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Choosing Your Wedding Dress

Every girl dreams of finding the perfect dress for their wedding day and many have a vision in their mind of what they picture the dress to be like.

Before going shopping be sure to determine your budget so that you stick with the gowns that you know are in a realistic price range for you and also keep in mind the season and time of year that you are getting married in. You dont want a big heavy gown if youre getting married in the hottest part of the summer.

The most important peice of advice that a bride to be can be given before she sets out to shop for her dress is to be open minded about trying on many different styles of dresses! As it is common that the dresses that many brides to be have pictured in their minds is very different then the actual wedding dress they end up wearing on the day!

When you start looking at wedding gowns, have a chat to the attendants in the bridal dress shops and query them as to which style and colour of wedding dress they would reccommend. These people generally have an idea of what dress styles suit particular body shapes and which shades of white suit particular skin tones.

Many brdes to be go looking for their perfect white wedding dress, when in fact, an ivory or latte dress is more suited to their hair and skin colour. Below is a quick guide to the different shades of white and what skin and hair colours they are best suited to;

Champagne or oyster

This wedding dress white is an off-white with pink undertones and will flatter olive or darker skinned brides with dark hair.

Diamond white or natural white

This is a soft wedding dress white, common in the more expensive fabrics such as silk. This tone of white is well suited to fairer brides.

Latte

This shade of wedding dress white is slightly darker than the champagne and oyster shades. Latte is a popular choice today with brides and the tone is perfect for tanned or darker skinned brides.

Ivory

Wedding dresses in this shade of white have golden or yellow undertones. This shade of white suits fairer brides with honey coloured hair.

Stark white

Not suited to blonde or fair skinned girls. This shade of white is most unflattering if you are fair however looks amazing on dark skinned brides particularly hispanic brides.

Before you go shopping, get ideas from websites, magazines, and any other source that allows you to preview the various types of styles, lengths, and designs out there. Be sure to consider your body type as you make your selection for a wedding gown. You certainly want to go with a style that flatters your body type and doesnt make you feel self conscious.

Below is a guide to which styles of wedding dresses will suit different body shapes;

Hourglass

Choose a wedding dress that accentuates your waist. Gowns with a full skirt and corseted bodices that flatter the bust line are great for this shape.

Pear shaped

A-line princess dresses which balance out the bottom half to the top half and disguise fuller hips and thighs suit the pear shape best.

Petite

Simpler desses without too much fabric will make the more petite bride appear taller. Big Ball gowns, gowns that are broken up, mermaid wedding dress shapes can overwhelm someone with a smaller figure.

Tall

Ball gowns, princess line and A- line wedding dresses suit this bride. Most can carry off straight bridal dresses and mermaid dresses also. Avoid empire line dresses.

Fuller Waisted

Princess-line and drop waist wedding dresses are most flattering.

Broader Shoulder

Broader shouldered brides should avoid halter and off-the-shoulder necklines which bring attention to the shoulders, and instead try strapless and scoop necklines.

Fuller Busted

Bridal corsets will provide shape and support for this body type. Scoop neck dresses and dresses with square necklines enhance bust lines.

Fuller Arms

Off the shoulder straps or sheer fabric is flattering to the arms. Three-quarter or long sleeve are also flattering on this shape and work to elongate the arm.

Shop around designer dress and try on a variety of different gowns so you will be satisfied that when you find "the one" you have considered many different alternatives and you can be happy you have not just settled on the first dress you tried on.

Finally, enjoy the process because trying on wedding gowns can be just as much fun as wearing it for your special day. Savor the journey and be sure to remember it by taking pictures of you in the various gowns you try on along the way.

Homecoming Dress Prices Skyrocket

Each year, high school girls spend more and more on gowns for homecoming. This year especially, prices are rising exponentially. The increase can be seen across the board, not only with designer and name brand dresses. Finding high-quality dresses for less than a few hundred dollars has become virtually impossible. Prom and homecoming consultant Ashley Baldauf explained several reasons long sleeve white dress for the upped prices, saying, n the current economy, many dress designers have closed down some of their factories in China. As a result, there are less workers trying to produce the same amount of dresses, so it takes longer to make each dress. Each one takes hours to make.?

Each year, high school girls spend more and more on gowns for homecoming. This year especially, prices are rising exponentially. The increase can be seen across the board, not only with designer and name brand . Finding high-quality dresses for less than a few hundred dollars has become virtually impossible. Prom and homecoming consultant Ashley Baldauf explained several reasons for the upped prices, saying, n the current economy, many dress designers have closed down some of their factories in China. As a result, there are less workers trying to produce the same amount of dresses, so it takes longer to make each dress. Each one takes hours to make.? here more beading on the dresses, as well as feathers, both of which have to be sewn on individually by hand,?added Nicole Jelinek, a sales representative for popular local homecoming and prom store One Enchanted Evening. he beads themselves are also getting more and more expensive. The heavier the beads, the more they cost,?Baldauf stated. Last year, One Enchanted Evening most expensive gown was a Jovani design for $750. The rest of the dresses ranged from $200 and up. This year, the store carries several dresses for $850, and many more in the $600 and $700 range than the previous year. The dresses come from designers like Jovani, Sherri Hill, and La Femme who focus specifically on prom and homecoming gowns. Another contributing factor is the ever-increasing price of gas. The shipping costs for dresses are growing more and more expensive, and as a result, stores have to charge more for them to make up the difference. And the big brand name dresses aren the only ones costing more each year. Nordstrom dresses are anywhere from $50 to $2,250, although the dresses at the highest prices are Herve Leger. For lesser known designers, Nordstrom dresses cap at about $800. BCBG, another common source for homecoming, sells dresses that can cost anywhere from $200 to $1000. Popular websites like ModCloth sell cocktail dresses toward the lower end of the spectrum, from $60 to $200, but many are more casual and not necessarily intended for homecoming. Cache dresses fall between $60 and $200. Comparatively, dresses from department stores like Macy and JCPenny are much more affordable, falling between $50 - $160 and $30 to $60 respectively. Department store dresses, however, are widely recognized as lower quality and often include no beading, feathers, or any special detailing that would cause the price to go up. Prices show no sign of coming down anytime soon, and prom prices are likely to be even higher. If youe planning on buying a prom dress this year, or if you haven bought your homecoming dress yet, make sure you save up.

Resources: cheap prom dresses 2012