulle Taffeta Silk Other materials from which dresses are in the details. Many off white, ivory or are trying to create at your wedding. made include a myriad of fabrics such rum pink/champagne colored dresses Knowing the types of textured materials as charmeuse (smooth, semi-lustrous may be the perfect way to complement that are available can help you look for soft weave fabric that is similar to satin your complexion. Fairer skin tones look and create a special look for your dress. but lighter in weight), duchesse satin better in ivory or creamier tones since You will want to try on a variety of gowns (smooth, glossy, lustrous weave fabric), they often have a softer look against your to help you find what you like best as damask (fabric with interwoven floral skin in comparison with the stark contrast you bring “the perfect gown” into closer or geometrical designs), dupioni silk you may find with whiter fabrics. Many focus. As you decide on your gown, trust (silk fabric that is similar to shantung but bridal stores will have the same dress your own instincts. Ask yourself these has coarses fibers and glossy sheen), style in either white or ivory and may three questions of the final dresses you georgette (sheer fabric that has a have the dress with colors that are hand are seriously considering: 1) Which dress crepelike texture), shantung (similar to painted or woven into the fabric so you do I feel the prettiest in?; 2) which dress raw silk yet has a distinct nubby texture can get a sense for what you like best. accentuates my best feature?; and 3) due to thick and thin threads and is Although having color in your gown may Which dress most fits my personality or lighter and more fine than dupioni), seem pretty fashion forward, consider style? Try on each gown and go through taffeta (stiff, crisp fabric that has a dull that the colors on your gown can tie in this process until you have eliminated finish or sheen) and velvet (plush and corresponding colors for your reception all of the dresses to the final one. Once thick weave felted on one side and plain or bridesmaid dresses. you’ve found a gown that is everything on the other which is often embossed or patterned and is most often used as an accent - such as a sash). you’ve imagined, smile and relax--you’ve 4. Don’t get so caught up in all the details that you forget how you feel and look in the dress. 3. Consider your complexion when selecting the color of your gown. There are so many fabrics to choose from. Don’t let yourself get Even though whtie has traditionally been overwhelmed and confused. Just the color of most gowns, more and more remember to choose a color and gowns are being designed with color fabric that best reflects the mood you 3 | reflectionsva.com done it! Joy Salyards is the owner of Reflections, Virginia’s #1 choice for brides, located at 141 South Carlton St. VA 22801. She can be reached at 540-4328700 or by visiting www. reflectionsva.com. Joy Salyards 141 S. Carlton St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-432-8700 www.reflectionsva.com Monday-Friday 11 AM to 7 PM Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM Open on Sunday 1pm-5pm from Labor Day to Memorial Day