As with any full gown, different body shapes and types

Designer Wedding Dresses The Couture Details Every Bride Wants Author Brandon Kamins

There are three things that every bride-to-be should consider before she goes shopping for her wedding dress. The first is her budget, the second is the season, and the third is the wedding theme. In this article we will discuss a few simple tips that will help you select the right designer dress.

Where to Begin? long white evening dresses

Believe it or not, one of the most difficult decisions every bride-to-be must make is where to shop for her new dress. Almost without exception, she will be besieged by suggestions from friends and family about where she should shop. There are bridal boutiques, online boutiques, designer showrooms, department stores and virtual auctions to choose from.

The fastidious bride-to-be can find the perfect dress at any of the aforementioned. However, it may not be a great idea to purchase a dress before seeing it in person, i.e., on the Internet. There are simply too many unknowns, and even if the price is right, alterations are almost always required when you buy a dress online.

Most women who have never shopped for a wedding dress before have no idea how expensive it is to hire a seamstress to make even minor alterations. So, that deal that looked so good on your computer screen might end up costing you lots of extra money.

What a good alternative? Department and discount stores often offer a nice selection, but they are not specialists. The business that can cover all of your wedding day needs is a bridal boutique. Also known as bridal salons, they are the closest thing to a one-stop option the industry has to offer. Not only do they sell a full range of designer wedding dresses, but they also offer dresses and accessories for the entire bridal party, including the bridesmaids, the flower girls and the mothers of the bride and groom.

Designer Wedding Dresses

Most women that want a more formal wedding order a designer dress. The cost of these gowns depends, of course, upon the reputation of the designer and the number alterations that must be made to the basic design. One reason that designer dresses are far more popular for formal weddings is because they take several months to complete. On average, it takes between four and nine months to deliver a designer wedding dress. That is why most shotgun and Vegas brides buy off the rack.

So, if you have always wanted a designer dress, you must plan ahead. Most recently engaged women begin by taking a trip to their local bridal store with a few of their friends/future bridesmaids. It may take several visits to finally decide on a design, especially if you don know what you want. Consider a few of these helpful suggestions.

Fabric

As you may be aware, most designer wedding dresses are quite heavy, even without a train. Now, this might be perfectly appropriate for a formal indoor wedding in the fall or the winter, but what if you have planned an outdoor wedding in the middle of August? Obviously, that heavy dress could begin to get a bit uncomfortable after a few hours.

Since summer is the most popular season for nuptials, it is often important to pay close attention to the fabric and materials. For a summer wedding, especially if it is being held outdoors, your best options include lighter, cooler fabrics like crepe and chiffon over velvet or satin.

Cut

As with any full gown, different body shapes and types are flattered by different cuts. Again, this is one of the main reasons bridal shops are preferable to a department or discount store. The experienced wedding consultants at these establishments will be able to tell you at first glance which cut will flatter your figure. Trying to do this on your own may result in a major fashion faux pas.

Motif or Theme

The motif or theme is almost always dictated by the setting, which is often dictated by the season. For example, if you have planned an outdoor wedding, then you will want a dress that is not too heavy or hot under the summer sun.

But the motif can affect more than just the fabric of your designer wedding dress. It may also influence the style. Sticking with the beach wedding example, a long flowing gown with a train would not work on sand, for obvious reasons. Therefore, the bride might opt for a much shorter hemline and maybe even a backless or strapless number.

Budget

The average designer dress costs between one and two thousand dollars, depending on the designer, of course. Another important consideration is the accessories. Many brides-to-be like to shine on their special day, and this may require special additions that must be hand-applied to the dress. Crystals, sequins and even pearls may be added to a designer wedding dress. As you might expect, this will also add a few hundred dollars to the final bill.

Finding the perfect dress for your wedding ceremony depends on many variables and any choice would be well served by plenty of diligent research.

Prom And Homecoming Dresses Design Trends For 2012

Many teens consider prom and homecoming as one of the most special, if not the most special highlight of their highschool lives. Having gone through changes in their lives and the challenges of adolescence, these are the few times they can celebrate their youth and transition to adulthood with friends and loved ones. Some consider both as a rite of passage which they will remember forevers. Which is why, aside from getting the right make up and hair style, it is every girl dream to find that stand-out prom and homecoming dresses this year. To help you find outfits that are trending in 2012, here are some of the current Hollywood trends when it comes to evening and formal wear.

Prints ?Prom is about showing off who you are. Now, there no better way to do that than getting vibrant dresses for prom and homecoming. Embody that unique, playful persona with striking watercolor, floral, abstract and ombre prints. Be careful of choosing what print you get though because you can just as easily go tacky with them. If you have a straight, rectangular body shape, go with graphic straight lines. And if you are a bit curvy, buy garments that have rounder, softer shapes.

Bejeweled ?Of course, you could also stand out by literally lighting up the room with sequins and rhinestones. Keep the shiny accents in one area of your body though to avoid looking like a Christmas tree on prom. Go for beaded necklines, bodices, cut outs and cross backs. And if you are wearing this type of dress to homecoming, keep the jewelry on a minimum.

Peek-A-Boo Cut Outs ?It wouldn hurt if you brought in the sexiness through your prom or homecoming dresses. But instead of wearing outfits plunging necklines and miniskirts, you should go with conservative peek-a-boo cut outs on the back and slitted shoulders. A flash of skin is all you need to pay tribute to your beautiful and maturing figure.

Mullet and Asymmetrical Hemlines ?Be adventurous with a dress that gives you the best of both worlds ?glamour and comfort. In 2012, it is all about being unique and versatile with high-low hemlines. And during prom or homecoming, you definitely want to look elegant and mature designer gowns without taking away that youthful spirit.

Feather, Ruffles and Lace ?Although these may be dated about a year, the following flirty accents still remain relevant in 2012 and will go well on any young woman going to prom and homecoming dance for the first or last time. Again, the events are all about having fun and embracing innocence. So you definitely be in style if you get ensembles that have these embellishments. It would be preferable if you have a solid colored bodice as base since it quite easy to look awkward if you go overboard with the design.

Now, you should also consider your body type and tastes when you are choosing prom and homecoming dresses since it could very well affect your overall confidence and appearance.